Many Dayton homeowners think their A/C system is something they can just set and forget. If it works, why bother checking it? As it turns out, forgetting about your A/C could prove a costly decision later on. The following outlines a few things that could be bad for your A/C if you don’t do them.
Keeping Up With A/C Service
Routine maintenance lies at the cornerstone of an A/C system’s cooling performance. Without it, your air conditioner will have a hard time keeping your home cool.
Having a trained and qualified HVAC technician service your A/C unit on a yearly basis not only keeps your home nice and cool, but also saves you money in the long run. Compared to the cost of an emergency repair or an unexpected replacement, an annual service plan is a relatively inexpensive investment.
Changing the Air Filter
Letting your old air filter accumulate dirt, dust and debris can harm your A/C system over time, resulting in reduced performance and energy efficiency. Most experts recommend that you change the air filter at least every three months, if not monthly. Doing so can help cut your air conditioner’s energy consumption by as much as 15 percent.
Keeping Ice Buildup at Bay
If the A/C unit becomes entombed in ice, it can place certain parts, such as the compressor, at risk of catastrophic failure. Most cases of ice buildup are caused by low refrigerant levels, restricted airflow or even an air conditioner that’s too large for the space being cooled.
Conducting an Energy Audit
A home energy audit can reveal more about your home’s cooling needs than you could imagine. Having one done not only ensures that your A/C can be properly sized for your home, but also helps make your home more energy efficient.
There are plenty of other things that could be bad for your A/C if you neglect them. For more information, check out the latest in residential A/C service from Ace Hardware Home Services or call us to schedule an appointment.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Andriy Zholudyev/Shutterstock”
