How to Extend the Life of Your AC Unit

The life span of a properly cared for air conditioner unit is ten to twelve years. Without proper air conditioner service however the life span of your unit can be compromised and can your unit may even operate less effectively which can translate into a higher power bill for you.

Air conditioners are designed to be tough and handle abuse, and as a result they may not receive the yearly maintenance needed to ensure a long life span. Think about it, would you ever let your car go ten years without changing out the filters and having it checked for leaks? Your air conditioner unit needs just as much care as your automobile does.

When you have your unit serviced by a HVAC technician you should expect them to do the following to help prolong the life of your unit. The condensing unit coils should be cleaned, the fan motor oiled, the operating pressure checked and the coolant level or Freon checked. New environmental laws that were recently passed have made it illegal for your HVAC tech to refill Freon in a leaky system without first finding and repairing the leak.

This many cost you more than just refilling the Freon but in the end it helps the environment and is worth the extra cost to elevate an ongoing problem. The HVAC technician will also check the amp draw of the compressor and check that the belts are adjusted correctly.

Other things that you can do yourself or have included with your yearly maintenance regime include changing the filter of your unit so it can work effectively. Just as your car will not operate properly with a dirty air or oil filter, neither can your air conditioner unit.

You should also make sure that any shrubbery or vegetation is trimmed back away from your outdoor unit so it can operate effectively. If you have any doubts about the need for yearly air conditioner service be aware that some signs that your air conditioner unit is working at less than proper capacity can be hard to read and by the time you catch them your unit has probably already been running badly for quite some time.

Some signs that your ac unit is not working correctly can include running but not cooling the room, major room temperature swings. These are all indicators of a faulty system that can be the result of a Freon leak or a dirty filter or dirty condenser coils.

If you have your unit serviced before the beginning of the season you should not have any flaws in your system that go unnoticed and you will not have any down time when your unit breaks down in the middle of heat wave because your HVAC air conditioner technician will have caught any problems before they become costly repair bills.