With AC Repair, Sweat the Small Stuff

AC repair, as well as the steps you can take to prevent it, is always best to have done in stages. Otherwise, it could become a major undertaking.

Individuals who live in warm climates, especially those where extreme heat or prolonged cooling seasons can seriously tax an air conditioning system, must always be sure to pay close attention to their unit for signs of difficulty. Even minor symptoms or signs of trouble can add up over time and result in a major problem.

Likewise, maintaining a regular maintenance schedule is vitally necessary even without signs of difficulty, because remaining proactive can go a long way towards preventing a problem from occurring in the first place. To be successful in doing this, making sure you sweat the small stuff, knowing what to tackle individually and also what to hire a professional to take care of is important.

The first, easiest and most important step any individual can take on his or her own is to change or clean the system’s filter at least on a monthly basis. The filter prevents airborne contaminants and other materials from getting into the unit, where they can cause clogs and other potential issues. Disposable filters made of paper can be used and must be changed out every month or sooner. Permanent filters made of cloth or other materials can also be used and must be cleaned using a vacuum or other means on a similar schedule.

Another key step that can be taken by a homeowner to prevent more serious AC repair is to clean debris and other materials away from any outside condenser units. Whether it’s debris from the yard or nearby trees or bushes, or any built up mold, mildew or other remnants from nature’s elements, what finds its way onto the condenser can end up in the system and lead to trouble.

Other processes should be completed by a professional AC repair service, as they are more complicated, require a greater degree of care or may involve going inside the unit itself. This can include cleaning out the drain, solidifying the duct work, checking the status of the condenser coil and other various tasks that may not necessarily show symptoms of working sub-standardly, but must still be inspected for hidden problems on a regular basis. 

Preventing major AC repair from becoming necessary is not always something that can be guaranteed, no matter what steps are taken. That being said, there is a far greater chance of avoiding major complications if these various precautions are taken to ensure that a system is being taken care of routinely to ensure that everything is running up to its capabilities.