Tips for Maintaining Your AC and Avoiding Costly Repairs

Tallahassee-area residents rely on their air conditioning systems to help keep them cool during the hot summer months. The cool, clean air provides us with a necessary respite from our summer days’ constant warmth and humidity. But if your AC system breaks down, that cold comfort is quickly lost and replaced by the warm sticky air we strive to escape. While not a “crisis” per se, a broken air conditioner certainly feels like one. Both while awaiting the AC service technician and sometimes when you get the bill.

You can avoid breakdown-induced disruptions to your AC system and reduce the potential for costly repairs. Do this by proactively maintaining your system and taking other steps to optimize its efficiency. With more than 50 years of HVAC experience in the north-central Florida area, the AC professionals at Tallahassee’s Air Control Heating and Cooling know all the tricks for keeping your AC system trouble-free and running smoothly year after year after year.

That Air Filter Isn’t Just There to Improve Air Quality!

Your AC system’s air filter certainly helps remove contaminants from the indoor air you breathe. Many people don’t realize its primary purpose is to protect the AC system itself. Air filters that get clogged with dirt, dust, pollen, and other contaminants restrict air flow. This forces your AC system to work harder to maintain the cool temperatures you’re used to. This, in turn, promotes more wear and tear on system components, which can shorten the expected lifespan of your AC unit. In general, you should inspect your air filter every month and plan on replacing it every three to four months, depending upon AC usage.

Pay Attention to How Your AC System Runs

If your car engine starts making an odd noise or displays changes in performance, you take it to the mechanic, right? Similarly, if your AC system starts making an unusual noise or expressing a decrease in cooling efficiency, it should be checked out by an AC technician. Checking potential AC problems when they first emerge can often resolve a minor issue before it evolves into a significant costly breakdown.

Reduce Your AC System’s Stress with Maintenance

Running your air conditioner 24/7 at the coolest temperatures puts a lot of stress on the mechanical system. By reducing this operational stress, you can extend the lifespan of your AC system and reduce the need for repairs. Some AC stress management options include:

• Turn up the thermostat (a 78 degrees Fahrenheit or higher thermostat setting provides optimal energy savings).
• Install a smart thermometer, naturally reducing AC usage and improving energy efficiency.
• Keep the cool air inside by improving the home’s insulation and weather stripping.
• Block incoming sunlight during the summer days by using blinds, curtains, or other window coverings.
• Reduce your daytime use of heat-producing appliances, such as the oven, dryer, and dishwasher.
• Take care of your outdoor condenser unit by keeping it clear of debris and ensuring its drain line flows unimpeded.
• Use fans, which makes the air feel colder.

Know When It’s Time for an AC Upgrade

Your AC system will naturally lose efficiency as it ages. The wear and tear from constant use will inevitably increase the frequency of breakdowns. At some point, replacing your older unit with a newer, higher efficiency model will make more sense than it will to keep paying for repairs. Depending upon usage, consider replacing your older AC system when it hits the 10-to-15-year mark. Or when repairs start costing up to half of what a new unit might cost.

Like a Car, Your AC Operates Best with Regular Tune-Ups

Much like a vehicle’s routine tune-up keeps its engine running efficiently and prolongs its life, regular AC maintenance ensures that your system will operates with peak efficiency, help prevent costly breakdowns, and reduce age-related system deterioration. For the best in air conditioning maintenance, consider joining Air Control Heating and Cooling’s Air Control Club. With three different plans, Air Control Club membership provides your AC system with inspections and preventative maintenance that will keep it running at optimal efficiency, reduce the potential for breakdowns, and extend its operational lifespan.

Turn to Air Control Heating and Cooling for Your AC Maintenance Needs

Air Control Heating and Cooling has been delivering the best in HVAC repairs, maintenance, installation, and equipment sales, to our customers in the Tallahassee, Havana, Quincy, Monticello, and Crawfordville area for almost half a century. For all your air conditioning needs, contact us today at (850) 562-1234.