With summer just around the corner, the need for heat preparedness grows ever stronger. That’s especially true if you live in Bradfordville, FL, where summer temps average 80° and can even exceed the 90s. Without proper preparation, your home can feel as warm as or even warmer than the outdoors.
Getting your air conditioner serviced with an AC tune-up or maintenance is one way to prepare for the heat.
So, how often should you service your AC, and when is the best time to schedule it? Why does your air conditioner even need servicing?
This guide explores the answers to those questions, so read on.
How Often Should You Service Your AC?
You should service your air conditioner at least once a year, with spring being the recommended season.
Spring is ideal for air conditioner maintenance because it gives you time to ensure your system is ready for the peak cooling season. Since it involves a comprehensive inspection, you’ll know early on if and when you’ll need an AC replacement or repairs.
Let’s say you’ll need a new AC soon. If so, you’ll have more time to prepare for its cost. If it shows signs of disrepair, you can have an HVAC professional fix the problems before they worsen.
HVAC technicians are also less busy in spring, so they have more available schedules from which you can choose.
Why You Shouldn’t Wait for Summer
The brutal heat and elevated summer humidity in Bradfordville, FL, put a massive strain on air conditioners. The warmer, humid air often forces AC units to work harder to extract heat and moisture. This “extra” work results in more stress on system components, speeding up their degradation.
Early Degradation and Premature AC Failure
Early wear and tear make air conditioners more prone to breaking down during the year’s hottest days.
That results in increased service requests for HVAC companies. So, if you postpone your AC’s maintenance until summer, you may have to wait days.
During that period, your air conditioner could also break down and fail. That’s even more likely to happen if your cooling system hasn’t had a tune-up for years or receives irregular maintenance.
A Safety Issue
Having a non-working AC isn’t just a comfort problem; it can also be a health and safety issue. An example is during extreme heat events in Bradfordville, where temperatures can reach 90° F or higher.
Such extreme conditions can cause heat-related illnesses (HRIs). That’s why the CDC recommends staying in air-conditioned places during such events.
So, if your AC doesn’t work, you’ll have one less way to protect yourself from HRIs.
How Does AC Maintenance Help?
AC maintenance involves a multi-point inspection, cleaning, and testing of your system.
During the AC service, an HVAC technician will inspect and test your system’s components to determine their condition. They’ll take note of all problems they discover, their severity, and how soon they can turn into costlier repairs or replacements.
So, by having an HVAC expert perform all those tasks, you can enjoy the following benefits.
An Optimally Working Air Conditioner
As mentioned above, an AC tune-up includes a system clean-up. Some of the most crucial parts the HVAC technician will clean are the following:
- Air filters
- Evaporator and condenser coils
- Condenser fins
- Drain pan and drain line
- Blower and blower motor
Dirty components are leading causes of poor AC performance, like inadequate cooling. For example, filthy air filters block airflow, resulting in the AC having “less” air to cool and circulate. Evaporator coils, which extract heat and moisture from the air, are less effective when dirty, too.
So, when you get your AC serviced (and cleaned), you can expect it to cool your home efficiently.
Better Control of Your Energy Bills
An optimally performing AC doesn’t use more energy than it needs. It doesn’t have to deal with additional “stress” that would otherwise force it to work harder. By contrast, an ill-maintained air conditioner consumes more energy since it can’t do its job correctly.
Let’s use air filters as an example.
Replacing a dirty air filter with a clean one can lower your AC’s energy usage by around 5% to 15%. That’s because a dirty filter restricts the air from entering the system and getting cooled by the evaporator coils. Since there’s less air for the system to cool, it must suck in more air to compensate and reach your desired temperature setting.
That causes the AC to do more work, so it’ll need more energy, too.
A clean air filter doesn’t restrict airflow, so the AC doesn’t need to work harder. That’s an example of how a clean, well-maintained AC can help you control energy bills. As a bonus, regular HVAC maintenance can also contribute to better indoor air quality (IAQ).
An AC That’s Less Likely to Fail
According to the International Association of Certified Technicians (InterNACHI), Florida’s unique climate shortens the lifespan of many building components. The organization has a chart for homes outside Florida and another specifically for Florida. In the first chart, central air conditioners have an average lifespan of 7 to 15 years, but for Florida, it goes down to 5 to 12 years.
Since maintenance minimizes or slows down wear and tear, it can help prolong your system’s lifespan. So you can worry less about it breaking down during hot, muggy days or a heat wave. And since a well-maintained system can last longer, you won’t have to consider the cost of a new HVAC system yet.
Prepare for Bradfordville’s Hot Days With a Tuned-Up AC
Remember: The answer to the question, “How often should you service your AC,” is once a year during spring. That can help maintain your unit’s performance and energy efficiency. So, your AC system can keep your home cool, even during hot days.
The NATE-certified HVAC professionals at Key Heating & Cooling are ready to service your AC anytime with our 24-hour emergency service. Our fully licensed and insured HVAC company has served Tallahassee and the surrounding areas, including Bradfordville, for over four decades. We’re also proud of our EPA Lead-Safe Certification and 100+ 5-star Google reviews.
So, contact us today to schedule your service or request your free estimate!
