Be ready for the heat!! As spring turns into summer, your AC will be used more and more. To avoid an untimely outage, here are a few tips:
Always keep your filter clean. Many times when the AC is not working, its due to an extremely dirty filter. This can cause several different issues:
1). A dirty air filter restricts the flow of cold air, causing it to build up inside the air conditioner and lower the internal temperature. Given enough time, that buildup of cold air can eventually cause ice to form on the coils.
2). The restricted airflow is not good for your air conditioner’s cooling power. You’ll notice uneven cooling with hot and cold spots, which not only is uncomfortable but will cause a higher utility bill.
3). If anyone in your home suffers from asthma or allergies, it’s even more imperative to keep the air filters clean. Dirty air filters can cause dirt, dust, pet dander and all types of allergens to build up in your duct system, and that is where they will stay, sometimes for months. Until the AC is running, and releasing these allergens back into your home. YUCK!
4). Air conditioners, like most household components last longer if they’re maintained. A clean air filter helps to stop dust and dirt from building up on all of the unit’s internal components; a dirty one will cause additional wear and tear that can lead to serious maintenance issues down the road. Air conditioning repairs are expensive, replacements even more so. Whether you are an owner or a tenant, this can be expensive.
5). An A/C unit with a dirty filter will use much more power to cool your home, and you’ll end up paying more on your utility bills. A filter costs a few dollars and they are widely available. Our company offers the tenants free replacement service. We will provide the air filter and change it at no charge to our tenant nor the owner. Its a no brainer.
6). Your air conditioner is supposed to cycle on and off throughout the day, but a dirty filter can cause this to happen more often than needed. Besides the annoying noise that comes with it, that means more energy wasted and unneeded temperature changes.
7). IF YOUR AC FREEZES UP. It may not be due to the filter, it could also be a leak in the system. It is IMPERATIVE if your unit is frozen up to turn it off and let it defrost. It could add an additional hour of time to the service call while the HVAC tech waits for it to defrost.
None of this may seem too important to you right now. Its still a temperate climate outside, we have not yet hit 100. But when its 110 degrees outside and your air conditioner decides not to work, trust me this will matter. Air Conditioning companies book up fast in a heatwave, and repairs/replacements can take a few days. Do yourself a favor and keep the filter CLEAN.