Although your air conditioning unit is designed to last, several factors can affect how long it serves you. Frequent repairs and poor maintenance are a few things that can affect your unit’s lifespan. Moreover, certain operational habits can drastically limit your system’s longevity.
Unfortunately, the unit manufacturer extends a warranty up to a certain period. After the warranty duration lapses, you may have to cover all repair costs out of pocket.
Discover three things you can do to avoid costly repairs and extend the life of your air conditioning system.
1. Change Your Air Filter Regularly
The air filter is among the most important parts of your AC unit. Air filters prevent impurities such as dust, pollen, and dander from contaminating the indoor air quality. They also protect your air conditioner’s inner components from contamination by these impurities.
However, many homeowners may forget to replace the air filter every once in a while. An obsolete air filter may not completely remove all contaminants from the incoming air.
When dust and other debris get through, the moving parts inside the AC may become restrained. If the valves and fan motors jam, your unit can no longer sustain a smooth airflow. Eventually, your AC may have to work harder to make up for this limitation. In addition to more frequent breakdowns, your unit may also lose its energy efficiency.
As a result, your system may have a shorter lifespan than you would expect. Remember to replace your air filters frequently to avoid recurrent performance issues with your system.
2. Keep Your Heat Sources Far from Your Thermostat
A thermostat regulates the heating and cooling mechanisms of your AC unit. You can think of it as an automated switch. After you set an ideal temperature you would like inside your home, your thermostat controls the AC unit to ensure that the temperature remains within the desired limits.
But be careful about where you place your thermostat. Because it works by reading the temperature in the immediate surroundings, a thermostat can measure inaccurate readings if a heat source is nearby.
For instance, if you want to cool your home, the thermostat may record the wrong temperatures if it’s near an open window or under direct sunlight. Your thermostat may send out a signal to your AC unit to cool your home more than necessary. The added load often translates to higher energy costs and triggers increased wear and tear for your AC unit. As a result, your unit’s lifespan reduces significantly.
3. Maintain Regular Tune-Up Schedules
A full-on tune-up does not just ensure the longevity of your AC unit but also works to identify problems early before they get worse. Also, you can avoid some AC problems with routine system checkups.
During a routine tune-up, your HVAC technician inspects components of your unit to make sure that everything works as expected. Your technician may perform routine exercises such as:
- Replacing faulty air filters
- Lubricating all moving parts
- Monitoring and topping off refrigerant levels
- Inspecting heat exchangers
- Cleaning up the furnace and air vents
Besides helping your AC unit last longer and maintain efficiency, these tasks also ensure better safety and reliability of your system. Your HVAC technician may suggest that you set up an AC maintenance service before the summer and winter seasons so your system is ready when you need it.
With routine tune-ups, your unit will not have to overwork itself and risk unnecessary strain. And thankfully, your unit may last longer.
Talk to us today at Steele Brothers Heating, Inc., to set up an AC maintenance schedule that works for you.
