subject: Save On Ac Repair With Regular Maintenance [print this page] You can save on the high costs of AC repair just by getting into a regular maintenance routine. As long as it doesn't interfere with your appliance warranty, there are many things that you can do yourself. You should also have a professional come in at least once a year to also check and maintain parts of your air conditioner that you don't feel comfortable with, or jeopardize your warranty.
The first thing you should do is find your warranty and owner's manual. The warranty should clearly state what items can only be performed by a professional, and this may even suggest some companies that are on their preferred list. Then you should go over you manual, and look in the section under routine maintenance in order to find out what parts of your air conditioner you have access to. This area will also give you a list of replacement parts, such as the right filter for you unit, and the type and size of the belts. Other things about your appliance you can also check yourself, like the ducts.
Some things have to be performed on a regular basis in order to ensure your air conditioner is always operating at peak efficiency. The more efficient your unit is, the less energy it will consume, and the less work it will have to do to keep your home cool. One of the things you need to check and replace at least once a year are the filters. These filters draw in the surrounding air, and cool it down. There are a lot of dust particles and other contaminants, and without the filter, these could easily get in and clog the machine, or even come into your home. HEPA filters can eliminate 99.9% of these, but only if they are changed regularly.
You can also cut down the cost of AC repairs by checking your air ducts on a regular basis. If you have access to these, then you should take a flashlight and a mirror and check them to see if they are clear of dust and debris at least twice a year. If you don't have easy access, you can still check for blockage. Turn you AC all the way up, and once it kicks in, go around the house, and check all the vents. They should not only be putting out a lot of air, but cold air, and if one or more isn't, chances are you either have a blocked line, or some other problem.
Depending on the unit, you may have access to the pulleys and belts. If you do, you need to remove the panel at least once a year to make sure that the belts are tight. The first thing you need to do is turn off the system, as well as the power to the unit, to prevent it from coming on, or giving you a shock. Check the tension, if the belt gives more than a quarter of an inch, this is too loose. It needs some play, but not a lot. If you can't adjust the tension yourself, then you will need to have someone come in and do it for you. Another way to save on AC Repair is to have a professional come in at least once a year and thoroughly check the system.
