The AC running silently and regularly is the last thing we think, about till the mercury rises to 101 and there is no familiar cool air filling the house. Then you think a lot about it and, in fact, wish you had thought about prevention before this problem occurred.
The prevention of AC repair is something that should be given considerable thought, even when you have just purchased a new unit. Prevention is maintenance. HVAC companies often have a service maintenance plan they will sell you at the time of purchasing a new unit. If you do regular maintenance, you can stave off costly AC repair in the worst heat wave. Listed below are items that need regular preventative maintenance.
Air Filter
Air filters are cheap and an easy preventive item you can take care of yourself. If you do have a maintenance plan with your HVAC installer, they can change it. The problem with the air filter is it is something that is easy to forget until too much time has passed and you haven’t changed it. If you don’t change your air filter, you may have brought costly AC repair a little closer.
It is a simple matter of putting it on the calendar or in your day timer with an alarm to remind you. The air filter should be changed every two to three months. Change it regularly and you will keep the air in your home cleaner.
Keep Outdoor Elements Clean
The AC unit is at the back of the house where you hardly ever go except to mow the grass so it is easy to forget all the elements that get dirty and can cause premature AC repair. Speaking of mowing the lawn, do not allow the grass clippings to blow into the AC unit because clippings can build up inside the unit and cause problems. It also seems the outside unit is vulnerable to collect leaves and debris between the unit and the house. Clean that debris out on a regular basis so the AC unit can breathe clean air.
Clean the Duct Work
In any home, but particularly in older homes, the duct work needs to be cleaned out with a vacuum or cleaned out professionally to prevent AC repair and costly doctor visits because of an excess of allergens. It also helps the AC unit to run more efficiently on a day by day basis.