Why should I give my A/C some TLC?

 

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, air conditioning accounts for as much as 50 percent of the average summer household electric bill. Proper maintenance will help keep your electric bill in check and save you even more money by extending the unit’s life.

Clean it

Give your air conditioner a good do-it-yourself cleaning. Shut the unit off, and clear away leaves and yard debris around the outdoor condenser. Trim foliage back at least two feet to allow for adequate airflow. Dust the fan blades if you can do so safely. Clean the evaporator coil in the indoor unit and the condenser coil in the outdoor unit as necessary. Vacuum registers inside your home to remove any dust buildup.

Maintain it

The most important maintenance task to ensure air conditioner efficiency is to replace or clean the filters every month or two during the cooling season. Clogged, dirty filters block normal airflow and significantly reduce a system’s efficiency. Replacing a dirty filter with a clean one can lower your air conditioner’s energy consumption by 5 to 15 percent. Check your owner’s manual to find out if your system’s filters are reusable or must be replaced.

Tune it up

Proper maintenance by a qualified technician is one of the most important steps you can take to prevent future equipment problems. Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort. Be sure to do your research and hire a well-trained technician who will find and fix problems in your air conditioning system. Look at the checklist on the right for more information.  

 

Hire the right technician

Keep your cooling system at peak performance by having a contractor do annual pre-season check-ups. The technician should:

  • Check for correct amount of refrigerant

  • Test for refrigerant leaks using a leak detector

  • Capture any refrigerant that must be evacuated from the system, instead of illegally releasing it to the atmosphere

  • Check for and seal duct leakage in central systems

  • Measure airflow through the evaporator coil

  • Verify the correct electric control sequence and make sure that the heating system and cooling system cannot operate simultaneously

  • Inspect electric terminals, clean and tighten connections, and apply a non-conductive coating if necessary

  • Oil motors and check belts for tightness and wear

  • Check the accuracy of the thermostat.

To find out more about what to look for when hiring a contractor, visit the Indoor Environment & Energy Efficiency Association website.