Everything costs more today, and you need to save wherever you can. One way you can save this summer is by taking steps to extend the life of your air conditioner. You may think that as a homeowner, there is not that much you can do, but the techs at Presidential Heating & Air Conditioning of Gaithersburg assure you that homeowners are the first wall of defense against any HVAC issues.
Air Conditioners Should Last Decades
The Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR® program recommends replacing your air conditioning unit or heat pump every 10 years. This assumes, of course, that the unit has been properly installed by a licensed professional and has been properly maintained by both the homeowner and a professional air conditioning company.
Air Conditioner Maintenance
As a Gaithersburg homeowner, there are some things you can do to help extend the life of your air conditioner. The easiest is to change the air filter regularly. There are two types of filters – MERV and Media. Depending on the type of filter you have will depend on how often you will need to change or clean them. Your air conditioning company can assist you with selecting the best filter for your system.
Your air conditioner works by removing hot, humid air from your home, cooling it, and blowing it back inside. This process will naturally allow some dust, pollen, and even pet hair and dander to get caught up. The air filter is there to capture these impurities before they enter your home. The next time you change your air filter, compare the webbing in the old one to the new one, and you will see a big difference!
While your old air filter may simply look brown to you, the issue goes deeper than that. An air filter works very much like a surgical mask. It is made with many interwoven fibers that are there to trap bacteria, pollen, dust, and viruses.
As more dirt and other impurities are trapped, the more impenetrable the filters become. This causes your air conditioner to work harder to draw air through the filter, which stresses the system and shortens its life.
Additionally, because it is more difficult for your AC to cool your house when your filter is dirty, it will run more often and have a harder time achieving the temperature you set. This can frustrate homeowners who then set the temperature even lower, causing the AC to work that much harder. Having your air conditioning unit running for longer periods will result in higher electric bills. Changing your filter is an easy and cheap way to extend the life of your air conditioner and keep your electric bills down..
Get Professional AC Maintenance
While changing your AC’s air filter is important, it pales in comparison to getting regular AC maintenance. At our air conditioning company, we offer the Presidential Advantage Maintenance Plan, where members receive two tune-ups per year — one for their AC and one for their furnace. Our air conditioner tuneup includes a comprehensive 23-point check of your system to ensure it is operating at optimum.
This tuneup helps keep your AC in prime condition, so it will run as efficiently as possible. This saves you money on your energy bill, extends the life of your air conditioner, and helps prevent breakdowns that could have been prevented.
Additionally, as a VIP member of the Presidential Advantage Maintenance Plan, you get priority service (step to the head of the line for service calls!) and discounts on parts and labor.
Whether you have a membership to the Presidential Advantage Maintenance Plan or not, Presidential will happily perform a comprehensive check of your air conditioning system. While it is best to perform the check in the spring – before the weather gets hot – we do perform them at any time upon request.
Best Air Conditioning Company in Gaithersburg
Presidential Heating & Air Conditioning has been serving the families of Montgomery County, MD, and the surrounding areas since 1982. Please call us with any questions you have about extending the life of your air conditioning unit.