If you’re like most homeowners, you’re likely to find that there are unexpected expenses every month, so it can be tempting to delay scheduled activities, like your air conditioner tube up. Unfortunately, this can be a costly mistake.
Your air conditioner is crucial for your home comfort, but it is also one of the significant portions of the typical home energy bill. So, it is important that your system is operating properly. If you’re still not convinced that you need to find the time to schedule your AC tune up, here we’ll explore the reasons why you should avoid that delay.
Detect any Developing Issues
While there are a number of reasons to avoid delaying your air conditioner tune up, one of the most important reasons is that a tune up provides an opportunity for any small issues to be detected before they become a serious problem.
During a tune up appointment, the technician will inspect your system and will check for any issues that could develop into problems if left unaddressed. This provides an opportunity to complete a smaller repair rather than delaying and then being faced with a hefty repair bill.
Perform Preventative Maintenance
This carries on from the point above, but your tune up appointment provides an ideal opportunity for preventative maintenance to be performed. An experienced technician will recognize when components are starting to become worn and will recommend the parts are replaced. This tends to be far cheaper and more convenient than simply waiting for the component to wear out and fail. Many people don’t appreciate the significance of small components, but when they fail, they can cause a breakdown or trigger the failure of other parts. For example, a fan belt is a relatively inexpensive part, but should a worn belt break; it can trigger damage to the fan blades, motor, and other costly components. Preventative maintenance eliminates the risk of worn parts, causing a cascade failure that could compromise the performance and lifespan of your equipment.
Optimize Performance
Many homeowners assume that an air conditioner either works or it doesn’t, but it is possible that while your air conditioner may be producing cold air, but it is not working at the optimal capacity. This means that you could be spending far more money than necessary to keep cool.
When the performance of air conditioner equipment dips, it can significantly increase energy usage, so you could face far higher energy bills than you would normally. One of the primary purposes of an AC tune up is to ensure that performance is optimized. The technician will perform adjustments and calibrate the equipment to ensure optimal performance and maximum energy efficiency. If you delay your AC tune up, you will be unaware that your air conditioner is not operating optimally.
Ensure Home Comfort
As we discussed above, not scheduling your AC tune up, your equipment may not be performing as it should. In addition to increasing your energy bills, you may also experience decreased home comfort.
As the temperatures increase in summer, your air conditioning equipment needs to work harder to maintain the desired temperature inside your home. So, if there is something that is affecting performance, your equipment will not be able to keep your home feeling comfortable. Scheduling your tune up appointment is the best way to guarantee that your home will always feel comfortable and at the ideal temperature.
Improve Your Indoor Air Quality
Breathing clean air is crucial to the health of you and your family. Over time air conditioner units can become clogged with dirt, dust, and bacteria, which can lead to a variety of health issues, particularly if family members have existing conditions such as allergies or asthma. During a tune up, the technician will ensure that the components are clean, and if required, the filters are changed. The technician can even show you how to change the filters, if you lack confidence since filters should be replaced regularly throughout the year. Sticking to your regular tune up schedule will ensure that you and your family are breathing clean air that is free of dust and pollutants.
Extend Your Equipment Lifespan
The typical lifespan of air conditioner equipment is 10 to 15 years. This is a big disparity, but it can often be attributed to regular servicing and maintenance. Most of us appreciate that buying new air conditioning units is a significant investment, so it is important to maximize the lifespan of your existing system. Regular servicing has been shown to extend the typical equipment lifespan, which makes it another solid reason not to delay your tune up.
Comply With the Warranty Requirements
If your equipment is relatively new, you may not be aware, but delaying regular maintenance could invalidate your manufacturer’s warranty. Manufacturers have different warranty conditions, but most usually stipulate that the equipment needs to be regularly serviced to adhere to the terms and conditions. Should your air conditioner develop a defect, you may struggle to claim for a repair or replacement under the warranty if you cannot prove that it has been properly cared for.
Protection Against Electrical Fires
Finally, a regular tune up will reduce the risk of a wiring short circuit that could cause an electrical fire. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that over 150,000 house fires each year are caused by major appliances, including air conditioner units. While this is a small percentage, is it really worth taking the risk by delaying your AC tune up?
As you can see, delaying your AC tune up is a bad idea, particularly if you want to ensure that your AC will continue to operate throughout the hot, summer weather. Fortunately, you can rely on your local HVAC specialist to help you. A professional, experienced technician can ensure that your equipment is operating at peak efficiency and performing as it should. This will provide the assurance that you can enjoy the ideal home comfort without skyrocketing energy bills.