How Routine Air Conditioning Service Can Reduce AC Repair Costs
Air conditioning is important for many homes during the blistering summer months in Edmonton. However, the costs associated with running an AC are substantial. Find out how scheduled air conditioning service can minimize AC repair costs, and adopt energy-saving habits to help your unit run more efficiently. With these tips, you’ll have a comfortable home this summer without draining your bank account.
What Routine AC Service Includes
Air conditioning maintenance is an affordable, predictable yearly charge that pays you back by reducing repair costs and increasing your unit’s life span. Here are some significant maintenance steps that help avoid air conditioner breakdowns:
- Swap out the air filter: A dirty filter slows down airflow and makes your air conditioner to work harder, consuming more energy and increasing the risk of overheating. Replacing your air conditioner’s dirty air filter with a clean one as part of your regularly scheduled maintenance visit, and every 30 to 90 days throughout the year, encourages optimal airflow and efficiency.
- Clean the evaporator coil: The in-house evaporator coil can become covered in dirt and dust with time, decreasing its ability to absorb heat. This can cause the refrigerant within the coil to freeze, stopping your air conditioner from operating properly. Cleaning the coil takes out this insulating layer and will help the refrigerant to perform this essential function.
- Clean the condenser coil: The outdoor condenser coil releases heat soaked up by the refrigerant. If it’s covered with cobwebs, grass clippings and other debris, the heat transfer process is weakened. Cleaning the condenser coil improves the unit’s function substantially, reducing wear and tear on your air conditioner that could bring on breakdowns.
- Straighten the coils’ fins: The aluminum fins on the evaporator and condenser coils can become bent, reducing airflow and decreasing performance. Fixing the fins with a fin comb rearranges them to their original position to regain proper airflow.
- Lubricate moving parts: Friction in the motor and other moving parts creates heat and causes undue wear and tear. Consistent lubrication diminishes friction, ensuring smooth operation and decreasing the need for repairs.
- Check refrigerant levels: A low refrigerant charge is another explanation for why your AC can freeze up, resulting in longer run times, comfort problems and unnecessary AC repairs. An HVAC professional uses specialized tools to investigate and adjust refrigerant levels as needed to assure proper performance and prevent a mid-season breakdown.
Other Ways to Reduce AC Repair Costs
Yearly maintenance is an important factor in lessening AC repair charges, but here are some other ideas to help your air conditioning unit operate dependably all summer long:
- Turn the temperature up: Elevating the thermostat setting curbs the wear and tear on your AC. Choose a comfortable temperature and avoid setting the thermostat any lower.
- Invest in a programmable thermostat: When set correctly, a programmable thermostat helps manage your home’s temperature in a more efficient manner, reducing the strain on your AC unit. An effective technique is to program setback periods of 7 to 10 degrees while you’re away or sleeping to save on energy costs and further diminish wear and tear.
- Seal air leaks: Gaps and cracks around the edges of windows and doors allow warm, humid air indoors. Use caulk and weatherstripping to avoid overburdening your air conditioner.
- Install more insulation: an appropriate attic insulation level promotes stable indoor temperatures and reduces your AC’s workload. If you can observe the attic floor or joists poking through the insulation you already have in your home, add more.
- Block solar heat gain: The sun’s heat warms your home, increasing the demand on your AC system. Getting window coverings and pulling the blinds or shades during the hottest part of the day blocks solar heat gain and lowers the chance of a mid-season breakdown.
- Run ceiling fans: The wind chill effect provided by ceiling fans makes your room feel about 4 degrees cooler, which enables you to raise the thermostat setting without losing comfort. It’s a good idea to switch the fan off when you leave the room, as fans cool people, not spaces.
- Use a dehumidifier: For those who live in a humid part of North America, increased humidity levels might make your home feel cool but clammy, motivating you to lower the temperature on your thermostat. A whole-house dehumidifier takes away excessive moisture, giving your AC a much-needed break.
- Clear out your vents: Closed or blocked air vents throw off the balance of return and supply air, which might cause your air conditioning to break down. To avoid this, leave at least 80 percent of your registers open, and make sure no furniture, curtains or rugs unintentionally hinder airflow. Boost circulation further by making sure doors between rooms are open as much as possible.
- Invest in an energy-efficient air conditioner: If your air conditioning system is more than 10 years old, think about upgrading to a more energy-efficient model. In addition to increased efficiency, a new system is also much less likely to break down or encounter maintenance issues than an older unit, reducing your repair costs in the long run.
Schedule HVAC Service in Edmonton
By investing in scheduled air conditioning maintenance and adopting other recommended home-cooling habits, you’ll enjoy a comfortable interior with lower repair costs this summer. Rob's Albertan Service Experts offers top-notch air conditioning tune-ups to optimize efficiency and prolong your air conditioner’s life span. We can also upgrade your AC unit if yours is past its prime.