It’s been a weather roller coaster this spring, but the heat is on its way. It won’t be long until we’re dialing in cooler temps on the thermostat, anticipating the welcome exhale of conditioned air from the vents. But for some of us, switching on the AC will only result in silence and stagnant humidity. No amount of mashing thermostat buttons, pleading or cursing will avail – the air conditioner is busted. If you’re familiar with this predicament — no AC on a hot, Florida summer day — you may have found yourself asking, “Why me; why now?” The answer may be quite simple.
It’s obvious that in the summertime, our residential and commercial air conditioners are really put to the test. After a winter and spring season of minimal usage, the summer heat puts more strain on our systems as we strive to maintain our indoor comfort. Today’s air conditioners are designed to valiantly shoulder the high demand. So why do they break down, you ask? One of the top reasons that even some of the most rugged air conditioners malfunction in the summer is that they have not been properly maintained.
Just like you would want to eat healthy, train hard, and get a routine physical exam before competing in a triathlon, so your air conditioner requires regular maintenance to keep it in top running condition. Dirty filters and coils, clogged condensate drains, blocked air returns, corrosion on electrical connections, low refrigerant levels – all of these seemingly small, easy-to-overlook flaws can contribute to your air conditioner malfunctioning just when you need it most.
Even if your system doesn’t break down right away, overall efficiency suffers from a lack of maintenance. In fact, an air conditioner whose maintenance is neglected has an efficiency loss of about 5% per year. That’s 25% in just five years! On the other hand, a well-maintained system retains 95% of its original operating efficiency.1
So, don’t sweat this summer — make sure your air conditioner is ripe and ready for the coming temperatures. Some maintenance, like changing filters and keeping air returns clean, can (and should) be done yourself, but be sure to call your certified HVAC technician at Kobie Complete to handle the bigger stuff, like checking electrical connections and refrigerant levels. The best time to have your system tuned up is right now — in the spring, before the season of prime usage. Doing so could save you a bundle of money and discomfort, and it will most certainly grant you peace of mind.
1 http://sustainablesources.com/service-your-air-conditioner-for-summer-comfort/
