8 Tips To Extend The Life Expectancy Of Your Air Conditioner

Most people who pay for a new air conditioning system will want their unit to perform well for as many years as possible. For this desire to become a reality, you must take steps to promote your air conditioner’s longevity. These steps must be taken as early as possible.

Let’s dive into understanding how to help your AC unit. It will help you improve the lifespan of your AC unit and promote your equipment’s optimal performance.

Did you know that most air conditioners are only designed to last around 10-15 years? Did you know that most people have no idea how to clean their air conditioner’s coils? Did you know that can be a simple task? Without constant care of your AC unit, it could cause life-threatening damage to your AC unit.

A well-maintained air conditioner can last a decade or longer. So, it’s worth taking some time each season to check your AC and ensure it’s working efficiently and safely.

Here Are 8 Things You Can Do to Help Extend the Lifespan of Your Central Air Conditioner

1. Get Regular Tune-Ups

Consider your AC to be an investment. As an investment, you will see a significant impact on your comfort and energy bills. Getting regular tune-ups for your unit is one way to help extend the life of your favorite cooling system. Another benefit is follow-up care. If a snag does occur, you can reach out to a certified air conditioning expert who will make you and your AC unit a priority.

You can do so much to ensure your air conditioner lasts a long time.

• First, schedule regular tune-ups with an HVAC specialist. These visits ensure your unit is working properly.
• Next, ensure you clean or change the filters regularly. Replacing a clogged filter can improve efficiency by up to 20%.
• Finally, talk to the professionals at The Cooling Company about the best maintenance practices for your specific model.

An annual tune-up provides one of the best ways to ensure your air conditioning system will work properly for many years. When a professional delivers regular maintenance to your AC unit, they will likely discover any minor problems. Minor problems such as faulty motors or refrigerant leaks, if not attended to, can become worse and cause damage.

Detecting these issues as early as possible is important. “The norm” for air conditioning systems is for one operational defect to lead to another. When these problems fester for too long, the entire unit bears the weight of the additional strain. Taking the time to ensure the individual parts of your equipment are properly working will support it in operating at optimum performance levels for years.

Tune-ups include:

• Adding lubricants to bearings and motors
• Air filter replacement
• Coil cleaning
• Checking and restoring refrigerant levels
• Checking thermostat settings
• Condensation drain cleaning
• Voltage and amp checks
• A test of all electrical connections

2. Change the Air Filter

Ultimately, caring for your air conditioner means taking a proactive stance toward its upkeep. By keeping up with simple tasks like maintenance and cleaning, you may be able to extend the lifespan of your AC unit. You may even be able to prevent problems in the first place by changing filters and routine cleaning. Of course, you’ll likely enjoy a better quality of life if your AC operates at full capacity!

Cleaning and replacing air filters are essential to the health of an AC system, and owners should not wait for this to happen only during an annual tune-up. Your air conditioner will find it harder to perform its duties when filters become clogged. This extra strain on the unit can cause overheating and lead to breakdowns.

Some homeowners need to change their filters three to four times a year. However, filter changes should happen more often for families who live in environments with a lot of dust. In addition, people who have pets or run their AC systems often will also need frequent filter changes.

3. Get Your Ducts Cleaned

You can reduce your energy consumption by having your ducts cleaned. If you live in a moderate climate, you will also be able to use less energy for heating and cooling.

Dirt-filled air ducts are another problem that can decrease the amount of cold air that flows through your house. Dust and debris accumulate over time, making it more difficult for air to pass through the AC system. Cleaning air ducts regularly will facilitate the free flow of air needed to maintain a comfortable temperature inside your residence. Regularly cleaning your air ducts will also improve the air quality available to you and your family.

It is sufficient to clean your air ducts at least once a year. A great time to do so is in the spring, just before the summer heat requires full-time work from the AC system.

4. Clear Debris

While there are plenty of other things you can do to extend the life expectancy of your unit, there are two simple things that everyone should be doing all year round.

1. Clear away any debris from the air vents
2. Make regular checks to ensure no leaves or lint has built up on the fins at the back of the unit

Dirt, debris, and grass clippings may accumulate around the outside part of your air conditioning system over time. These obstructions will eventually begin to obstruct the flow of air and negatively affect the performance of the AC unit. There is also the danger that the large debris near your air conditioner can find its way inside the unit. This problem can significantly damage fans, motors, and other system components.

Make it a point to trim all plants and shrubs away from the cooling system. Rocks, branches, and other random objects that find their way into your yard should also be cleared away from the outdoor part of your AC unit.

5. Decrease the Workload

Your air conditioner is an important part of your home, so you should always keep it in good shape. It was a big investment, and you owe it to yourself to extend the life of your unit. We want your investment to last for as long as possible. Just do a little bit of maintenance, and you’ll be able to keep using it for years.

Your air conditioner is likely the main way you and your family stay cool in the summer months. This does not mean it needs to become the only tool you possess to accomplish this goal. A ceiling fan is one appliance that can be used along with your air conditioner to cool your home. Using these appliances together will increase the air circulation in your house and decrease the amount of work required of the AC unit. The benefit to you is less money spent each month on your energy bill. It can also extend the lifespan of your cooling system.

Air conditioners that run full-time will understandably wear out faster than systems that are required to do less. Therefore, you should turn off your AC unit each time you plan to leave your house for a significant amount of time.

Another strategy to earn a bit of rest for your system is setting the thermostat at a higher temperature while you are home. You may find that you can raise the temperature on the thermostat a few degrees without affecting your overall comfort level.

You probably spend a great deal of time in your home. For most people, it’s not just their place of residence but also where they live, eat, sleep, and entertain. For this reason, taking steps to improve the workload and maintain comfort at home should be your top priority. Some of the simplest ways you can help include lowering indoor humidity levels, especially during colder months. Using a portable or built-in air purifier can help control high humidity areas like the kitchen and bathrooms.

A smart thermostat is one of the easiest and most effective steps to improve ventilation and humidity levels. A smart thermostat lets you control your temperature from anywhere when placed in your home. By setting different temperature times for various rooms in your house, you can ensure more air circulating throughout your home and higher humidity levels overall. This means better air quality and lower energy bills. You can also control the thermostat from your phone when you are away from home.

6. Run Auto Mode

Nothing’s worse than a hot living space and a broken air conditioner.

Most air conditioners in use today possess automatic fan settings. These settings allow the air conditioner to perform the work necessary to meet the temperature desires of your family. In addition, this ability prevents the unit from having to keep up a demanding pace of work for an extended amount of time.

Air conditioners set to run at “high” settings will need the fan to work at near-maximum capacity even after reaching a comfortable temperature. As a result, running your cooling system unnecessarily increases your energy bill and strains the unit. Fans running at constant high speeds will also result in the system accumulating more dust and debris in a shorter time.

In this auto mode, the AC will run for a certain period before turning off, then turn on again when the room and the outside temperature drop below the set threshold.

You can reduce your energy bill depending on how long your AC runs in auto mode. In addition, since it automatically turns on and off depending on conditions, you don’t have to worry about forgetting to turn it off when you leave home.

7. Check for Leaks

Because older air conditioners leak quite a bit of money from the pockets of their owners, it’s important to periodically check for leaks and make repairs before the problem worsens. Chances are that your unit is still under warranty, so it makes sense to be proactive about inspecting for leaks and making any repairs you find.

Checking for leaks should be another part of your AC maintenance protocol. Leaks will decrease the system’s efficiency and can lead to a complete breakdown if left unchecked.

The proper functioning of an air conditioner is dependent on its ability to maintain sufficient refrigerant to operate. Unfortunately, it is sometimes difficult to detect a refrigerant leak since the fluid often escapes after conversion to a gaseous form.

Some symptoms of a refrigerant leak include:

• An oily spot on the floor
• Higher energy bills
• The inability of the AC system to maintain the desired temperature in the home

Refrigerant is not the only substance that can leak from your cooling system. It is normal to lose grease from the fan or water when the gas in the system evaporates. A little runoff of these substances is no cause for concern, but you should consult a professional at The Cooling Company when these fluids become excessive.

8. Take Advantage of Ways to Block the Outdoor Heat

This is an easy remedy.

• Adding window coverings can block the heat and light from hitting your home. As a result, the AC costs less to run with no additional windows exposed. To increase the efficiency of your air conditioning systems, it’s smart to use window treatments to keep the sun out. It’s also important to close your shades or blinds to keep heat and cool air in when you’re home.
• As far as the thermostat is concerned, set it a few degrees higher than you normally would while at work or out of the house. Of course, you can always turn it down again when you get back home; it’s better to be relaxed and comfortable than to risk getting sick because of an overheated house.
• Smart blinds, thick curtains, and reflective window films provide additional solutions for decreasing the temperature within your residence.

Using these tools will also eliminate some of the workload demands on your air conditioner.

Quality Air Conditioning Services

These tips should help you extend the life expectancy of your AC. However, as with any major electronic appliance, you will have to take certain precautions too! It’s important to know that if you notice something that seems “off’ with your air conditioning unit, don’t ignore it. You should always consult a professional to get a proper diagnosis and determine the best course of action.

The best thing about these eight tips is that they are all preventive. By taking note of how and when you use your AC, it’s possible to maximize its lifespan. Take action on any repairs you discover are necessary. Hopefully, following the tips listed above, your AC should last for years!

The Cooling Company is a top option for air conditioning repair services in the Las Vegas area. Individuals interested in quality AC services can make no better decision than to contact us in their time of need. We provide a full range of cooling services, including AC maintenance and installation. The Cooling Company is also available to help customers with their heating repair, maintenance, and replacement needs. Call us today to learn how we can help you.