Spring 2011
Simple Reasons Not to Neglect AC Maintenance
Especially if you’ve just had a new air conditioning unit installed, it’s tempting to assume the system is working fine and leave it alone. After all, you just spent a good deal of money on that state of the art system. Why spend even more to have someone check for problems that likely don’t exist?
This line of reasoning seems to make sense. But the truth is that the better you are at keeping up with regular maintenance on your AC system, the more you’ll save in the long run on your energy bills and the longer your system will last.
What Goes into Good AC Maintenance?
The problem is that a lot of people don’t understand what actually goes into regular air conditioning maintenance. Sure, changing out air filters is an important part of it, but there’s actually a lot more involved in keeping an AC system functioning properly.
The cooling coil needs to be cleaned thoroughly at least once a year. Without this type of attention, the coil is sure to accumulate sediment and debris which in turn impedes its ability to cool the air that passes across it.
The dirtier your cooling coil is, the harder your air conditioner must work to keep your home cool. And if your air conditioner is working harder, it’s using more energy and costing you more each month on your cooling bill.
But really the increased monthly cooling costs will be the least of your concerns if you don’t get your AC unit the proper care it needs each year. That’s because regular maintenance also allows a technician to thoroughly inspect your system for any damaged parts, leaks or cracks that could put more strain on the unit or cause it to break down entirely in the near future.
This type of preventative work is the best way to ensure that you won’t have to call for emergency repairs. Problems can often be caught early, even before they start to show symptoms. And even if repairs are required, they’ll be much less expensive than if the problem was allowed to develop further and affect other parts of your home comfort system.
Since an AC system is so expensive to purchase and have installed, you want to make sure it lasts for a good long time. Regular maintenance visits are the best way to ensure that your system continues to work well for its expected lifespan and potentially longer. After all, the longer your system lasts, the less you will have paid each year, and that cost savings will more than pay for the yearly maintenance visits.
How Upgrading Your HVAC System Will Keep You Cool This Summer
Have you been wondering whether or not it’s time to upgrade your HVAC system? For many homeowners, this is a difficult decision - not one you want to take lightly. There are a lot of factors to consider and it’s hard to figure out exactly how much there is to be gained from an upgrade. So to help you sort through your options, here is some information about a few of the benefits you’ll enjoy after an HVAC system upgrade.
Get an Energy Efficiency Boost
For one thing, just about all of the HVAC systems on the market today are substantially more energy efficient than what you already have. Huge advances in energy efficiency have been made in the last few years, and that means you’ll start saving immediately with a new system.
That added savings will quickly make up for the cost of the upgrade, and as long as you keep up with regular maintenance, a new system will retain its efficiency for many years to come. The spring is a great time to have work like this done, as it will allow you to have a new air conditioning system up and running just in time for summer.
Avoiding Repeated Repairs
As you probably already know, an air conditioning system is just about the only thing that can make some of those long summer months bearable. But they can cost a lot to run too. So with your upgraded, energy efficient model, you’ll be able to stay cooler for less.
This is especially true if your current HVAC system isn’t keeping your house as cool as it used to or if you find you have to call for repairs regularly. Even if you’re able to keep a system like this running, it’s probably using much more energy than it should, and that will drive up your bills.
And since you’re paying for all of those emergency repairs, you’re spending even more to keep an inefficient system working. Using that money on an upgrade instead will save you plenty in the long term. Plus it’s money you’ll have to spend sooner or later, and it’s better to make the investment now so you can start saving immediately.
You may also want to consider upgrading your HVAC system if you’re having problems with your heating system but not your cooling system. Even though you won’t need to use the heat for another six months, upgrading both systems now is a great way to ensure a long year of energy savings.
Also, because many of these systems are integrated, it makes sense to replace them both at the same time. You’ll likely pay less than you would if you had your heating and cooling systems upgraded separately, and you’ll benefit from the heightened energy efficiency of both systems.
Join Us Online