Your air conditioner works hard each year to keep your Tucson home cool when the summertime temperatures soar. Just like any piece of machinery, your air conditioner needs regular maintenance to ensure it keeps running effectively. For every year that your air conditioner is not maintained, it can lose up to 15% efficiency, costing you more over the long term and increasing the risk of a breakdown.
Changing the Filter
An air filter, usually placed just behind your HVAC intake vent, screens out dirt and dust to both protect your air conditioner and minimize airborne particles in your home. A dirty filter alone can cost your air conditioner anywhere from five to fifteen percent in efficiency. To maintain peak efficiency, reduce the cost of cooling, and prevent premature wear to your air handler, change your filter every one to three months based on the instructions on the packaging.
Cleaning the Coils
Central air conditioning includes both an indoor evaporator and an outdoor condenser. Both of these components use coils to transfer heat between the air and a refrigerant solution. Over time, these coils can become coated with dust, reducing their efficiency. You’ll need to run your air conditioner for longer or turn the temperature down lower to achieve the same amount of cooling, costing you more in energy either way. Clean the coils or have an air conditioning specialist check and clean them at least once a year to gain additional energy efficiency.
Protecting the Condenser
Taking steps to protect your air conditioner’s outdoor condenser can also save you money. Keeping foliage and landscaping trimmed back will prevent dust and debris from damaging the coils. Shading your condenser with plants can save you a further 10% on your energy bills.
The right maintenance now can save you money in the long term and prolong your air conditioner’s lifetime. Call Cool Breeze Comfort Solutions, LLC of Tucson today at 520-495-2227 to schedule air conditioning maintenance or repairs for your home. You can find additional home heating and cooling tips on our blog.