Angies List Tips: Maintaining your air conditioner

Angies List Tips: Maintaining your air conditioner
A recent nationwide Angies List poll found 43 percent of respondents skip having their air conditioning unit serviced annually. One in 5 neglect to check or replace their air conditioning filter regularly. Without regular maintenance, an air conditioner loses about 5% of its original efficiency for each year of operation. Angie’s List wants to remind homeowners to check that their air conditioning is running properly. Industry experts say preventative maintenance can save you on average $100 a year.

According to Angies List: Not only will a well maintained air conditioning system run better but it will also help you save money on your monthly utility bills. Pinpointing potential problems before they arise can also protect your family from costly repairs down the road and the summer’s dangerous heat.

Angie’s List air conditioning tips to help beat the heat:

Keep the filter clean: Clean and replace the air conditioner filter frequently. This is especially important during the summer when dust and allergens circulate. If the filter becomes clogged, your system will have to work harder to supply the same amount of cool air.
Check for leaks: Take a closer look at all hoses for any signs of leakage.
Free from debris: Keep plants, shrubs, and other landscaping about two to four feet away from your outdoor unit to ensure adequate airflow.
Made in the shade: Air conditioners with proper shading can be more efficient. Air in a shaded space is cooler than the surrounding air meaning the AC will have an easier time cooling the air before pumping it into the home.
Call a professional: Each central air conditioning unit should be inspected, cleaned and tuned by a professional once every two years. A professional tune-up costs between $50-$125.


For more Angie’s List tips check out Angieslist.com and click on the Angies Tips tab on the top of the page.