Arizona air conditioners get quite the workout for eight months out of the year. Keeping yours in excellent condition ensures its performance and service life don’t plummet with each passing year, but how often should you maintain your AC?
Since Mountainside Air provides comprehensive AC services in Goodyear, AZ, our team is familiar with the wear and tear that the region’s cooling systems face. We share some of our industry knowledge regarding maintenance frequency below, including a few expert tips to maximize your indoor comfort.
What Goes Into Air Conditioner Maintenance Services in Goodyear, Arizona?
Residents of other, cooler states might treat air conditioner maintenance as optional. However, in climates like Goodyear, Arizona, the searing desert heat could force you to replace your whole system more often.
How often should you maintain your AC in a hot climate? An annual AC service isn’t a luxury in Arizona; it’s essential. Professional tune-ups keep your system in perfect working condition and make it go for much longer.
Let’s explore what happens during air conditioning tune-ups below.
Full System Inspections
Each technician kicks off the air conditioner servicing visit with an all-points inspection. This thorough once-over uncovers hidden problems and components that need some attention. They’ll inspect the indoor and outdoor units as well as the ductwork and vent openings.
Safety and Performance Tests
Next, your technician’s routine HVAC maintenance checklist includes a comprehensive system test. The technician uses special tools to analyze air resistance, pressure, and electricity usage during the average cycle for a better understanding of where your system falls short performance-wise. These analyses offer additional information about where the technician should place their focus.
Component Cleanings and Minor Repairs
After the preliminary inspection and tests, they’ll move on to minor internal problems. How often should you maintain your AC? You should schedule tune-ups frequently enough that you resolve all the minor problems before they escalate.
For example, no seasonal AC checkup is complete without addressing dirty components and light wear and tear-related issues. Your cooling unit usage and lifestyle preferences might dictate whether your unit’s components need more frequent professional attention.
Adjustments and Lubrication Touch-ups
Lastly, you can expect your HVAC technician in Goodyear, Arizona, to lubricate moving parts to reduce friction within your air conditioner. They tighten or loosen components accordingly, as tightly fastened parts grind connected components, while loose pieces can fall off or even cause damaging vibrations.
What Can You Do To Protect Your Cooling System Between Professional Visits?
Professional air conditioner tune-ups might tackle the lion’s share of the upkeep, but a few preventative maintenance tasks are within your power to handle. For instance, these quarterly to-dos keep your air conditioner running flawlessly until the next visit:
- Regularly exchanging air filters
- Dusting the vent and duct openings
- Changing your thermostat batteries and gently wiping the device
- Removing organic debris from the outdoor unit covering
- Keeping plant growth clipped around the outdoor condenser
- Running a dehumidifier to make your indoor air feel cooler
- Using heat-generating appliances only at night
The above habits limit the dirt and other stressors that increase your HVAC system’s energy and repair demands.
How Often Should You Maintain Your AC?
If you’re already doing everything you can to limit your air conditioner’s deterioration, how often should you schedule maintenance for your AC? Besides the quarterly tasks between professional visits, the average AC maintenance schedule is once a year. That’s non-negotiable, although your HVAC maintenance routine might need to slot in even more visits in the following situations:
- Pet ownership: Cats, dogs, and other furry animals constantly shed fur, and this can block air registers and coat internal components.
- Indoor smoke sources: Burning candles, incense, or cigarettes and cigars inside can create ash and a sticky film, which will cling to your ductwork.
- Housekeeping habits: The more you dust and sweep, the more you relieve stress for your air conditioner. A tidy home protects your appliances.
- System age: As systems get older, they need more attention to meet the same demands. Your technician may suggest an additional tune-up to end the season.
- Your preferred use habits: If you’re conservative about how often you run your air conditioner, you’ll make its tune-ups go further.
Ask Mountainside Air’s technician about the best air conditioning maintenance frequency!
