In the Orlando area, our air conditioners really have their work cut out for them! It has to be a top priority to take excellent care of them. Regular maintenance is essential for system longevity and efficiency. Regular maintenance involves a series of important tasks, such as cleaning, inspecting, and ensuring proper access to the unit, to keep the system running efficiently. Dirt and neglect are the top causes of heating and cooling system failure and inefficiency, so addressing these issues through regular care is crucial. If you do that, you can have a system that functions well and stays efficient for many years. Nearly half of a home’s energy bills go to heating and cooling costs, making it even more important to maintain your system properly. What kind of care do air conditioners need? How often should they be serviced? We’ve got some helpful suggestions to keep your AC in great shape.
DIY Maintenance
We would never recommend that a homeowner open up their air conditioner and poke around inside it! You could easily injure yourself or damage the unit, and you would most certainly void your warranty. No, repairs and extensive maintenance must always be done by professionals. But there are some things you should be doing yourself!
First, there’s the air filter. Keeping this clean will prevent the air conditioner from having to work too hard to pull air through the system. It will maximize air circulation, so you won’t end up with the air conditioner overheating on the inside while your home’s temperature ends up uneven and inconsistent. Regularly inspecting the air filter is important to ensure it is not clogged and is functioning properly. Inspecting the filter is a simple example of a DIY maintenance task that can help keep your system running efficiently.
Once a month is the usual recommendation for AC air filter changes. If you have pets who shed a lot or other causes of extra dust, do it more often. If you’re only using your AC occasionally, such as during early spring or late fall, you can do it less often. If you’re not sure how to do this, check your owner’s manual, or reach out to us with questions.
The other thing that you should keep clean is the outdoor unit. It can easily get caked with dust, dirt, and mud, or tangled in debris like leaves and grass. Rake the area, trim back plants, and gently hose the unit down. This helps ensure that the heat can dissipate easily from the condenser coils.
The Importance of Air Filters
When it comes to keeping your air conditioning system running efficiently, few things are as important as the humble air filter. Air filters are the first line of defense in maintaining both the performance of your air conditioning unit and the quality of the air you breathe indoors. Over time, dust, pollen, and other airborne particles can clog the filter, forcing your air conditioning system to work harder just to keep your home cool. Dirty coils and clogged filters force HVAC units to consume more electricity, which not only drives up your energy bills—sometimes by as much as 15%—but can also lead to reduced indoor air quality and put unnecessary strain on your HVAC system.
Regular air filter maintenance is a simple yet powerful way to keep your air conditioning unit operating at peak performance. Most experts recommend you change air filters every one to three months, depending on how often you use your system and factors like pets or local dust levels. In a place like Orlando, FL, where air conditioning is a must for much of the year, sticking to a routine maintenance schedule for your air filters is especially important. Clean air filters help prevent sudden system failures and reduce the risk of costly repairs, ensuring your air conditioning system is ready to handle the hot summer months. Regular tune-ups can save up to 15% on energy bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Beyond energy efficiency and system longevity, clean air filters play a big role in maintaining optimal indoor air quality. By trapping dust, allergens, and other particles, they help create a healthier environment—something especially valuable for anyone with allergies or respiratory concerns. Regularly inspecting and replacing your air filters as part of your air conditioning maintenance service can help catch potential issues early, saving you money and hassle down the road.
Incorporating air filter maintenance into your regular tune ups and annual maintenance not only helps your air conditioning unit run more efficiently, but also extends its lifespan and keeps your energy costs in check. Whether you have a single air conditioning unit or a more complex HVAC system, making air filter care a priority is one of the easiest ways to ensure your system continues functioning correctly and keeps your home comfortable all year long. In Greater Orlando, where the climate puts extra demands on cooling systems, this simple step can make all the difference in maintaining optimal performance and avoiding unexpected repairs.
Professional Maintenance
An annual tune up is recommended for most air conditioning systems to ensure optimal performance and longevity. Once a year, an air conditioner should have a thorough check-up from a qualified HVAC technician, typically in the springtime. During a professional tune-up, your technician will clean all the components meticulously, check the amp draw on the compressor, inspect all electrical connections, measure refrigerant levels, and clear the condensate drain to prevent blockages and water damage. They’ll lubricate moving parts to reduce friction and improve efficiency. The technician will also inspect the overall equipment, including both indoor and outdoor units, to ensure safe operation. A standard air conditioning tune-up should take about 1 to 1.5 hours to complete. As part of the service, they will look for minor issues before they become major problems and recommend replacement of any worn components if necessary. If your system includes heating, the furnace will be inspected, and the thermostat will be checked for proper operation. Replacing an old HVAC system with an ENERGY STAR certified model can save nearly $140 annually, making it a worthwhile investment for long-term savings.
Additionally, the technician will inspect the duct system for leaks and ensure it is properly sealed to maintain efficiency and save on energy costs. Sealing and insulating the duct system helps prevent air loss and keeps your utility bills lower. In fact, sealing ducts can prevent 20 to 30 percent of lost air in HVAC systems, making it a highly effective step in improving overall efficiency. It is also important to prepare your home for an HVAC technician’s visit by ensuring the area around the system is clear and accessible.
Professional maintenance is especially important in Orlando due to high temperatures, which put extra stress on HVAC systems and make routine checks crucial for efficiency and system lifespan. Annual failure costs can be substantially higher than routine maintenance costs for HVAC systems, so staying on top of regular check-ups can save you money in the long run.
There is a situation where once-a-year maintenance is not enough: if you have a heat pump. This system operates like an air conditioner and has almost all the same components, but it is reversible and can heat your home in the winter. That means it runs all year long, and needs twice-yearly maintenance.
Prompt Repair
Finally, repairs need to be done as soon as possible when an AC problem develops. Prompt repair will keep small issues from turning into major problems, expensive repairs, skyrocketing utility bills, or system breakdowns. Take note if your air conditioner makes odd noises or odors, cycles quickly on and off, or is not performing as well as it used to, and get air conditioning service in Winter Park, FL. Homeowners should list any HVAC concerns before the technician arrives to ensure all issues are addressed during the visit. Timely repairs matter for maintaining comfort and system reliability.
Contact Gary Munson Heating & Air Conditioning for AC maintenance and repair in Orlando, FL. You’ll be more comfortable with the best!