As you probably know, it’s essential to have your HVAC unit serviced now and then to ensure it’s running smoothly. If you don’t get your AC checked, it can lead to it not performing its best, which can cause your electric bills to skyrocket. In a worst-case scenario, it can lead to the death of your unit, meaning that you can be without cooling in the heat of summer, and vice versa.
But when should you service it? Many will do it annually, but is that the case? In some instances, you could be having your AC unit serviced more than it needs to, bringing up unnecessary costs. On the other hand, you might feel like it’s better to be overly cautious than not. This post will answer the question.
Let’s get right into it: the answer is yes, you should service your AC every year, even if you don’t feel like it needs it. While it’s not the life or death of your AC, not servicing it yearly can reduce its performance over time.
Here is why.
Contents
Not Maintaining it Can Shorten Its Lifespan
A central AC can last around 15 years, with the amount being more or less depending on how often you service it. If you have it tuned up every year, you can increase its lifespan. One reason is that workers can find minor issues that can grow into problems that can destroy your AC over time.
Every year, your air conditioner can have a reduced efficiency by 5%. Of course, this reduction in efficiency can depend on which unit you have, but the truth is that constant use without a tune-up can drive it to an early grave. Think of an AC as a car or your own body. You want to take care of it to last as long as possible.
It costs a good amount of money to upgrade your AC, and by extending its lifespan, it’s a small price to pay compared to replacing it altogether. For that, we say a tune-up is worth it if you want to keep your AC running a long time.
It Can Reduce the Price of Air Conditioning Bills
No one likes a high AC bill, but few realize how much one can lower it by maintaining their unit regularly. While higher electricity prices can contribute to your bills during the season, another cause is a faulty AC.
There are many reasons why your AC could be giving you higher bills. If there is a leak, faulty parts, or a dirty filter, your AC has to work harder for less. And don’t think it won’t happen to you; there will be some build-up or parts wearing and tearing with constant use. To have your AC running its best, you need a tune-up that can remove any build-up or replace certain parts.
If you’ve been noticing a sharp increase in your bills, perhaps it’s time to get a tune-up. Often, the cost of fixing your AC is nothing compared to how much you can save if you do so. Also, we bet you’d instead give your money to a repairman than an electric company.
It Upholds Your Warranty
You might not want to have your AC tune-upped because you feel like if it fails, your warranty will protect it. However, this is not the case for all units. Many units have warranties that depend on how often you maintain them. If you don’t maintain your unit and it fails, it’s on you to repair it, not the manufacturer’s job.
Whether you think it’s fair or not is irrelevant. You need to make sure your AC meets all the checks for repair, or else you risk disappointment and wasted time. Of course, this can depend on the type of unit you have. You should always check your warranty to see, as you do not want to schedule a warranty repair only for the company to deny it.
If it Fails During Peak Season, You’re Going to Have to Wait a While
Another reason to schedule tune-ups is that if it fails during summer, not only do you have an uncomfortable home, but it can take longer. This is because, during the summer, many people have air conditioner problems. Depending on where you live, some people might not even use their AC until summer happens, only to discover it’s not working.
You don’t want to call a maintenance specialist only to be told that it will take weeks due to them being booked up. So, rather than waiting on repairs, having tune-ups can reduce your chances of that happening. One strategy is to have it serviced during the spring, which can help you prepare for the summer, but you don’t have to deal with as many people ahead of you.
It’s Expensive to Repair
We should mention that it can be expensive if you have to repair an AC. Have you ever had a clunker of a car where repairing it costs more than what the car was worth? Think that. If you have a broken AC, you might have to choose to fix it, which may only give it borrowed time, or buy a new one altogether.
We understand that paying to maintain it can be costly, but it’s nothing compared to a complete repair or buying a new one. Usually, the problems maintenance finds are minor fixes, costing nothing to prepare. So don’t wait until there’s something big before you call the repairman. Your bank account will thank you for it later.
Parting Thoughts
If you want to ensure your AC lasts long and pumps out air for less money, you must have yearly maintenance. It would be best if you did it in the spring to prepare for summertime and avoid booked schedules. If you don’t, you might have an AC that prematurely dies or deal with higher bills. But, of course, no one wants that, so we recommend that you schedule an appointment ASAP.