What Does the Annual Maintenance of an Air Conditioner Involve?

Maintenance Saves Money

• An article on the Sustainable Sources website states an air conditioner loses 5 percent of its efficiency each year if regular maintenance is not performed. A lower performing air conditioner will require more energy and result in a higher power bill to cool your home. Performing an annual maintenance check on an air-conditioning unit can allow the unit to maintain a 95 percent level of designed efficiency for many years.

Items to Be Checked

• A comprehensive maintenance check up on an air-conditioning system should include the following items: an amperage draw check of the compressor to determine the health of the compressor; pressure check of the cooling lines; and check the coolant level, replace it if necessary and check for coolant leaks. Any leaks that are found should be fixed. Also, check and clean the coil or coils and any debris that has accumulated in the outdoor portion of the system. Check the duct work and filter for blockages and cleanliness. Once the maintenance check is complete, the air conditioner should be in top running condition. If there are issues, the technician will let you know of any repairs that should be completed.

Other Benefits

• It is a good practice to schedule your annual air conditioner maintenance check with a company that handles the type of unit installed in your home. Check with different companies to find one that gives priority service to customers who have regular system checkups. Then, when the temperature hits the summer high and you have air-conditioner problems, you will be able to quickly have a technician come out to your home.

Do It Yourself

• Although you probably cannot check electrical connections or coolant levels, you can perform some parts of the annual maintenance check on a more regular basis to keep your air conditioner in the best possible condition. Keep the condenser unit free of dust and debris. Check and replace your filter once a month during the summer and keep the air conditioner free of debris during the offseason.