10 Benefits Of Regular AC Repair And Service | Fort Worth, TX
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There are not a lot of certainties in life. Some people like to say the only two things you can count on are death and taxes. However, we would like to wager a third if you live in Fort Worth, TX. We say that you can count on the fact that at some point in your life you will need AC repair. Even if you buy the best HVAC system on the market, it will eventually be subject to wear and tear just like any other piece of machinery you might own at some point.
Of course, the difference between your home HVAC system and other pieces of machinery is that the HVAC system comes with a very high price tag. Therefore, it is in your best interest to seek out AC repair versus just scrapping it and going with another. With regular repair and service, some HVAC systems have been known to last as long as 20 years. There are plenty of other benefits that come with regular repair and service as well that make it worth your time to look a bit closer at the end of a repair if you start to hear funny noises or notice that your home is no longer cooling or heating the way it used to.
You don’t think twice about taking your car to have its oil changed, so you shouldn’t think twice about having your AC serviced. After all, they are both purchases that you cannot afford to live without but can be extremely expensive to replace if something goes wrong unexpectedly. Being smart about the way you maintain your HVAC system will keep it running for about the same amount of time as a well-oiled vehicle.
How Can I Maintain My AC System?
In between visits, there are also a few things you can do to help ensure that your HVAC system stays running at peak capacity. Changing the air filters is the number one thing you can do as a homeowner to reduce wear and tear on your AC system and prevent unexpected AC repairs. A clogged air filter can cause a lot of issues that are avoidable by just spending five minutes of time switching out filters.
In general, you should expect to change your air filters about once every three to five months, but this varies by home. During your repair and service call, you could ask the HVAC technician for their advice based on the level of dirt and debris they find in your system. They will be able to see firsthand how things accumulate in your home and offer you an educated guess. After a while, you should be able to get your own estimate when you see how dirty a filter is when you pull it out.
If you pull out an air filter that is just covered in dirt and grime this is an indication that you need to change your air filters on a more frequent basis. On the other hand, if you go to change your air filter after three months and it hardly looks used, you are safe to leave it in for a few more months before addressing the issue again. The reason it changes is that every home has its own base level of dirt and dust.
Families with pets and children tend to produce more dust that circulates in the air and gets sucked into the HVAC filters. Single-person homes or homes of retired people tend to produce less dust and dirt overall. The occupation of the people in your home can also influence how much dirt comes into your home. They are small factors you probably don’t think about, but your HVAC system definitely notices.
The other thing you can do is make it a point to clean the debris and dirt away from your outdoor AC unit. It is not uncommon for things to build up near your outdoor unit such as sticks, leaves, dirt, stones, etc. While the unit is designed to be tough against outdoor debris, it’s a mistake to expect it to handle every single thing that lands near it. When you go outside to clean your driveway or clear your leaves make sure you also clear the area around your outdoor unit on a regular basis. If there is a big storm, check the area for debris. Finally, don’t let kids play near the unit. There is no reason for them to be near it, and the more they are, the more likely it will get damaged by a falling toy such as a heavy ball, bike, scooter, etc. Chances are good you won’t let your kids play with a $50 glass vase, so why let them play near a much more expensive AC unit.
Benefits of Regular AC Repair & Service
While all of these are great ways to take care of your AC system, the best thing you can do for your HVAC system is to book an annual maintenance visit once a year. Unbeknownst to most, your HVAC manufacturer probably requires it to keep your warranty valid and it is the number one way to avoid an unintended benefit. These are just a few of the dozens of benefits that come with regular repair and service. Let’s take a closer look at them and a few more.
Improve Air Quality in Your Home
First up, one of the best bonuses of regular repair and service is the fact that the air in your home will likely get cleaner as a result. Over the year your AC system builds up a lot of dust and debris inside of it, and when it runs it circulates that debris back into your home. As part of an annual inspection, the HVAC technician will clean every single visible component including those hidden inside the outdoor unit casing and the elements within the HVAC system that sits inside your home. They will also clean visible ductwork that exists within the system, and if they notice a large amount of dust or debris in there will probably recommend that you consider a duct cleaning service as well.
Boost the Health of Your Family
The two-fold benefit of cleaner air is improved health for your family members. This is even more true for households that have family members that suffer from allergies or asthma. Breathing dust on a regular basis can actually make respiratory conditions worse, so it is worth it to pay a bit to make sure that the air in your home is clean for everyone. You also can ask the HVAC technician during the AC repair and service for suggestions on good HEPA filters for your AC system which can also help improve air quality.
Prevent Unexpected Breakdown AC repair
Another great benefit of staying ahead of your repair schedule by booking a regular service call is that you can avoid a lot of unexpected breakdowns. While a service call is not a 100% guarantee that something won’t go wrong in the future, because it can and in some instances, it still will, it is your best protection that it won’t. Machines can be unpredictable, but signs of clear wear and tear and/or damage are pretty good warning signs of impending damage. When you book a service call you give a tech a chance to see them before components completely break down. Therefore, you have the unique opportunity to fix them before something worse occurs.
Extend the Life of Your HVAC System
Along the same line of thought, the best way to ensure that your HVAC system lasts for its full lifespan is by servicing it once a year. Returning to the car scenario, if you don’t have your car repaired and serviced it is a good bet that it is going to stop working long before its normal lifespan. The same is true of your HVAC system. A good system can run for 15-20 years, but if you never tune it up or lubricate the moving parts, natural wear and tear along with continual friction is going to lead to its demise. If you don’t want to budget for a major expense every ten years, regular repair and service in Fort Worth, TX is the way to go.
Decrease Humidity In Your Home
The number one thing that can make you feel even warmer on a hot day is humidity- and it is also the number one enemy of homeowners who are running their AC. Even if your home is cooled to a comfortable temperature you will still feel hot and sticky if there is a high humidity rate in your home. There should not be any humidity in your home if the AC is working correctly, so if you notice a lot of humid air then it is time to schedule your annual HVAC service which should efficiently troubleshoot the issue and leave you comfortable again in no time.
Upgrade Your System if Necessary
Depending on the type of HVAC unit you own, it may be necessary to upgrade your system from time to time. Technology is changing constantly, so it is possible that there is now a new add-on for your system that will help you improve the way you access your home. Smart thermostats for example are one great addition that an HVAC tech might recommend for you during your annual inspection. Other people choose to install filtration systems to help make their air even cleaner. The best thing you can do is talk about your options with our HVAC technician during your repair and service visit.
Boost Your Home’s Energy-Efficiency
One of the biggest energy consumers in your home during the summer months is your AC system, so looking at ways to keep costs down might include changing the way you use your AC. The good news is that you may not have to turn up the temperature and lose some of your comfort if you just schedule a regular AC repair service visit. A well-maintained system consumes much less energy which
Reduce Pests in Your Home
Believe it or not, regular AC repair and service can help reduce how many unwanted pests you find in your home. Pests tend to break into homes via holes in screens and open windows, but if your AC is working effectively you will keep your home sealed up which means you won’t be dealing with as many ants, mosquitoes, and flies. In addition, sometimes mice can use your ductwork as a home, but your repair technician will check for them and warn you if it looks like it is time to call an exterminator. In your outdoor unit birds and critters can even build a home inside of the AC unit which can be a real issue that results in severe damage if not properly taken care of.
Keep Your Warranty Valid
As mentioned earlier, in order to keep your warranty valid you need to make sure that you have your HVAC system service at least once a year. If you don’t, there is a good chance that your manufacturer will refuse to fix issues that can get expensive very quickly. Your warranty is the one thing you want to make sure you protect, and the cost of repair and service pales in comparison.
Increase Your Own Comfortability
Finally, a well-serviced AC unit will ensure that you are comfortable in your Fort Worth, TX home at all times. If you like that idea, then call One Hour Air Conditioning and Heating of Fort Worth to set up your annual AC repair and service visit today.