Maintenance and inspection schedule for heating and cooling systems. Air conditioners should be inspected for maintenance purposes annually after a certain amount of usage. There are also a number of things a homeowner can do to prolong the life of their heating and cooling system.
A well maintained air conditioner or heat pump should last 12 to 15 years if properly cared for. Properly maintaining your heating and cooling system will also increase its energy efficiency, saving you money and helping preserve the environment.
Frank Montalvo, who owns Azteca Air and Heat in Austin, Texas, recommends having your air conditioning and heating system professionally inspected annually once it reaches the age of five years. The best time to have your system inspected is in the spring or fall before you turn it on. His company offers customers a maintenance contract that includes annual inspections and 30 percent off parts and labor for repairs. During the yearly maintenance inspection, the technician checks for refrigerant leaks, cleans the coils, and changes the filters on the unit. You can expect to pay $60 to $100 for these visits depending on where you live.
There are several things you can do on your own to maintain your air conditioner or heating system to prolong its life and increase energy efficiency. The most important thing is to clean or replace your filters once a month. The air filter is key in how well your heating and cooling system works. If is clogged with dirt, dust, and hair the unit has to work much harder. A clean air filter also provides you with healthier indoor air. When checking your filter, make sure the air conditioner or heat is turned off. If your filter needs to be replaced, you will find a size encoded on the old filter. Jot down this number and buy a new one at a home improvement or hardware store. If your filter is reusable, you may want to use a drop or two of bleach in the water you use to clean the filter to kill bacteria. Montalvo also recommends pouring bleach down the condensation drain to prevent clogs.
Other tips for maintaining your heating and cooling system include vacuuming registers and air vents at least once a month, making sure registers and vents are not blocked by furniture or draperies, having your duct work professionally cleaned every two to three years, ensuring your attic has proper insulation, and using ceiling fans to decrease the need for air conditioning.
Montalvo also offers this maintenance tip for your air conditioner: "I tell people whenever they're cutting the grass to turn off the AC and then clean the grass off the outside before turning it back on. The unit gets covered in grass, and that makes the AC work a lot harder. The other thing a homeowner can do is wash the outside of the air conditioner with a water hose once a year, at least." You should also keep plants at least a foot away from the outdoor compressor to ensure adequate airflow.
Do-it-yourselfers may want to tackle cleaning the interior of the unit and the coils themselves. Be sure to turn off the unit before removing the cover. After ensuring that the coil is dry, you can use a soft brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to remove any dirt or debris from the coil and fan blades inside the unit.
