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Your home’s air conditioner does a lot. In the summer, keeping the entire house cool is a significant undertaking, and frequent use of your air conditioning system can cause damage over time. Additionally, air conditioning systems are expensive, so ensuring the unit lasts as long as possible can save homeowners thousands of dollars.
However, many homeowners struggle to answer the question, “How often should you service your HVAC system?” HVAC systems are complex, so it can be challenging to determine how to maintain them without expert assistance. This article will answer that critical question and recommend an excellent servicing company in Georgetown.
Yearly Service Provides Optimal Protection
Modern HVAC systems are durable and generally operate for years without interference. Still, regular maintenance is vital to maintaining performance and extending the system’s life. Typically, hiring a service company to inspect and perform maintenance on your HVAC system yearly provides ideal protection.
This schedule is ideal because air conditioners face increased stress during the warmer months. Although the cost of air conditioning maintenance is considerable, the savings on energy and repair expenses far outweigh the yearly price. Additionally, dealing with a broken air conditioner during the summer can be highly uncomfortable for everyone in the home.
Scheduling an inspection before the summer begins ensures your temperature control systems are in peak condition so that you and your family can stay cool. Whenever you need maintenance services, you can count on help from AC repair experts in Georgetown from Georgia Air.
Benefits of HVAC Maintenance
Although it may be tempting to forego the expense of maintaining your air conditioner regularly, the benefits outweigh the costs. HVAC systems are a significant investment for most households; extending the system’s life can save you thousands over time.
In addition, keeping your home cool requires a lot of energy, so keeping energy costs low is critical during the summer. Finally, scheduling routine air conditioner maintenance will ensure your unit always operates at peak efficiency, as the servicing company will change the air filters and inspect the mechanical components throughout the system.
Signs Your Air Conditioner Needs Servicing
While annual maintenance is usually sufficient to keep HVAC systems operating smoothly for a long time, some circumstances require additional attention. In the following sections, we’ll review some signs that your system may require more urgent maintenance to help fully answer the question, “How often should you service your HVAC system?”
Reduced Performance
Ineffectiveness is usually the first sign that your air conditioner needs repair. Ultimately, your air conditioner’s job is to keep your home cool, so something is wrong when it isn’t doing that. While performance changes can be subtle, closely monitoring your unit’s effectiveness can help spot issues before they worsen and help keep you cool in the process.
If your heating and cooling systems don’t respond to your thermostat settings, or if warm air is coming from the vents while the air conditioning is on, there’s a problem. Watch your air conditioner usage to ensure it isn’t taking longer than normal to cool your home if it is malfunctioning.
Inconsistent Cooling
An inconsistent temperature throughout the house is another sign of a malfunctioning heating and cooling system. Clogged filters or ducts can result in hot or cold spots in certain rooms, which indicate air balancing issues. Old motors and other components can also cause the system’s pressure to fall, resulting in less airflow in rooms farther away from the unit.
While air balancing issues can be challenging to address, thorough cleaning and air filter replacement can resolve the issue for many homeowners. You should contact an HVAC servicing company if you notice significantly different temperatures throughout your home.
Higher Electricity Bills
An air conditioning system requires a substantial amount of electricity. If your air conditioner is malfunctioning, it will be less energy-efficient and draw more power to cool your home effectively. As a result, you’ll see higher monthly electric bills.
When your electric bill is higher, it could indicate that you need to repair your air conditioner. Even though energy usage will naturally rise during the hotter months of the year, an increase in power consumption without a drastic change in energy usage strongly indicates a malfunctioning or inefficient system.
Loud Noises From Unit
AC units make noise while operating, but you should be on the lookout for unusual noises from your unit. For example, when a component is squeaking or banging, it’s possible that a part is loose or that there is a foreign object in the system. Likewise, the noises you hear when a motor fails can be different, but distinct noises are never a good sign.
Powering down the unit is the first thing you should do when you hear an unusual noise coming from the unit. However, operating the system can cause further damage until help arrives, so it is safest to leave it off while awaiting assistance. Once a service technician arrives, they’ll be able to diagnose the issue and make recommendations for repairs or replacements.
Unpleasant Smells
Any foul odor emanating from your vents should be cause for concern, as residents need clean, filtered air from their air conditioning units. The air from your vents can smell bad for several reasons, but each indicates your air conditioner needs urgent attention. You can learn more about the source of the problem by identifying the type of smell you’re noticing.
If your system smells mildew-like or musty, a build-up of mold may be causing the problem. When you smell this, moisture is likely gathering in the system, creating an ideal environment for mold to grow and thrive. A mold problem can be hazardous, so it’s crucial to have an expert handle it as soon as possible.
Your system may emit other bad smells caused by different problems, such as clogged filters. Your system’s filters are responsible for cleaning the air that passes through your ducts, which can help reduce any odors outside your house. However, as these filters wear and get dirty over time, they can lose their effectiveness, harming the air quality in your home.
Electrical Problems
Since heating and cooling systems require a lot of power, maintaining your electrical system is crucial. For example, a tripped breaker on your home’s circuit board may be a sign that your air conditioner needs attention from a servicing company. Other issues, like flickering lights when turning the HVAC on or inconsistent performance, can also indicate electrical problems.
However, it is essential to remember that the electrical system in your home is complicated, and it can be hazardous to attempt to handle it without appropriate training or equipment. Any electrical repairs in your HVAC system or elsewhere in the house should always be left to a professional.
Any Sign of Smoke
Any sign of smoke or burning in your air conditioner is a serious indication that it needs attention. You cannot ignore the danger of smoke or fire in your air conditioner system because it has ducts running throughout your home. Additionally, as the system consumes a lot of power, electrical fires can occur in the unit if components fray or wear.
If your air conditioner starts emitting smoke or a burning smell, you should immediately turn it off and hire a technician. In the event of a fire, you and your family should evacuate the premises and contact the fire department. Safety is always the top priority, so never take a chance regarding fire risk.
Older HVAC Unit
Despite their durability and precision engineering, air conditioners are not permanent fixtures. Experts recommend that homeowners replace their air conditioning unit at least once every ten years, depending on the quality of the unit and maintenance frequency. A replacement may still be beneficial even if your system does not exhibit any of the above signs but is older than ten.
Get Expert HVAC Services Today
Heating and air conditioning systems contribute significantly to your home’s comfort. Without a functioning air conditioner, the temperature can make it challenging to accomplish anything in the house. Proper maintenance can help prevent unexpected breakdowns and keep your system working more efficiently for longer.
While we covered the basics of how often to maintain your air conditioner and how maintenance can benefit you, you may still have questions. Air conditioning systems are complex, and it can be challenging to determine where the problem is, so explore our website if you want to know more about AC coil cleaning and other aspects of HVAC maintenance.
Hopefully, you now know the answer to “How often should you service your HVAC system?”. Georgia Air offers excellent air conditioning repair services in Georgetown and the surrounding areas.
Whether you need routine maintenance or urgent repairs, our team can help. Call Georgia Air at 912-513-3724 today to speak to a helpful representative. Our technicians have the tools and expertise for reliable HVAC maintenance, repairs, and installation.