The summer season is coming to a close, making way for our long autumn and winter seasons. The warm weather has been great, and getting to cool off in our homes after a long day in the sun was exactly what we needed these months to relax a little bit. But while we’ve given ourselves a bit of a break, our air conditioners have put in a lot of work. Fahrhall Home Comfort Specialists are here today to tell you that it’s important to evaluate the condition your AC before you retire it for the season.

What exactly do we mean by “evaluate the condition of your AC?” You need to consider if your unit requires maintenance, repairs, or even replacement, and the end of summer is a great time to do so.

How to know if your air conditioner requires professional maintenance:

You may know to have a professional come do maintenance on your home comfort systems once per year, but a lot can happen during the summer season! With consistent use, your air conditioner could be in need of some serious cleaning and maintenance. Having a technician take a look at it will ensure your air conditioner is turned off clean and without any issues.

A good way to check if your unit needs maintenance is by looking at its air filter frequently. If you find this filter is requiring thorough cleaning or replacement more often than not, you likely need to get some air conditioner maintenance done.

How to know if your air conditioner requires professional repairs:

The need for repairs is usually spotted through professional maintenance. However, you should keep an eye out and evaluate the condition of your AC and its need for repairs on your own as well. You can do this by monitoring your utility bills. By checking how much you’ve been paying, you’ll be able see if any gradual (or more drastic!) changes in billed amounts have occurred. This signifies that something has gone wrong with your unit and it’s working overtime through the problem to continue to keep your home cool.

If you believe this is the case for your air conditioner, make sure you call a professional as soon as possible. Many repairs are easy and quick to fix, but the longer they remain, the more damage they may potentially cause to your system, resulting in costlier repairs than expected.

How to know if your air conditioner requires replacement:

Most units begin to suffer serious breakdowns and very costly repairs at about 10 or so years of age. This is a general guideline depending on how well maintained your system is and what type of repairs it needs.

The warranties for air conditioners usually expire at 10 years, so any new parts become significantly more expensive. You can decide if you feel repairs are the best route to take or if unit replacement is better, depending on the bills you receive. You should also note that in ~10 years, there are much more efficient units on the market, so upgrading to a new system may benefit your monthly utility bills as well. A professional can help you make an assessment and advise you on the best route to take.

Fahrhall Home Comfort Specialists are here for any of your home comfort system needs! We are fully committed to our customers and can help you evaluate the conditioner of your AC unit before the season ends. You can click here to contact us for more information, or schedule a service appointment today!