As Spring takes hold here in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, we are getting closer to the day when we’ll need to turn on the air conditioning in our homes.
But you may be in for a nasty surprise (and some nasty expenses) if you have been making the following mistakes when it comes to your home’s air conditioning system.
Would you drive your car for years and not even get an oil and filter change? If you’re not getting annual maintenance on your home’s air conditioning system, it’s pretty much the same thing.
Lack of maintenance is costly in many ways. The first way is in reduced efficiency. That sends your energy costs skyrocketing. Another way is that not maintaining the A/C means it will break down more, with repairs that are likely much more expensive than a tune-up. Many manufacturers require documentation of annual professional maintenance to keep the warranty in effect. If your air conditioning hasn’t been maintained, your warranty is likely invalid. Not taking care of your air conditioning will shorten its lifespan, meaning you’ll have to replace it sooner.
Fortunately, this is an easy problem to fix. Wesco Oil provides professional maintenance tune-up service for air conditioning. And right now is the optimal time to do it, with the end of heating season and before the start of A/C season. It’s much easier to schedule your tune-up for a day and time that fits your schedule.
Central air conditioning systems have an average life expectancy is 15 years for a newer A/C, 10 years for an older model. If your system is reaching the end of its lifespan or is long past the life expectancy, upgrading to a new A/C can save you up to 40% on your cooling costs!
Another way older A/C systems are expensive is that they use R22 refrigerant. That is no longer being made because it is considered a greenhouse gas. With the manufacturing of R22 ceased, supplies are shrinking, and prices are soaring.
Today’s A/C systems use a more environmentally friendly and affordable refrigerant.
Your A/C unit needs room to work. Keep plants and shrubs at least 18 to 30 inches away from it. Clean leaves, litter, twigs, and other yard debris away from it. When you’re mowing your lawn and using a side discharge, position your mower so you’re not blowing clippings into the A/C unit.
Reminder: The top of the A/C unit is not a shelf or a table. Don’t put things on it.
Keep doors and windows closed, and keep bath and kitchen exhaust fan usage to a minimum, when the A/C is running.
Don’t crank up the A/C to cool your house faster. It doesn’t work, and creates unnecessary wear on your air conditioning system.
Make sure your home’s air conditioning is ready for summer. Contact us today to schedule your maintenance tune-up!
