You’re Ready for Summer — But is Your AC?

According to the government, heating and cooling account for the largest energy costs for most Americans. Nobody needs to tell Arizonans that summer electricity bills can challenge their budgets. On the other hand, that cool comfort and clean air can feel priceless on a 100-degree summer day. While we’re still experiencing relatively mild weather during the spring, it’s time to make a small investment to make certain that your AC runs efficiently and well during the warmest part of the year.

How to Get Your AC Ready for Summer

Consider the most common and effective ways to make certain that your AC is ready for spring and summer:

Change or Clean Filters

Most of you can and should change your air conditioning filters. If you purchased cheaper filters, that’s probably fine, but you should probably change them at least once a month. Also, you can also purchase washable filters, and the same advice about cleaning them frequently applies.

Some kinds of disposable filters may not need to get changed as often as monthly. Most likely, the filter came with a label that indicated how long you should use it before replacing or cleaning it. However, if you’re planning to run your air conditioning 24/7 during the warmer months, you should err on the side of more frequent attention. Clogged filters make your AC work harder and shorten its lifespan. You should not try to save time or money by putting off this important task.

Beyond keeping your filters changed, consider other important steps to avoid AC repairs and keep your system running as efficiently as possible. These include spring maintenance, sealing ducts, and knowing when it’s time to replace your old unit.

Spring Air Conditioning Tune-Ups

As your parents probably told you, an ounce of prevention can work better than a pound of cure. During a spring AC maintenance tune-up, our technicians will run through a maintenance checklist to ensure they can catch small issues before they blossom into major inconvenience and repair bills. The technician will also clean your condenser coils, add up to a pound of coolant, and drain and flush condensate. In addition, our package comes with one complimentary electrical component, if needed, and a free washable air filter.

To serve our valuable customers, we offer a discounted tune-up package that’s much cheaper than buying some or all of these services on their own. Best of all, this affordable package will give you the peace of mind of knowing that you’ve taken responsible steps to ensure your AC will run well in future months.

Seal AC Ducts

You already know that your cooling system is one of the most important features in any Arizona home. The US Department of Energy says that they consider the air ducts a vital feature of that cooling system. This network of ducts carries air back and forth from your air conditioner to the livable areas of your home. At the same time, they’re generally kept behind walls or in the attic within spaces you don’t intend to cool.

If they leak, the DOE says that problem can cost you hundreds of dollars because you’re paying to cool uninsulated places that you don’t even inhabit. We have found that most homes leak from 25 to 40 percent. You can imagine how much money preventing that loss could save you on your monthly bills. Also, as the cooled air escaped, unconditioned air gets in, so you may suffer from poorer indoor air quality. Very often, you won’t notice much at first because the ducts work quietly. Eventually, you may notice that your AC stays on longer than it used to or doesn’t appear to do a good job of keeping some rooms cool.

Here’s your good news. Our technicians can visit your home, find every leak, and seal it tightly. Call upon us for professional duct sealing and enjoy lower electric bills, improved comfort, and better indoor air quality.

When Do You Need a New AC?

According to the Department of Energy, a new, efficient air conditioning system can run 20 to 40 percent more efficiently than a 10-year-old one. Even more, those figures compare the efficiency of the older models to new models on the day they were first installed. Since your older model has worked to cool your home through the warmest months in Arizona for a number of years, you know that you’ve already given it a workout. Even if you have had your AC maintained and repaired, the unit might be nearing the end of its useful life. Your investment in an efficient AC could trim your power bills and keep you from having to call for unplanned and inconvenient repairs during the most sweltering days of the summer.

The DOE also suggests making certain that you buy the right heating or cooling unit for your home. For instance:

• A unit that’s too small will have to work too hard and still not keep your home as comfortable as it should.
• On the other hand, an overpowered AC system my not properly condition your air to reduce the humidity.

One thing that we’ve found is that many of our customers have invested in other kinds of energy efficiency since they last installed their old air conditioner. For instance, they’ve had windows sealed or replaced, installed better insulation, and added weather stripping to doors. This means that right-sizing their new air condition actually meant buying a somewhat smaller unit than they had before. Also, the rating systems for new air conditioners have changed within the past few years, so you can’t simply use the BTU-rating on the old model as a guide.

When you call upon us to talk about buying a new heating or cooling system, we will send a NATE-certified tech to perform a professional evaluation. We use that evaluation to suggest the best solutions for cooling your home. You can also bet that our comprehensive estimate will include all charges, so you don’t have to worry about any surprises when you pay the bill.

Why Prepare Your AC for Spring Today?

You will not profit if you put off necessary maintenance, repairs, and sometimes even replacements of your AC this spring. While you may still enjoy fairly mild spring weather, you know it won’t last. Besides, a maintained unit will spare electricity and keep your home more comfortable. It can also do its part to improve both indoor and outdoor air quality.

Take action to ensure a cool home by calling, emailing, or chatting online with us today. Just in case the unexpected does happen, we also offer 24/7 emergency service. However, your proactive actions to maintain or replace your AC can keep you from needing it!