Air conditioners are a way of life for most Americans, with over 68% of homes having one installed. While most recognize the value of good maintenance, few realize just how crucial it can be. Poorly maintained or faulty air conditioning and fan equipment was the cause of as much as 35% (2,500 out of 7,200) fires in the years between 2006 and 2010; a further 7% (500 of 7,200) resulted from broken heat pumps.
Despite the need for such maintenance, only just more than 40% of owners make use of annual regular air conditioning services. Regular maintenance has other benefits apart from lowering the risk of fire; it can cut down on the need for air conditioning repair. It also results in potential energy savings. You can decrease your air conditioner’s energy consumption by between 5% and 15% simply by replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one.
Over the years, as demand for air conditioning has grown and summer heat has increased, the energy consumed by residential air conditioning has increased, doubling between 1993 and 2005 and climbing another 10% by 2010. According to the U.S Department of Energy, 6% of a household’s energy consumption comes from home cooling, including air conditioning, and it costs U.S home owners about $11 billion annually to cool their homes. Ensuring that the unit runs well and does not require air conditioning repair, then, is vital and can save home owners thousands per year.
Apart from regularly changing your air filters, you should also check your evaporator coils and check for any debris or dirt in the unit, depending on the type of air conditioner you have. If your unit requires more advanced maintenance, it is best to call a professional. Maintenance can make all the difference in terms of safety, energy costs, repair costs, and of course good functioning of the air conditioner itself.
