Summer is officially here, but for us, it may feel like it never really left. Your air conditioner has already been working hard so far this year, and if you want it to continue to do so effectively and efficiently, it’s important to keep up on your AC maintenance sessions as well as your West Palm Beach, FL air conditioning repair needs, as they crop up.
Neglecting repairs can lead to a domino effect, with the affected component causing other components to wear down or break down, until eventually your whole air conditioner fails. This is why it’s so important to tackle repairs as needed, and to know what signs to look for that indicate you need repairs to begin with. What repair needs should you be on the lookout for?
Refrigerant Leaks
There’s a fairly common misconception among homeowners that refrigerant is something that runs out like gasoline does in a car. On the contrary, however—your air conditioner is supplied with enough refrigerant upon installation to ideally last its entire lifespan. During the refrigeration process, this refrigerant is constantly recycled in the system.
So, what if you’re losing refrigerant? Well, this means you have a leak in the system and if you allow it to continue leaking, you could find yourself facing a system breakdown, as the air conditioner will have to work too hard to deliver you conditioned air.
Clogged Air Filter
Fortunately, this is one of the simplest “repair needs” to fix. In fact, you can fix it on your own. Your HVAC system’s air filter is there to protect the inside components of your air conditioner from dirt and debris that can impede its performance, despite another common myth that it’s there to protect your indoor air quality.
When the air filter becomes too clogged, it restricts airflow and your air conditioner, again, has to work too hard to do its job. You can likely see where we’re going with this—it will affect your cooling system in such a way that you’ll find yourself facing a premature system replacement.
The air filter is a component you can, and should, replace or clean on your own. Depending on the level of contaminants in your home, it’s advisable that you change the filter every 1-3 months during periods of use.
Old Age
This one is worth mentioning. Unfortunately, there’s not a whole lot you can do to combat the age of your air conditioner. Eventually, it will reach the point that components will start failing in groups and there is simply nothing left to do for your system but upgrade to a new air conditioner.
There’s a general rule of thumb when it comes to the repair needs of large appliances such as your air conditioner—if your next repair is going to cost half of what the whole system is worth, then you’re probably better off financially if you replace the whole system.
We’re happy to discuss your options with you and see if it’s better that you repair the system or consider replacement. There are a variety of system types on the market today, as well, so you don’t have to stick with the same model that you already have if you don’t want to.
When you need reliable air conditioning services, look no further than Envirotech Air Quality Services. Contact us today!
