Can a Tune-Up on My A/C Really Save Me Money?

Just like with maintenance on your cars, regular maintenance of your a/c unit will help your system last longer, it will keep your system running more efficiently and it will continue to keep your power bills lower. More household energy is used to cool your home than is used for anything else. Anything you can do to help continue the efficiency of your system, will benefit you when the power bill comes each month. The best time to get you're a/c unit tuned up is early spring and can be done as late as mid to late spring. The idea is to make sure the tune up is completed before the hot weather comes and you need to start running the system on a regular basis. Many people will be having their systems readied for the summer months, so be sure to schedule your tune up in enough time to get it done before the temperatures start rising. Another benefit to getting your a/c unit tuned up is that it will keep your system from having to have a lot of costly repairs. Preventative maintenance is always cheaper than having to fix problems that occur when a system isn't taken care of properly. When you maintain your a/c, you will also extend its life rather than having to replace it after 5-10 years. A well maintained unit can last 15 years or longer.

You can expect the following to be done during you're a/c tune up:

• Cleaning and/or replacing necessary filters.


• Checking the hoses for cracks or wear in the material and replacing if necessary


• Make sure fluid levels are all where they should be and top off if necessary


• Lubricate any moving parts that need to be


• Check the airflow blower and makes sure all is working well


• Check the condensate drain


• Clean the coils if they need it

Even something as simple as a dirty filter can cause problems with your a/c unit. This is an easy replacement, and makes a big difference in the way your air conditioner works. A dirty filter can cause the coils of the system to freeze up. If that happens, the system then just stops blowing cool air and does no good to be on. Keeping the filters changed regularly, and the area around the a/c unit free of dust, keeps the system much cleaner. If you live in a hotter climate, you will undoubtedly use your a/c unit more often, so getting a tune up about every 6 months or so will keep it in good running condition. Having it checked regularly like this will also help identify any problems the a/c unit might have before they become huge repair issues.

The most significant way regular tune ups save you money is to lower your power bills. You can save as much as 3-10% on your power bills by having a good running system that is maintained and kept in good condition. It may not sound like much savings, but anyone who has had an air conditioner run rough due to not being clean can definitely see the results on their skyrocketing power bills that can result. When you combine a well maintained air conditioner, keep the a/c out of the sunlight to avoid it having to work harder, and add weatherization such as making sure the windows are properly sealed, having proper insulation, and sealing the duct work, you have the basis for having a comfortably cool home all throughout the hot season, and can also save money which every one of us wants to do in this economy.