Air Conditioner Maintenance

Change your AC filters: Your air conditioner’s filter helps improve air quality by trapping dust, dander, lint, and other harmful particles. Filters are a crucial component in AC maintenance and something you can feel comfortable taking charge of yourself. It’s best practice to try and change your filters once every three months. When it’s time to change your AC filters, follow these five easy steps:

• Before you find your air filter, make sure your unit is off completely, so you can prevent dirty air from circulating while no filter is installed.
• Once your unit is off, locate your air filter, typically behind the return vent, which can be on the ceiling or floor in a central part of your home.
• After locating the return vent, unhook the latch on the cover. If there is dust buildup on the cover, be sure to wipe it down with warm water and a cloth.
• From there, you should be able to slide out your old filter and replace it with a new one, then simply secure the cover back on. If you have a ductless or window unit, the return vent and air filter will be found directly on the air conditioner, but you can follow these same steps once you locate the filter.
• Don’t forget, if you have multiple AC units, you’ll have multiple filters to change!

Keep the outside portion of your unit clear: If you have a central or packaged air conditioner, the unit will be located outside. It’s important to keep the area surrounding your outdoor AC clean and debris-free. A good rule of thumb is to not let any plants or other wildlife grow within a 2-foot radius of your air conditioner. If plants, trees, or weeds grow too close to your AC, it could interfere with its functionality. Additionally, if you see things like leaf buildup or animal nests around your unit, it’s safe to remove them so they don’t get caught in your air conditioner.

Level your unit: Over time, the pad where the outdoor portion of your air conditioner sits can begin to droop or sink due to soil erosion or settlement. If your unit isn’t level, it can cause parts inside to become misaligned and fail early. Use a level tool to make sure your unit is aligned correctly. If you find your unit to be lopsided, you can place rot-resistant shims under the base to bring it back to the right place.

2x a year

It’s important to have your air conditioner serviced regularly by an HVAC professional to help avoid your air conditioner breaking (although you can do some AC troubleshooting) and all the headache that comes along with a nonfunctioning air conditioner. Generally speaking, it’s best practice to get your air conditioner serviced by a professional twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall, to have them diagnose and handle repairs.

During routine AC maintenance and tune-ups, an HVAC technician will inspect and clean all parts of your air conditioner. They will also perform a test run of your AC to make sure it’s running properly. In the spring, maintenance will help you prepare your unit to provide you cool air throughout the summer months. In the fall, an HVAC technician can assess the wear and tear on your unit. If you need to repair or replace something, you’ll have sufficient time to do so before the next cooling season. Plus, regular HVAC maintenance allows professionals to catch small problems before they become large, costly ones.

The cost of AC maintenance can fluctuate depending on where you live and the cost of labor in your area. The national average price range for routine AC maintenance is between $100 and $150, according to a cost study done by Fixr, published on May 20, 2021.

Keep in mind that while routine maintenance typically falls in this range, if your HVAC professional finds an issue with your air conditioner, the price can increase. If your unit needs a refrigerant replacement or refill, it can cost anywhere from an additional $100 to $600, depending on the type of refrigerant needed, according to Home Guide’s collaboration with 5 expert AC Repair Services in November 2020. Costs for other repairs or part replacements also vary. View Trane’s AC products to learn more.