Having a properly cared for air conditioning system is great – you get the benefit of a reliable and comfortable cool blast of air through the hottest parts of the year without having to worry about breakdowns. In the muggy St. Louis summers, a good air conditioner can make all the difference.
What is not fun are all of the air conditioner problems that can result from improper maintenance. A well-maintained system can keep running for 15 years or longer. However, an improperly maintained system can start showing signs of major air conditioner problems within a couple years.
Fortunately, it is easy to avoid most of the common air conditioner problems that many people wind up suffering from by avoiding just a few simple things. Read our list below to learn more, and if you find yourself needing heating & air conditioning repair, contact us today!
1. Missing Annual Maintenance
The top source of most air conditioner problems is as simple as skipping your annually scheduled maintenance. You may think that your system is working fine, but there are many air conditioner problems that have subtle symptoms that professionals can spot much with ease compared to the typical homeowner.
Annual maintenance is a good way to save money on repairs and service. Therefore, you can keep your air conditioner healthy rather than only calling a technician when there are obvious air conditioner problems.
During maintenance, the technician will clean components like the evaporator and the condenser, check your coolant levels, clean all the fans, change the filter, and make sure that the electrical system is not causing air conditioner problems.
2. Failing to Change the Air Filter
You may not see all the tiny dust and dirt particles in the air, but your filter is there catching all of it. As your system runs without changing the filter, more dust, fuzz, and other gunk starts accumulating in it. You need to change the filter regularly to prevent air conditioner problems like reduced air flow, reduced air quality, lowered cooling power, and more.
An old, dirty filter dramatically reduces the efficiency of your system. While your components may be all in good shape, the filter will force everything to work harder to maintain the temperature on your thermostat. This in turn stresses the system, causing other, more serious air conditioner problems. Changing the filter is affordable – repairing broken components is expensive.
Dirty filters also mean that you breathe in dirty air in your home – which is unpleasant, to say the least.
3. The Evaporator Coil Freezes
Impeded air flow resulting from an old air filter or reduced coolant levels can cause a critical component called the evaporator coil to freeze and begin to fail. This will then cause other components to start working harder to accommodate and can make them more likely to failure.
Learn More About Preventing Air Conditioner Problems
The air conditioner problems that result from a failure to follow a regular maintenance schedule cause all the other knock-on effects. However, a simple maintenance visit can prevent those cascading component failures that can cause you and your family some serious misery in the hottest months in St. Louis.
At Galmiche & Sons, we specialize in preventing the most common air conditioner problems for St. Louis homeowners with our affordable maintenance programs. Contact us today to learn more and for all of your heating & air conditioning needs!
