6 Easy Ways to Avoid an Air Conditioner Breakdown This Summer

Updated on 07/02/2019

The one thing every homeowner fears on the hottest day of the year is an air conditioner breakdown. If you’ve made it through the majority of the summer with your AC unit going strong, congratulations! Not to bring you down, but—after working hard all summer—an AC breakdown may be just around the corner. The unfortunate truth is that most air conditioner breakdowns happen during the summer months when you need your system the most. If this does happen, we’ve rounded up six ways to avoid central air breakdowns:

Six Simple Tips to Avoid an Air Conditioner Breakdown

1. Maintain a Clean Air Filter to Avoid Air Conditioner Breakdown

A dirty air filter is one of the main reasons why an AC unit could breakdown. Dirty filters block airflow, which causes your system to overwork. Checking (and most likely changing) your filter every month will significantly lower the chances of breakdowns.

2. Don’t Skip Your Annual Tune-Up

We recommend scheduling your annual tune-up in the spring, in order to prevent breakdowns in the summer. This preventative appointment will include the basic maintenance tasks and inspections to make sure everything is in order before your system tackles the heat. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

3. Check for Water Leaks to Avoid Air Conditioner Breakdown

As you change your filter, take a quick look at the area around your AC unit. If you notice any water leaking in or around your system, contact us right away so we can properly inspect and fix what’s going wrong. Clogged condensation drain lines are one of the leading causes of air conditioner breakdown in the United States and can cause additional damages to your unit.

4. Make Sure Your Air Vents are Open and Unblocked

Contrary to what you may think, closing your air vents can throw your system’s balance out of whack and lead to operational issues. Keep your vents open and clear of obstructions to avoid possible breakdowns.

5. Keep the Area Around Your Outside (And Inside) Unit Clear

Cut the grass and trim the bushes around your outside condenser unit so it can properly breath. Similarly, clean up the area around your inside unit, too. This prevents dirt buildup which could lead to breakdowns and make it harder for us to fix the problem.

6. Know When it is Time to Replace Your System

This is the most important tip of them all. The harder your AC unit has to work, the more likely it is to overheat and breakdown. Some tips for keeping your system alive longer are using reasonable thermostat settings and never shutting your system completely off. However, there will come a point in time when you must replace your air conditioner system in order to avoid the inevitable breakdown. Schedule your inspection before summer hits, so you receive the best recommendation possible for how to proceed leading into the hottest months of the year.

We firmly believe that staying up-to-date on your AC maintenance is the best way to avoid an air conditioner breakdown. But if your system does happen to fail you, give us a call! We respond to all air conditioning service requests in a timely fashion, and our technicians treat your home just like it was their own.

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