When And Why You Need Air Conditioning Service | Dallas, TX
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If you own a home in Dallas, TX it is a very safe bet that you also have owned an AC unit that keeps your home liveable throughout the hot and humid summer months. While some homes in the east hunker down during the cold winter months, in the southwest people disappear inside of their homes and take refuge when the hot heat sweeps across the state. However, if your air conditioning is not functioning fully, it may be hard to hide inside your home. In fact, it may be downright miserable, which is where an air conditioning service comes into play.
The truth is something as simple as an air conditioning service may be all you need to keep your home cooled properly for summers to come. In fact, an AC service is one of the best ways to expand the lifespan of your AC and make sure that your warranty stays valid, which means that even newer units will benefit from regular service. After all, at the end of a season, any AC is going to have some dirt and debris built up inside of it, it doesn’t matter what age it is. This is just one of the many reasons that almost every HVAC company and manufacturer will tell you that you need an annual AC service.
How Important Is Regular Air Conditioner Service?
That said, a lot of people think that they can skip the service or attempt to do it on their own. A DIY air conditioning service is never going to come close to touching what professional HVAC technicians can do for your AC in Dallas, TX. Most companies have a step-by-step process they follow to ensure that your AC is thoroughly cleaned, inspected, repaired (if needed), and ready to tackle another crazy Dallas summer without any problems. This service requires specialized tools, knowledge, and attention to detail and most homeowners don’t even know where to start looking for trouble.
HVAC technicians on the other hand do because they spend their days repairing AC units and they perform air conditioning service calls regularly. We know exactly what the signs of impending repairs are because we troubleshoot them and repair them. The simple truth is that your AC is full of mechanical parts, and normal wear and tear is an unavoidable part of owning an AC. As it wears down parts will need to be replaced and dirt and grime will need to be cleaned out of your system.
Doing so regularly helps prevents your AC from breaking down and leaving you stranded on the phone with an emergency HVAC company praying they will be able to repair your HVAC system. Replacing a system can sometimes take up to two weeks for the new unit to be delivered and then installed, so the last thing you want to do is find yourself in this situation. The best way to avoid this scenario is by simply booking a very relatively low-cost annual air conditioning service at the start of the summer season.
That’s not to say that there is ever a bad time to book your service. The best time to book an AC service is when you need it and can remember it. If it suits you better to line up your air conditioning service with your furnace cleaning at the end of summer then go ahead and do so. Other people like to put it near their birthday so that they are reminded to take care of all the household tasks from renewing license plates to cleaning their AC. in the end, the only thing that matters is you get your air conditioning service done.
Still, wondering whether or not you really need to book an AC service visit in Dallas, TX? The following is a closer look at who benefits from an air conditioning service, what to expect during your service visit, and a few signs that it may be time to book your service call. After reading this, it should be clear that an annual maintenance visit is in your best interests as a homeowner in Dallas, TX.
Who Benefits from an Air Conditioning Service?
Do you have an AC unit in your home? If the answer is yes then you benefit from an air conditioning service. While some people will receive more benefits such as increased energy efficiency out of older models, everyone will receive some type of benefit from keeping their AC system in good shape.
Do you like paying less for your energy bills? That is one great benefit of regular air conditioning service. Dirt, grime, and other debris that ends up in your air ducts and inside your AC system reduce how efficient it can work, which will make it work harder to deliver the same amount of air. The harder your AC works, the more you will pay each month on your energy bills. By having your system thoroughly cleaned you will remove all of these invading particles and allow your AC to go back to just cycling air. The result is cleaner air for you and an energy bill you don’t grimace at each month. If you are looking to reduce your monthly household costs an air conditioning service may actually be the perfect solution.
Speaking of cleaner air, not only is it usually cheaper to produce, but it is better for the health of you and any other family members that live in your home. As you might suspect, the same dirt and grime that makes it harder for your AC to function correctly also make it harder to breathe easily in your home. In the midst of the hot Dallas, TX summer most people have their windows firmly shut, so if you want fresh air you need to rely on your AC. If your AC is not clean, then the air circulating your home will not be the healthiest to breathe.
As mentioned earlier, another benefit of having a regular AC service is it will expand the lifespan of your unit. AC units can only make it so long. The average unit lasts between 10-15 years, with most making it to about 10-12. You don’t want to replace a unit earlier than ten years because of poor maintenance and repair habits. At the end of the day, your AC is simply a complicated piece of machinery. You wouldn’t drive your used car for hundreds of miles and expect it to perform without an oil change, so don’t do the same thing to your AC.
As you can see, just about everyone can benefit from an AC service because everyone can appreciate the merits of saving money, avoiding unplanned breakdowns, and breathing cleaner air. If you are reading this and own a home or a business with an AC unit, then you should start seriously thinking about setting up an annual air conditioner service if you haven’t already. Doing so can save you a lot of problems and expenses in the future.
What to Expect During Your AC Service Visit
Now that you are ready to book an AC service visit, you might be curious about what all is included in the air conditioning service. At its most basic, the typical service will involve an HVAC technician thoroughly examining your AC units (both indoor and out), inspecting all components to look for signs of wear and tear, and then cleaning the system out as they go. If they find any areas of concern they will include them in a written report at the end of the visit that will include an estimate for repairing parts that look like they are starting to age.
The benefit of fixing any issues that are noted during an air conditioning service is that doing so may save you from an uncomfortable breakdown. Wearing components will not last forever, and while you may be able to go a few more weeks, even months, eventually they will catch up with you. An air conditioning service gives you a chance to see what future issues may be coming and then budget for them so you can proactively address them. Even if you cannot afford to do it at the moment your service concludes, you can start to budget to get it down within the next month or so.
Keep in mind that proactive repair will always be cheaper than waiting for the component to break down. If it is an easy repair, your HVAC technician might even be able to do it on the same day which some Dallas, TX homeowners prefer because then it takes care of everything during the air conditioner service and they don’t have to worry about booking a separate time for an HVAC tech to come back out to their house. If you would like, you can also ask the technician how much time they think you have left on your AC unit if it is starting to age. While no one knows for sure, and we have seen AC units last for incredibly long lifespans, we do service enough that we can offer a general ballpark idea based on what we see inside of the AC unit and our decades of experience.
Signs It Is Time for an Air Conditioner Service
One of the largest signs that it is time for an air conditioning service is time itself. Take a minute to think about the last time you had an air conditioning service, or if you have ever had one. If it’s been over a year then it is time to call and have your system inspected and cleaned. This simple act will help increase the lifespan of your unit and clean up your air so that you can feel better while relaxing at home.
On the other hand, the major tip-off might be increasing energy bills. If it seems like you are paying more and more to cool your home each month then there is a good chance your AC unit is the reason. While it is reasonable that your cooling bills will increase during the hottest months of the year, you should have a basic idea of what you usually spend each year. If it seems like that this year is not the same, then an air conditioning service is probably a good idea. Most people regain 25% or more of their energy efficiency simply by having their AC regularly serviced.
Of course, if you hear any odd noises or sounds then this is another great sign that you should call and book an air conditioning service. The service includes a full inspection of your unit so there are worn-down components that are responsible for odd noises they will be identified. Sometimes odd noises are simply the result of a system that is not properly lubricated, and service will easily fix this problem since the technician will evenly coat all moving components as part of the visit.
Finally, if it seems like you can clean your home obsessively and there is still a constant stream of dirt forming around your home then there is a good chance that your air conditioning system needs to be cleaned. If dirt is covering every area inside of your machine, then it will keep blowing into your home in a vicious cycle making even the best cleaning habits virtually useless. Luckily, this is something you can fix with the right cleaning routine.
If you notice one of the signs listed above or are just thinking about having your AC checked, then an air conditioner service is probably the right choice for you. In addition to comprehensive AC repair services, One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas is happy to offer AC service to all of our customers. Give us a call today to get yours scheduled.