Average Life of an Air Conditioner and How to Extend It

Air conditioners represent a hefty investment for your home that hopefully lasts many years to come (especially if you purchased central AC). It only makes sense that you would want to do everything possible to ensure that your air conditioner lives up to its fullest potential.

So, can you really double the life of your air conditioner? Well, it requires one important rule: Take care of it.  Like any other machine in your house your air conditioner needs regular attention. It needs cleaning. It needs the proper space to live in. Take note of this advice and it will provide you years of additional comfort.

Average Life of an Air Conditioner: Outdoor AC Units

First, pick a cool, shady spot for installation. Giving it shade and protection allows the AC unit to work less, extending its life span. However, you must also make sure to prevent debris or grass from covering the unit. It needs enough space to breathe and keep the air flowing smoothly. Without free airflow, the AC unit must still work twice as hard.

For AC units located in open space, just check the area around it periodically. Did a storm recently hit? Make sure no debris blew around (or into) your unit. Clear away any blockage, but make sure to do so only when the power is safely off.

A regular cleaning routine also makes sense. Here’s how to go about cleaning the air conditioner.

Average Life of an Air Conditioner: Window AC Units

Keep the unit clean! When dust and sticky grime builds up in your unit, it must work much harder than it should. Regularly check for dust build up, and use this nifty trick to keep your air conditioner clean.

Factors Affecting Air Conditioner Operation

Next, make sure to changing out your filter regularly. Some heating and cooling maintenance workers even recommend changing out that filter every 30 to 60 days. Think about it. When’s the last time you actually changed out that filter? It could probably save you a great deal of money (and additional time with your current air conditioning unit) in the long run.

You may also want to consider scheduling an annual checkup for your air conditioner to ensure peak performance before the heat of summer really kicks in. This DIY air conditioning service repair can help you with any issues you may find.

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