Albuquerque air conditioner cooling systems are component for homes in the hot summer climate of the city because after the temperature outside hits 100 or so, which happens almost every summer in the Duke City, a swamp cooler stops being effective at home cooling. Refrigerated air conditioning is now a featured component of many Albuquerque homes, but it only became available for home cooling in the 1950’s. The U.S. Department of Energy recently reported that in 2019, sixty-five to seventy percent of homes in the U.S. now feature an air conditioning cooling system.

Since the advent of air conditioners, several technological improvements have been made in the HVAC (heating, venting and air conditioning) industry. Due to these improvements it is easier than ever to design a home that features an effective environmentally safe HVAC system. Even though air conditioners are better than ever in 2019, they still need to be serviced annually to keep them running efficiently while keeping a home cool and electricity costs low as possible. Keep your home cool inside each summer by servicing your air conditioner annually and by following these strategies:

1. Schedule Air Conditioner Service Annually by an Albuquerque HVAC Professional

By completing air conditioner annual maintenance your Albuquerque home air conditioner can lose up to 7% of its effectiveness from when it was new. Cars need a regular tune up, people need annual physicals and air conditioners require annual maintenance service calls. By completing a service call for annual maintenance on your air conditioner, problems that are found then normally require less work and cost less. When your air conditioner annual maintenance service call is begin performed by your Albuquerque HVAC professional, they will complete a full inspection of your system and give it a tune up.

One way to reduce your cost of an annual air conditioner service call is to schedule to have it done in the first part of the year. Doing this will cost you less because Albuquerque HVAC heating and cooling companies are not as busy then. When summer rolls around the cost for a service call will be higher because they are busier. It costs $300 on the average to fix an Albuquerque air conditioner, depending on the issue at hand.

2. Annual Spring Air Conditioner and Condenser Cleaning

Best maintenance practices when it comes to your air conditioner and the devices’ condenser, is to clean it every year in the spring, before your start using it. Act now and remove any items set up against the air conditioner condenser, like outdoor games and lawn and garden tools. It is a working component of your air conditioner and items leaned up against it can damage it. Pull any weeds, grass or garden plants growing next to it that may keep it from running properly. Be sure to be careful not bang into or damage any component of the system including attachments when cleaning up around the unit and pulling weeds, plants or grass right next to it. Turn the electricity off to the unit before cleaning the condenser. Take off the fan and grill of the condenser and clean them well after you have turned off the electricity. The condenser has fins. Be sure to clean them by spraying them with a garden house. Clean the entire unit, inside and out, then be sure to dry it completely. Replace all the parts you cleaned including the fins, the fan and grill after you have dried them all of first. Once all these tasks are completed turn the electricity to the unit back on. Now your air conditioner is all set to assist you in keeping your home nice and cool.

3. Annual Air Conditioner Filter Change.

An air conditioner part that needs consistent maintenance attention is your system’s HVAC filter. If your home’s air conditioner is filthy, it logically can lower the operating efficiency of the system. The system will work harder and not keep your home as cool as it might be if the filter was clean. Your home’s Albuquerque air conditioner filter should be replaced monthly. An air conditioner filter should be changed monthly for both a central air conditioner, and window air conditioner. In some cases, with window air conditioner filter parts they can be wiped completely to clean them. To make sure you change out or clean your air conditioner filter on a scheduled basis each month, do the following:

• Smartphone Reminder – Set up a monthly reminder for the first of the month to remind you to replace or clean your filter.
• Purchase Filters for Your HVAC System for the Entire Year – Once you have your purchase at home, mark each one with the name of the month the filter is to be installed, then install them accordingly. Many HVAC systems use the same filter for heating and cooling which means you’ll be able to use the filters you bought year-round if your system has this feature.

4. AC System Full Inspection

During the summer season when your air conditioner is being used daily, complete a full inspection of the system to make certain it is working right and to find any problems early on before they become big ones. To complete your inspection, turn it on and then listen for odd sounds and to see how fast the unit starts up. When you’re inspecting your home’s air conditioner, if it starts up slowly, emits fluids or makes odd or loud sounds, it most likely is time to get the system inspected by an Albuquerque HVAC professional. It is wise to discontinue your inspection and bring in an HVAC professional to assess the problems and provide a solution with an HVAC repair quote.  

Once you have completed your full HVAC system thoroughly turn it off if you found any problems and wait for the professional

Several other components you should check during your HVAC inspection. During your inspection review the following areas and make notes about them accordingly:

• Ductwork: Check to see if it is clean and does not show any build up of dust or dirt
• Thermostat: Check to see that it is in good working order and completely clean.
• Condensing Coils: Make sure the unit is completely clean.
• Condensing Unit: Make sure it is not affected or encumbered by plants, grass, weeds or any lawn and garden tools or lawn furniture.

5. Closing Out the Summer Season with Basic Maintenance

Seasons change, weather gets cooler and when that happens, it’s time to complete a basic set of HVAC maintenance tasks to prepare your home’s air conditioner for the winter-time that’s just around the corner so it is good shape for the summer time heat next year. Complete one more season ending inspection and then complete the featured maintenance task listed in this article. Remove your air conditioner window unit and put it away properly, when your certain the season’s hot weather is over. Be sure to wrap it up so it’s protected properly from any unnecessary exposure to dust, dirt or any rodents or bugs. Installing and uninstalling your home’s window AC unit can create undue stress and harm the unit. With this issue in mind, you’ll want to put it in the window and take it out of the window as few times as possible to maintain the working integrity of the system. When you’re taking out the unit and putting it away, write down notes about any required repairs and schedule HVAC maintenance then while its fresh in your mind.

Permanently installed window unit air conditioner units should be covered with an air conditioner cover when the summer season ends. The cover will protect if from the weather elements and from any rodents or birds that might try to use it for a nest or attack it looking for food.

Albuquerque Air Conditioner Maintenance Final Thoughts

Be sure to turn off the power to your air conditioner or HVAC system before beginning any maintenance on it. Doing this is wise for a variety of reasons, but mainly it will keep you and your family safe and potentially prevent any unnecessary damage to your HVAC system. Air conditioners are an important appliance in a home. The keep your Albuquerque home cool and make it attractive to potential buyers if you ever decide to sell it. Set up a schedule each year to do a complete inspection of your system and then clean it thoroughly. During your inspection be sure to write down any issues you see or hear and then call your Albuquerque HVAC professional to come out and inspect the system and give you a quote for repairs and maintenance. By following a scheduled annual inspection and maintenance routine of your home’s HVAC system, you will extend the effective life of your HVAC system and keep it running effectively for years to come.