As a homeowner, you want to do everything you can to keep your home in top condition and comfortable for your family all year long. That means keeping up with regular maintenance tasks like changing your AC unit’s filter every few months. But when it comes to regularly scheduled professional service appointments, figuring out the optimal frequency can be tough.
So, how often should you have your AC system professionally serviced? The answer to this question depends on a few factors: the type of AC unit you have, how old it is, and how frequently it’s put to use. Let’s take a closer look at each of these factors.
Type of Unit
Not all air conditioners need the same maintenance schedule. If you have a central air unit, it will need to be serviced more frequently than a window unit. This is because central air units have more parts that can break down or become clogged with dirt and dust over time.
Window units, on the other hand, are less complex and have fewer parts that can break down. As a result, they usually only need to be serviced once a year.
Other types of AC units, such as portable or ductless units, fall somewhere in the middle. They have more parts than a window unit but fewer than a central air unit. If you’re not sure what type of AC unit you have, you can check the owner’s manual or ask a professional for help.
Your AC’s Age
As with the majority of home appliances, your air conditioner’s age also comes into play when it comes to how often you should have it serviced. As AC units age, they become less efficient and more likely to break down. As a result, older units usually need to be serviced more frequently than newer units.
Older AC units — that is, ones that are more than five years old — may need to be serviced two or even three times a year. Newer ones, though, are usually fine with yearly maintenance. It’s never a bad idea to have your unit inspected with the seasons, though.
Think About How Often You Use Your Unit
The final major factor is how often you use your air conditioner. Some areas are known for being much hotter than others; for example, if you live in Los Angeles or Phoenix, you’re probably running your air conditioner every day during the summer months (and even during early fall or late spring). Often-used ACs will need to be serviced to match.
On the other hand, if you live in a milder climate and only use your AC unit a few times a year, you can probably get away with having it serviced once every two years or so as long as you take care of it, including inspecting it for potential debris and blockage and changing your air filter regularly during use.
Other Key Factors
In addition to the type of unit, age of the unit, and frequency of use, there are a few smaller factors that can affect how often your AC unit needs to be serviced.
For example, if you have pets, they can track in dirt and dust that can clog your unit’s filters and cause them to break down. If you live in an area with a lot of pollen or other allergens in the air, that can also cause your unit to work harder and may require more frequent service.
Finally, if you’ve noticed that your unit isn’t cooling as well as it used to or that it’s making strange noises, that’s a sign that it needs to be serviced. This applies even if you aren’t due for a regular service appointment.
If you’re not sure how often your AC unit needs to be serviced, the best thing to do is talk to a professional. They can take a look at your unit and give you an accurate estimate of how often it should be serviced. They can also perform a tune-up to make sure your unit is running as efficiently as possible.
The Bottom Line
At Underwood AC, we generally recommend having your AC unit serviced at least once a year. However, we understand that some units may need to be serviced more frequently. Our service technicians are always happy to take a look at your unit and give you an estimate of how often it should be serviced.
Whether you need repair, installation, or maintenance for your cooling or heating unit, we’re here to help keep your home’s HVAC system running smoothly all year long. Contact us today to schedule a service appointment.
