While many homeowners know that they need to properly maintain their air conditioners for them to last for long and give ideal results, studies by air conditioning maintenance professionals show that most of the homeowners don’t know how to undertake proper maintenance. To help you out, here are the dos and don’ts of AC maintenance:

Dos of air conditioning maintenance

These are the things that you should do to keep your unit in top shape. One of the things you should do is keep your unit clean. If you allow dirt to accumulate in your air conditioner, you force it to work harder than it should. This not only translates to a high electricity bill, but it also means that your unit doesn’t last as long as it should. At least once a month you should clean the air filters. Also, remember to clean both the inside and outside of the unit at least once a year.

Another thing you should do is to undertake is AC tune-up. For ideal results, you should have it done twice a year. You can tune it up on your own if you have the skills or hire a contractor to help you out if you aren’t confident in your skills.

Finally, you should repair the unit as soon as you notice a problem. Some homeowners make the mistake of waiting until the unit stops working for them to repair it, but this shouldn’t be you. Regardless of how minor the problem is, you should hire an AC repair and have the unit fixed before it develops additional problems.

Don’ts of air conditioner maintenance

You need to avoid doing certain things for your unit to function optimally. One of the things you shouldn’t do is use an extension cord to power the unit. While the cord will distribute heat, it won’t do a good job as it drops the voltage. As a consequence, the air conditioner works harder than it should.

Another thing you shouldn’t do is overcrowd the vents of your unit. For the unit to function optimally, you should ensure that there are no books, furniture, plants, electronics or objects obstructing the unit.

Finally, you shouldn’t install your unit on shaky ground. For example, you shouldn’t place the air conditioner on bricks or wood as they can easily break, damaging your unit. For peace of mind, ensure that the unit is installed in a strong area and installed by an experienced HVAC company.