Whenever something goes wrong with the heating and cooling system, that is the time most homeowner start to panic and try to remember – where can I find the best heating and cooling installers near me? Searching for a local cooling and heating contractor in the middle of an HVAC emergency is never the way to find the best provider. There are many air conditioning professionals in your area but only one that is just right for your specific need and wants and lifestyle.

Searching online for professional air heating and cooling services can give you a great starting point for your search. Whether you need the best HVAC system for new construction projects or are looking to upgrade or renovate the existing system, it is best left to the professionals. So, make sure you take the time to look around, talk to several companies, compare quotes and services, and ask questions before choosing the provider that is right for you and your home. It may take a little time, but it will be well worth it in the end when your heating and cooling system is working as it should!

Air conditioners are expensive. Getting a reliable air conditioner installed in your home can easily cost you a number to the tune of $10,000 to $20,000! Even air conditioning repair services can be expensive, but far cheaper than buying a whole new unit. You have the best chance of extending the life of your air conditioning, as well as avoiding outrageous costs for air conditioning repair services if you follow these simple suggestions for AC maintenance plans:

• Give your condenser room to breathe. The air conditioning condenser is the part of the unit that is outside. Its job is to suck in air from outside, make it icy cold, and send it into your house. The condenser is the heart and soul of your AC unit, and the most expensive component in most air conditioning repair services.
  

  If you let weeds, shrubs, or debris pile up around your air conditioning compressor, it will block its ability to get the air it needs to do its job, which will make it have to work twice as hard to keep you cool, and it will eventually burn to motor out. Do a visual inspection of your AC’s compressor from time to time, to ensure your air conditioning compressor is free of anything blocking the air fins.

• Keep your air conditioning unit cool. Intuition will tell you that the warmer your AC unit is, the harder it has to work to cool down the air that goes into it. If your AC unit is on the ground, you can help keep it cool by planting a shade tree near it, so it stays out of the direct sunlight that heats it up. Of course, in consideration of our previous point, don’t plant anything so close to the unit that it blocks the condenser’s ability to get air freely.

• Clean your air conditioning unit out. Your air conditioner is gradually going to collect dirt, leaves, and debris that slow it down over time. Cleaning it out so that it can run efficiently is a good way to keep your air conditioner chugging along for years and years. Make sure to read your owner’s manual before you open it up, but in most cases, it’s as simple as taking the top down and cleaning it out with the low-power hose. Always make sure to shut off the power to the AC before opening it up, to avoid electrocution!

  
  If you do not feel properly equipped for doing this type of maintenance task on your own, many air conditioning repair services include this in their annual checkup package, or charge very little to do it for you.

• Change your air conditioning filters regularly. Your AC filter is the gatekeeper that protects the critical parts of your air conditioning from dust and dirt that will make it sluggish and eventually lead to its early demise. Not to mention, the filter keeps the air that you breathe clean of allergens, germs, and dirt.
  

  Changing your AC filter out regularly helps ensure that your system is free of anything that will make it sluggish. When your filter gets caked with gunk, it has trouble drawing air in, and your whole system has to work harder, which burns it out. You should plan to change your air filter out at least twice a year, and more in places with a lot of dust. Check your manufactures instructions for specific air filter requirements.

• Keep furniture or other obstructions out of the path of your air vents. When your vents are blocked by your furniture (or any other interference), the air is not able to circulate through the room and cool everything down efficiently. When your thermostat isn’t receiving the cool air circulating throughout the room, it tells your AC unit to kick into overdrive. In order to prevent your air conditioning from working twice as hard to get your home cool (which also cost you an arm and a leg on your energy bills), just keep those vends free of obstructions, so they can do their job!

Do you have any other great tips for extending the lifespan of your air conditioning? We would love to hear them below!