![\"hot-house-image\"](\"https:\/\/www.robbinsheating.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/hot-house-276x300.jpg\")
You may be done or nearly done using your air conditioner for the year, but that doesn\u2019t necessarily mean you should put it out of mind until next summer. Your air conditioner can benefit from a bit of work at the end of the season, and you\u2019ll thank yourself when next summer comes around and your system is ready to go when you need it.<\/p>\n
First, if your air conditioner has not had a filter change in several months, it\u2019s not something you can put off until next spring or summer. A clogged filter blocks air from flowing into your AC system as the blower fan attempts to suck it in. This has a major effect on AC efficiency and performance. It can cause coils to freeze along with other problems you likely don\u2019t want to deal with at the beginning of the next season.<\/p>\n
Besides, your air conditioning system may use the same blower fan as your heater, which means that dirty filter will have an effect on heating performance as well. Whether or not your central heater shares this component, you can\u2019t leave a dirty filter alone for long!<\/p>\n
The off-season is always an excellent time to make improvements to your AC and heating systems. Repairing ductwork is one example of an improvement that can make your air conditioner and central heater use less energy. You can also replace that old outdated thermostat with a smart thermostat that you can set remotely from a smartphone.<\/p>\n
Some improvements can even be made without the help of a professional technician. For example, when you seal air leaks around the home\u2014adding caulk around windows, for example, or replacing weather stripping in the door frame\u2014you reduce air leaks and make your entire home more efficient.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve noticed your air conditioner struggling to work as you need it to during the hotter months, you may feel like you\u2019re in the clear now that the season is ending. But the fact is, you\u2019re going to have to make those repairs at some point. And it\u2019s better to do so now than to wait until the next time you need AC.<\/p>\n
Sometimes, the best option is to replace a broken air conditioning system, especially if it will cost hundreds of dollars to fix. Doing this in the off-season is a low-stress way to give yourself plenty of time to find the system you really want\u2014one that\u2019s the right fit for your home and carries an efficiency rating that will help you save.<\/p>\n
Routine maintenance<\/a> helps keep your air conditioner in better shape. It includes a tune-up and inspection of your air conditioning equipment, along with a cleaning of the outdoor coil, to make the equipment run more efficiently and prevent repairs.<\/p>\n We recommend air conditioning maintenance in the early spring\u2014before you have to use your air conditioner for the first hot day of the season. But you should still sign up for a maintenance program with a local contractor whenever you get the chance.<\/p>\n Why? A maintenance program offers you two system tune-ups per year\u2014one in the spring for your air conditioner and one in the fall for your heater! It\u2019s almost heating season, so even at the end of the year, a maintenance plan will help you to start saving money on heating, and prepare to save money on cooling. Plus, our maintenance program<\/a> gives you 15% off all repairs throughout the year!<\/p>\n