Check equipment now to save on your cooling bill

Bright Ideas

The Louisiana summer temperatures will be here before we know it. Whether the heat is your friend or foe, there’s one thing for certain: The AC is on.

The question is, are you spending more on cooling costs by not having an annual tune-up of your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system? If you aren’t, there’s a good chance you’re spending upward of 25 percent more on your monthly energy bill, according to All Out AC and Heating in Richmond, Texas.

“The money you will save [on an annual AC tune-up] will quickly offset the cost of maintenance, and you will reduce your chances of a mid-summer breakdown by 95 percent,” according to the owners.

The savings for your wallet is only the beginning. Think about how hard your HVAC system will be working over the next few – several, if we’re being honest – months. Just like your car or lawn mower, your HVAC system needs maintenance to keep it running at its best efficiency.

Over time, coils become dirty, motors overheat and refrigerant leaks. These problems can amount to a five percent loss in efficiency.

So, what are the additional benefits of an annual AC tune-up?

Your AC unit can have double the shelf life if it is regularly maintained. Research shows AC units do not suddenly quit working; instead, they are the result of small problems that eventually became a much larger, expensive one.

Another benefit of an annual AC tune-up is it can prevent fires. An AC service technician is able to see if there are any faulty wires in the system. The likelihood for your system to trip your circuit breaker and cause a fire in your home increases when your system’s wiring is not working at 100 percent.

If you’re wondering what exactly an AC tune-up is, One Hour Air Conditioning and Heating out of Largo, Fla., explains, “During a tuneup, a qualified specialist is going to check the coolant levels, calibrate the temperatures, inspect the wiring and components, make sure the evaporator coil is clean and perform additional safety checks. After the inspection has been done, the specialist will recommend any necessary repairs that have to be done and perform a cleaning, if required.”

And the cost? On average, you’re looking at $100. This annual cost is a whole lot easier on the wallet, I’d say.

“Most HVAC specialists will tell you that most air conditioning repair jobs could have been prevented during a tune-up,” according to One Hour.

It’s advised to schedule your AC tune-up in the spring, and some companies encourage you to have a second tune-up mid-summer. You should definitely change out your filters every three months (at least) to increase your system’s efficiency.

“A dirty filter can increase energy costs and damage your equipment, leading to early failure,” according to SWEPCO’s Energy Efficiency and Consumer Programs Manager Paul Pratt.

So, to recap, an annual AC tune-up does the following for homeowners:

3 Saves you money

3 Potentially doubles the unit’s life span

3 Prevents a fire Consider making an appointment now to save money later.

“Researchers have found that people who received an air conditioner tuneup had noticed more than 78 percent in savings a year later. This savings alone could be more than what you paid in the first place,” notes One Hour.

According to Pratt, contractors get busy once summer and winter come, so it’s best to check the cooling system in the spring and the heating system in the fall.

“To remember,” says Pratt, “You might plan the check-ups around the time changes in the spring and fall.”

Karen E. Wissing works in Shreveport-Bossier City and loves her community.

E-mail your questions, comments or suggestions to [email protected].