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With proper care and maintenance, your air conditioning unit should last for years. However, where a lot of homeowners seem to struggle is with the proper care and maintenance part of owning an air conditioner. Fortunately, it’s not hard to do and just involves changing some of your habits and incorporating some of the following tips into your life.

Give It a Rest

You appreciate having the occasional break at work or from your regular routine every once in a while, and your air conditioner is actually the same way. An air conditioner that is constantly running is going to wear out much quicker than one that gets to have the occasional rest. If you’re leaving home, turn the thermostat off or turn it up a few degrees so it’s not running constantly while you’re not there to benefit from it.

Clean It Regularly

Over time, the air conditioning condenser unit outside your home will likely collect leaves, twigs, and other debris from the yard. Whenever you go outside, spend a few seconds to make sure there’s nothing in the AC unit that would possibly prevent it from working properly.

Schedule Your Tune-ups

One of the very easiest things to do to maintain the life of your air conditioner is one of the most often neglected things by homeowners. Schedule an annual tune-up with a qualified HVAC contractor. They can assess the equipment, provide guidance and advice on replacements, and let you know if there are any issues that might be cause for repair now or in the future.

Improve Air Circulation

Your air conditioner works by sending cool air throughout all the ducts and out through the air vents throughout the home. If the ducts are dirty or if the air vents are covered or blocked somehow, then your air conditioner is not going to be as efficient and you may even mistakenly think it’s broken. Improve the air circulation by moving furniture away from and off of air vents. If there are items inside the ducts, clear them out to improve air circulation.

Clean Your Ducts

If it doesn’t seem that cool air is reaching you at all, or if the cool air seems spotty, the problem may be the air ducts. Dirty air ducts are pushing dirty air through your home and may slow down the air flow or stop it completely. Be aware of the condition of your air ducts and if you suspect a problem, be sure to call an HVAC contractor right away to get your house cool and comfortable again.

Replace the Filter

Changing the air conditioner’s filters regularly is a small thing that makes a big difference. Not only will it make your air conditioning unit last longer but it will prevent you and your family from breathing in air that’s full of dust, dirt, and other allergens. Nobody wants to sit sweltering in their own home all summer, but some people don’t understand or don’t seem to appreciate how easy it is to avoid this. You can preserve the life of your air conditioner while staying more cool and comfortable at home when you put some essential steps into place and embrace some of these good changes.