It’s never too early to start thinking about air conditioner maintenance. You might not need to cool down just yet, but once summer rolls around, you’ll wish you had taken care of your system ahead of time.

Getting an early jump on your annual tune up has three major benefits. First, you can beat the rush and schedule your service at a time that’s convenient for you. In the early spring, HVAC technicians are generally less busy as homeowners are opening their windows more and relying on HVAC less. Second, if your technician discovers a problem with your system, you’ll have plenty of time to get it fixed before air conditioning season arrives. And third, by tuning up your system while the weather is still cool, you’ll minimize the chance of a sweltering mid-summer breakdown.

Annual Air Conditioner Maintenance Pays Off

No matter how high-quality and well designed your air conditioning system is, its performance hinges on its maintenance. No air conditioner is maintenance-free. But rather than look at your annual tune up as a hassle, you can see it as an opportunity for comfort and savings:

Tune Ups Affect Performance

Dirty, neglected air conditioning systems simply don’t work as well as those that are maintained annually. If you want a powerful stream of cool air on demand, you must make sure your system can breathe through a deep-cleaned system of vents, ducts, returns and coils.

Tune Ups Improve Efficiency

Hand-in-hand with system performance is energy efficiency. If your system is dirty, not only will it not work as well, it will cost you more to operate.

Catch Problems Early

Sometimes air conditioner components can break spontaneously, but this isn’t usually the case. There are often early warning signs that can be spotted by the trained eye. By having your system tuned up each year by a licensed technician, you maximize your chances of catching problems early while they’re easier and less expensive to fix.

Avoid Water Damage

Air Conditioners not only need to breathe, they need to get rid of water from the condensation they produce. The drain pan and tube system can collect dust, dirt and even bacteria and algae if it’s not cleaned often enough, and this can create clogs that cause the system to back up and produce water damage.

Extend Your Air Conditioner’s Lifespan

Consecutive years of neglect doesn’t just hurt you in the short run through hampered efficiency -- it also shaves years off the life of your air conditioner. If you’re not in a hurry to replace your system altogether, your annual tune up will save you money in the long run.

Replace When You’re Ready

A longer system life doesn’t mean an endless life. Sooner or later, your air conditioner will need to be replaced. But if you get your system tuned up each year and discuss its condition with your technician, you can make a plan for replacement several years out, which can give you plenty of time for financial planning.

Don’t put it off. Call your local One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning today and schedule an appointment to have your air conditioner inspected and tuned up so that you’re ready for the start of summer.