COLLEGE STATION, Texas — This summer, we’ve seen hot summer temperatures and high electric bills. And now, we learn how air-conditioner maintenance plays a major role in making sure we’re keeping our homes cool.
“I reached out to them because I wanted to just check and make sure that with the hot summer, we were expecting that our AC was going to run effectively,” said Memorie Word, a College Station resident.
Word says if she had not reached out to her local HVAC technician, she wouldn’t have known her AC unit had a leak.
“Our AC unit would have not worked properly, and it would have been an emergency situation especially with the heat,” said Word.
One local HVAC company says with the hot summer temperatures we are seeing in the Brazos Valley, it’s important to routinely check your AC system.
“It’s one of the most important things that controls the climate of your home,” said Priscilla Gonzales, owner of Brazos Valley AC Services & Repair. “You want to be comfortable inside. Not maintaining it properly, it’s not going to give you the lifespan that you would normally expect. It may have trouble keeping up in the summertime, even on the summers that are not as extreme like the one that we just had this year.”
Gonzales says maintenance is key to a long-lasting, effective AC unit.
“If you’re not cleaning those evaporator coils or the outside coils, you’re not changing out the parts that are prone to wear and tear, or not changing your filters out as much, it’s going to make your system work harder,” said Gonzales.
Word says to think of your AC unit maintenance as preventative care.
“It’s definitely important just like you would do any maintenance with your car or seeing a doctor,” said Word. “That way, your family is protected before you need it.”
Gonzales says your AC units should last from 12 to 15 years with proper maintenance and should be checked at least twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring.
