Experts will agree that you should definitely have your air conditioner serviced often, but their opinions may differ about exact what ‘often’ means. Some will say that once every few years is enough, while others will tell you to do it every year. Still others might say that it should be done at the beginning and end of the summer season, or twice yearly.
Truthfully, all are correct in one way or another.
If you do not run your air conditioner very much, you may find that you can simply check it out occasionally to make sure there isn’t anything sitting too close to the unit, and you can check the filters and change them yourself if necessary, and then you will only need to have the unit serviced professionally every other year.
Most homes should have their air conditioners serviced every year. Just about every professional that you talk to will tell you that having your unit serviced once a year is enough to make sure that your air conditioner is running properly. It is also a good time frame for replacing worn-out parts before they become completely unusable.
The best time of year to have your air conditioner serviced is in the late spring, just before you will begin using it the most. This will help it operate to its full capacity each summer, and it will ensure that the unit is not costing you too much on your energy bill because it is working too hard unnecessarily.
If you live in a hot climate or if you simply choose to run your air conditioner for a large part of the year, you may find that it is beneficial to have your air conditioner serviced twice a year – once at the beginning of summer and then again at the end of the season. Alternatively, you could have your AC professional come back and check out the unit a month or two into summer, when its use is in full swing, to make sure everything is running smoothly.
Another reason you may choose to have your air conditioner checked out more than one time a year is if you live near a zone that is undergoing construction, or if there is some other reason that dust and debris may be circulating in the air around your unit, such as heavy traffic on an unpaved road.
A common question for most home owners has to do with what jobs they should take on themselves versus what should be left to the pros. When it comes to air conditioner units, you can check the air filters on your own, and most are intuitive enough that you can change them with no problems. You can also clear debris or stored items away from the unit so that it runs properly.
These are the first things that a professional will do anyway.
Beyond that, you should let a licensed heating and air conditioning company do your regular maintenance work.