Cool Comfort

We recommend professional AC maintenance at least once a year, ideally in spring before the cooling season begins. Regular maintenance helps ensure efficient operation, extends equipment life, prevents costly breakdowns, and maintains your warranty coverage. For homes with heavy AC use or in dusty environments, twice-yearly service may be beneficial.

With proper maintenance, most central air conditioning systems last 12-15 years. However, many factors can affect longevity, including usage patterns, local climate, installation quality, and maintenance frequency. Some high-quality systems can last up to 20 years with excellent care. When your system approaches 10+ years, it's worth considering the cost-benefit of repair versus replacement, especially if efficiency has declined.

Consider replacement if you notice these signs: your AC is over 10 years old, repair costs exceed $500, energy bills are rising despite maintenance, your home has uneven cooling or humidity problems, the system uses R-22 refrigerant (being phased out), or you experience frequent breakdowns. Our technicians can provide a thorough assessment to help you determine if repair or replacement is more cost-effective long-term.

Proper sizing requires professional calculation based on multiple factors, not just square footage. We conduct a comprehensive load calculation considering your home's size, layout, insulation levels, window number and quality, ceiling height, local climate, and heat-generating appliances. An oversized unit will cycle too frequently, reducing efficiency and comfort, while an undersized unit will run constantly without adequate cooling. Our technicians perform proper Manual J load calculations to determine the exact size your home needs.

While professional maintenance is essential, homeowners can help maintain their systems by: regularly changing air filters (every 1-3 months), keeping outdoor units clear of debris and vegetation (maintain 2 feet of clearance), cleaning visible parts of return air grilles and supply registers, ensuring furniture doesn't block airflow from vents, and using a programmable thermostat to reduce strain on the system when not needed. These simple steps complement professional service but don't replace it.