Realizing the need for AC maintenance
When I first became a homeowner, I was overwhelmed by the number of regular tasks.
I’d always rented apartments and had a landlord or a property manager to take care of upkeep and repairs. I had never needed to drain a hot water tank, clean aerators or change furnace filters. I didn’t know how to go about cleaning gutters, caulk around windows or keep the drains running efficiently. It never occurred to me to hire a professional to service the air conditioner or furnace every year. According to the home inspection, my heating and cooling equipment was in good shape. As long as the systems provided comfort, I was happy. Two years after buying the house, the air conditioner started making some odd noises. The air from the vents smelled musty. I needed to lower the thermostat by several degrees because certain rooms felt overheated. It got to the point that every time the air conditioner started up, I started to sneeze and developed a headache. I waited as long as possible to hire an HVAC contractor but was worried about my health. The technician removed the outer cabinet to access the inner workings. He showed me the buildup of dust and debris on the components. There was mold thriving on the coil and algae growing in the condensate drain. He said that the accumulation was restricting airflow, forcing the air conditioner to work harder and resulting in higher energy bills. Every time the cooling system started up, the contaminants inside were becoming airborne and getting spread into the breathing air. He suggested that I enroll in a maintenance plan. I now get a call in the spring and the fall, reminding me to schedule upkeep for the air conditioner and furnace. A technician comes to the house and makes sure that the systems are operating properly.