Don't wait until something in your air conditioner breaks and you have no cooling at all. Don't wait until you've spent an extra $50 a month for five months (250 bucks!) because your AC wasn't functioning at maximum efficiency.

Can you imagine how bad the gas mileage in your car would be if all four of your tires were nearly flat? (Not to mention what it would do to the tires.)

That could be the situation with your AC system right now as you read these very words.

Yikes!

So, make a note to call your favorite AC technician tomorrow and get a thorough service.

The technician should check of the refrigerant level. Low refrigerant is the #1 cause of poor efficiency in ACs. Just adding more refrigerant may not be enough. If it's low, then it may have leaked out. The technician needs to find and repair the leak OR you'll be back in the same boat in 3-6 months.

Next, the technician should carefully and thoroughly clean the inside unit (in your hall closet, maybe the attic). One piece in particular, the Evaporator Coil needs special attention. A clogged coil can reduce airflow and make the house seem hotter. A filter change is in order, too.

The outside unit, the condenser/compressor unit, should be cleaned of any debris (leaves, dirt, ant hills, etc.) and any bent fins should be straightened to promote good airflow. Trim any nearby shrubs to give 18-24 inches of clearance all the way around the unit.

Most AC companies offer a twice-a-year service where they can do all of these chores in February or March when their technicians aren't buried with service calls from all the folks that waited.

Questions? Feel free to call or email.

Tom Sinclair

About the House - Home Inspectors

(251) 990-3169

http://www.inspecttestanalyze.com/

Some other helpful and interesting links:

http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-3108.html

http://www.hometips.com/cs-protected/guides/airconditioners/aircond_reduceload.html

Here's a cool idea:

http://www.coolnsave.com/index.asp