With air conditioning maintenance, it pays to be proactive. Being proactive involves taking deliberate steps to keep your air conditioning system running smoothly rather than waiting to take action after problems have occurred.

You can do a variety of things to keep your AC system in good working condition and extend its life. Check out these essential tasks to perform as a part of any preventative air conditioning maintenance plan.

Frequent Air Filter Changes

One easy way to keep your air conditioning system healthy and running at peak efficiency is to replace its air filter on a regular basis. You can usually change your system's air filter after every three months, but you may need to change it even more frequently if your house tends to get dusty too quickly.

Dirty air filters block your system's normal airflow, resulting in poorer indoor air quality, reduced thermal comfort, and increased air conditioning bills. Frequent air filter replacements are essential for avoiding these unpleasant consequences. 

If your AC system uses a reusable air filter, make sure to clean it frequently enough to keep both the system and your family healthy.

Proper Cleaning of the Entire System

Your air conditioning system consists of several components that need to be kept clean to ensure reliable and efficient cooling performance. Some of the vital components that you should clean regularly include the following:

• The compressor
• The evaporator coils
• The condenser coils
• The fins
• The condenser fan
• The indoor air handler
• The condensate drain line

Keeping the above-listed components clean will help to keep your air conditioning system running at its best.

Periodic Checking of Refrigerant Level

As a part of preventative AC maintenance, you should regularly check your system's charge. If the system's refrigerant level has dropped, this could be an indication that leaks exist within it. 

If you do not address the problem, you could end up with an extremely low refrigerant level. This will result in inefficient cooling performance or no cooling at all.

Make sure to check your system's charge and recharge it if necessary. Keep in mind that any refrigerant leaks within your cooling system will need sealing before the system can be recharged.

Everyone's situation is different, so contact an experienced HVAC technician near you to talk about your specific air conditioning maintenance needs. You might be able to discuss anything from the number of maintenance visits to the ways you can provide maintenance.