FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How long will my air conditioner last?

Good air conditioners can last as long as 15 years if they’re properly maintained, but average air conditioners are expected to develop problems after seven to ten years if they’re neglected. If you want to get the most out of your new system, check your filters monthly and replace them as needed, keep your outdoor unit clean and free of debris, and shade the unit during the hottest parts of the day. By performing a little easy maintenance, you can greatly extend the life of your air conditioner and keep it working at its best.

There are several ways to increase the efficiency of your air conditioner, including leaving all air vents unblocked, installing a programmable thermostat, doing regular maintenance on your system, and using ceiling fans to help keep rooms feeling cooler so you can comfortably turn the thermostat up.

Yes.  Professional maintenance goes beyond what a typical homeowner is equipped to deal with, including things like checking your refrigerant level and cleaning the evaporator coil.  Having a professional examine your air conditioner once or twice a year will also help catch problems while they’re still small and manageable.

The number of people and pets living in your home and how frequently you run the air conditioning will affect how often you need to change your filter, but everyone should check their filters monthly.  When the filters are discolored or plugged, they need to be replaced; this is typically 30 to 90 days after installation.  During more frequent use (ie Summer) you may need to clean or replace filters every 2 weeks.

Regularly clean vegetation, leaves and debris out of your air conditioner and hose it down well with the unit turned off.  By keeping the outdoor unit clean, you’ll maximize its ability to exhaust heat into the environment, making it run more efficiently.

The temperature that your air conditioner blows at will depend on the temperature of the air entering the return.  Typically, room air should blow out at a temperature between 15 and 20 degrees cooler than when it went in, but if there’s excess humidity in the air, this range may vary slightly.  Allow your unit to run at least 15 minutes before you compare the return air temperature to the blowing air temperature.

Air conditioners that suddenly start making new noises or produce new smells should be checked right away. Other signs that your unit  is having problems include its running constantly despite temperatures under 100 degrees Fahrenheit, or blowing warm air into the room, or utility bills that increase dramatically despite normal usage.

You can sometimes simply replace your outdoor unit and leave the indoor unit intact, but a mismatched system like this may cost you a lot more in energy use by reducing the efficiency of your new outdoor unit dramatically. Plus a new system may not run the same type of freon that your old system was using, thus not allowing you to keep one half of your system.  You’re always better off replacing all the parts of your air conditioner at the same time for maximum efficiency and performance.

No. Bigger isn’t always better. Don’t be tempted to up-size your unit unless your old unit was incorrectly sized to begin with. A too-large unit will run in frequent short cycles, preventing it from removing humidity properly from your home and shortening its lifespan.

Address:

1017 W Foothill Blvd, Azusa CA 91702

Email:

info@comfortclimate.com

Open Hours:

Mon-Fri: 8:30am - 5pm
Sat: 8:30-12

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