Air Conditioning Maintenance Neglect: The Cost Can Be Deadly

At Hager Fox Heating and Air Conditioning CO., we specialize in a variety of HVAC services including furnace repairs, heat pump service, and air conditioning repair. However, calling us for something like air conditioning repair can be a costly expense, and not just monetarily. This issue is why we encourage all of our customers and nearby residents to regularly commit to maintenance/upkeep of their air conditioners.

One recent example from Maryland highlights the potential damage neglecting regular maintenance can have on your air conditioning unit all too well. According to FoxBaltimore.com (WBFF), a mechanical failure inside an air conditioning unit caused a house fire and ultimately displaced three residents. Early estimates placed the structural damage cost at about $60,000, but that’s actually a small price to pay when you consider the potentially fatal consequences such an event could have easily caused.

It’s still unclear what the exact mechanical failure was that caused the fire, but it’s fair to speculate that had the unit been properly serviced, the issue could have been found and fixed before the damage was done. One simple way to keep your AC unit on the up-and-up is by regularly changing the air filters. According to EnergyStar.gov, most HVAC system’s filters need to be changed every one to three months.

Most people wait until their air conditioner breaks down for them to call in service technicians, but as proven in this example, you’re really just testing fate. In some instances, a mechanic can even let you know if it’s worth it to fix or replace a unit entirely. For example, in furnaces, if a key part such as the heat exchanger or control module breaks down, you’re probably better off replacing it if it’s more than 15 years old.

In the event you do decide to replace your air conditioning unit entirely, you may actually save yourself money in the long run. In fact, today’s market is flooded with high-efficiency air conditioners. Switching to these AC units, in addition to taking other actions to keep your home cool, can reduce energy use for air conditioning by 20 to 50%.

Help keep you and your family safe. There are plenty of unexpected surprises life can throw at you. Don’t let your AC maintenance neglect be one of them.