August 6, 2006
Leesburg - - During the heat of the summer, many people depend on their air conditioning units to keep cool. But if they aren't properly maintained, your unit could cause you major problems.
Jon Russell's Heating and Cooling workers are hard at work this summer.
"It's been so hot this year a lot of people are calling in wanting to get their units fixed and serviced and a lot of replacements for the old units," Jon Russell says.
Even though a good unit can last you up to 20 years, many only live half that time because they aren't properly maintained.
"A common problem. They're not servicing them at all. At least twice a year, a nice chemical clean. If your coils are stopped up, it's not going to cool properly on the inside, not allowing your unit to breathe," says technician Daniel Cherry.
On top of that, it's recommended you change your air filter every months.
If you're buying a new unit, you want to keep in mind the SEER rating. That's the seasonal energy efficiency ratio. The standard SEER rating is a 13, but the higher the rating, the more efficient your unit is - and the more expensive.
"You pay for what you get and you pay more for a higher seer unit, but in the end it works out through savings on your electric bill," Russell says.
Also you may want to consider a unit that uses r-410 freon instead of the standard r22. In a few years, new a-c units, wont even take the current r22 coolant.
"The new freons are earth friendly, safe to the ozone layer so everyone's converting to the new freons," Russell says.
Just a few things to keep in mind as you work to keep your cool.
When youre looking for an air-conditioner consider buying a unit that has a reputable brand name as well as a good warranty.
Feedback: news@walb.com?subject=acunittips/brent
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 Worldnow and WALB, a Raycom Media Station. 
