Why should I pay to have someone else perform maintenance on my A/C if I can just do it myself?

Routinely replacing or cleaning your A/C system’s filters is the most important maintenance task to ensure your system continues to perform efficiently. Clogged, dirty filters obstruct airflow and greatly reduce a system’s efficiency. With airflow blocked, air that bypasses the filter may carry dirt straight into the evaporator coil and decrease the coil’s heat-absorbing capacity. You can lower your air conditioner’s energy consumption by 5% to 15% simply by replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one! Your air conditioning system’s filter should be cleaned or replaced every month or two during the cooling season, and maybe even more frequently if the air conditioner is subjected to dusty conditions or if you have furry, four-legged companions in your home. This is especially important in the Tampa Bay area where our AC’s work overtime to keep us cool and comfortable.

Your air conditioner’s evaporator coil and condenser coil collect dirt over time. A clean filter helps prevents the evaporator coil from soiling quickly, however, the evaporator coil will still collect dirt. This dirt reduces airflow and insulates the coil, making the coil unable to absorb heat effectively. To avoid this problem, your evaporator coil should be checked and cleaned at least once per year. The condenser coils outside can also become very dirty if the environment is dusty or if there is foliage nearby. It’s easy to see the condenser coil and notice if dirt is collecting on its fins. You should keep dirt and debris near the condenser unit to a minimum. Dryer vents, falling leaves, and lawn mowers are all sources of dirt and debris. Cleaning the area around the coil, removing any debris, and cutting foliage back at least 2 feet allows adequate airflow around the condenser.

While it’s possible to perform these and other important routine maintenance tasks on your air conditioner, a well-trained technician has all the tools and experience to get the job done right without damaging any of the delicate parts of your system. They also will be able to recognize and fix any problems your system may have, preventing inconvenient and costly breakdowns and prolonging the life-span of your air conditioner. Even better, check out and sign up for one of our two amazing Comfort Plans and take all the worry and guesswork out of the picture. Let The Comfort Authority worry about it so you don’t have to!

Call us at (813) 575-6996 and let us take care of your air conditioner’s maintenance needs so you can spend time doing the things you love.