Record high temps continue to sweep the nation. Between 1993 and 2005, energy consumed by residential air conditioning doubled. It had risen another 20% by 2010. Air conditioning units are being used more now than ever before. Improper ac maintenance can lead to disaster. Most homeowners have no idea how to do ac maintenance, leaving them vulnerable to safety, health, and financial risks. Consider these facts before passing on that yearly inspection this year.
Protecting Your Home
Two-thirds of homes in America have air conditioning. Only 42% percent of homes have their ac serviced annually. Between 2006 and 2010, faulty or poorly maintained ac units accounted for 35% of home fires. Broken heating pumps accounted for 7%. Nearly half of all home fires can be attributed to improperly maintained ac units, while three out of every five homes remain at risk. Hiring an ac contractor to assess a home’s ac system is simple, and can save lives.
Protecting Your Health
About 90% of homes built after the year 2000 have a main space heating system that includes central ducts. Half of all homes built before 1940 have central air ducts. Dust, mold spores, and pollen can accumulate in those ducts, creating potential respiratory risks. Those with asthma may have symptoms worsen due to excess particles being recirculated in the home due to dirty ducts. Cleaning air conditioning ducts is a necessity to protect your family’s health. Air duct cleaning companies can take care of this problem quickly, efficiently, and at a low cost.
Protect Your Wallet
Simply replacing a dirty ac filter with a clean one can reduce energy consumption by up to 15%. The best air conditioners available today use 30% to 50% less energy than systems produced in the 1970s. Additionally, switching to a high efficiency system can reduce a home’s energy consumption for air conditioning between 20% and 50%. While properly maintaining your system can reduce energy costs, switching to a newer, more efficient system can save homeowners money in the long run if the current system is outdated. HVAC systems only last about 12 years on average.
Contacting a local air conditioning company to assess your home’s needs is simple, fast, and can save tons of money in the long run. An improperly maintained system is a major safety hazard. Talk to a contractor who knows how to do ac maintenance to ensure that your family and investment is safe.