In mid-2024, The Atlantic had an interesting post to share. It ascribed a novel title to America that resembled those normally given to Greek philosophers. Calling America ‘the air-conditioned’ would not be a misnomer since 77% of US homes had an AC unit by 2001.
Today, more than 90% of our country’s households have a cooling system. At least 2024 has been a record-breaking year in terms of global heat.
One would expect that the summer season would immediately follow with searches like ‘AC repair near me,’ especially the extreme heat this year. Even so, should you opt for a repair or maintenance in the cooler months?
We understand that you may have wanted to put your AC on the back burner for some time, at least until Spring. This article will discuss why most people go for AC maintenance/repair during Spring and whether the winter season would be a more ideal time.
Why People Typically Schedule AC Repair or Maintenance During Spring
Conventional wisdom states that Spring is the ideal time for AC repair or maintenance because of the upcoming summer heat. Before the extreme heat arrives, potential issues can be identified and addressed. Let’s look at a rundown of the different reasons why people choose to repair their cooling units during Spring –
- Cleaning and checking components like drain pans, filters, and coils can help identify minor issues early on before they turn into costly replacements.
- Another reason why people choose to get their AC checked and repaired during Spring is to optimize efficiency. This may help lower utility bills.
- The likelihood of waiting for a technician appointment is low as compared to the summer months.
Why Winter is the New Spring
The upcoming winter season in the United States is expected to be colder than usual for the northern part of the country. As for the eastern and southwestern regions, the temperature will be slightly warmer in comparison.
Be it extreme cold or a bit milder climate, we are approaching the season when people will be pulling out their heating systems. It may sound counterintuitive to have the air-conditioning checked around this time.
Give us a chance to persuade you to do otherwise. Listed below are four compelling reasons why the winter season may be the best time for AC repair and maintenance.
Elimination of Winter Issues
We previously mentioned that people prefer repairing their cooling systems during the Spring to prevent last-minute hassles. Nobody wants to turn on their air-conditioning unit in the scorching heat only to find that it breaks down.
There is still one flaw with that logic. If you allow your AC unit to sit idle for a few winter months, there may be issues that go unidentified. We commonly refer to these as winter issues.
The frigid cold has its way of getting into the wiring and system, thereby deteriorating them over time. Examples of winter issues include a broken thermostat, dirty filters, and frozen pipes. These mainly occur because the central cooling unit is generally placed outside where snow and frost may impact it.
If such issues remain undetected till the last minute, or even until Spring, they will only escalate with time. Having all problems identified and taken care of immediately after the winter is the best way to ensure you’re not caught unaware of any major issues.
Reduced Costs and Longer Lifespan
This point stems directly from the one mentioned previously. In general, an air-conditioner should last for up to 10 years, even more if maintained properly. Steel T Home Services mentions that occasional wear-and-tear is common.
This may take the form of several issues like the AC not cooling properly, making noises, or refusing to turn on altogether. The biting cold is especially a season when AC units are at risk of greater damage. Now, imagine if you were to leave these issues until a couple of months have passed.
Even if repairs are performed timely, it would still reduce the lifespan of the appliance. Plus, you may incur higher costs since Springtime is a crowded marketplace for repair technicians. Moreover, the costs could be higher if the problem has worsened over the winter months.
Why run such a massive risk? Be proactive and call for the technicians as soon as the cold season sets in. Put your AC in order and anticipate a relaxing change of seasons.
Better Efficiency and Lower Bills
By an AC unit’s efficiency, we mean how well the appliance can utilize energy to cool off a space. Sometimes, the system may not be cooling properly due to issues with sizing or modulation. However, in most cases, the problem has to do with untimely maintenance or a lack of repair.
A cooling system’s efficiency can quickly deteriorate if it does not receive regular tune-ups. Without timely maintenance, the AC unit would only waste its energy without properly cooling the space it is installed. Let’s not forget that wasted energy also translates into greater greenhouse emissions.
If you get your AC checked and repaired as the winter sets in, this will improve the system’s efficiency. Naturally, you will experience lower electricity bills in the upcoming season.
Did you know that the annual total unit sales of air-conditioners across the US average 16 million for residences? If we were to include the commercial numbers as well, the total would come up to 24 million units.
The numbers are only expected to rise with the passing years unless heat waves and climate change are duly addressed. Before matters get out of hand and you’re left with a low or no-functioning AC unit, have it checked, repaired, and maintained at the earliest.
