Most everybody remembers what it is like to have an air conditioning system that is not working. This will normally occur at the very hottest part of the year and make life miserable for the entire family. The problem is that most often the break down of an air conditioning system can be prevented. With some simple steps towards maintaining the air conditioning system you can ensure your system is healthy and ready for work in the coming season. This will also save you loads of money as you well know. There is a charge for every time that the repair man must come out whether he does anything or not. So if you are able to keep things in running order without having to call the company then you are ahead of the game. This does not mean that you will not be completely protected. There will be times when the system will need a shot of Freon or maybe a new part. However, you will be able to keep the system from having the minor problems that send most people to the telephone directory. In the hottest months you will be able to enjoy the benefits of cool air blasting from the ducts rather then having to spend money to have it repaired.

First and foremost you should keep the outdoor unit clean. This is nothing that will prove all that difficult as these units are built to last and with stand certain abuses. The fact is that during the year leaves and other debris will blow into the unit and cause it to be less efficient. The issue is that the air conditioning system needs to be able to circulate air through itself in order for the entire system to function properly. It should be able to do this with a minimum of trouble. When the leaves and debris build up it makes it harder for the unit to circulate the air and hence it must work harder and requires more energy. As time goes on the system will begin to fail when it can no longer circulate the air that is required. At that time the bearings in the fan motor will most likely start to go bad which is very costly to replace. To curb this problem you should regularly hose off the exterior of the unit and be sure that all debris and leaves are kept clear. You should also make sure that you are covering the unit during the off season. This will prevent the build up of snow and ice inside the unit that could cause damage to some of the more delicate parts.