If there is any single air conditioning service we think is vital for your cooling system, it’s maintenance. Homeowners often still see this as a frivolous or “luxury” service but that’s just not the case. The fact of the matter is, if you want your air conditioner to last as long as it is meant to—an average of 10-15 years—and work as effectively as it is meant to throughout its lifespan, you have to have it tuned-up by a trained professional.
This is particularly true when you consider our climate. If you have a traditional central air conditioner, then annual maintenance is essential. If you have a year-round heat pump or ductless system, then this should be increased to every 6 months.
But, is there anything else you can do to ensure the efficiency of your air conditioner?
There sure is! Read on to learn more.
While other parts of the country are scheduling heating maintenance and starting to shut down their air conditioners for the season, we’re still using our cooling systems on a regular basis. That said, this is commonly the time of year that air conditioners begin to experience problems—the reason for this is because it’s been going since last spring.
In other parts of the country, it probably seems pretty strange to be talking about air conditioners this time of the year, unless they’re talking about winterizing them. But winterizing just isn’t a thing here in the Gulf Breeze. Even though our fall and winter seasons are notably and relatively cooler than our summers, it doesn’t mean they are cool. 
First off, you might be wondering what R-22 is. It’s refrigerant—the substance needed for your central air conditioner or heat pump to function at all. Perhaps you have a basic understanding of how refrigerant works, and you might have even had someone tell you that refrigerant needs to be refilled (called recharged in the HVAC industry) every once in a while.