Surviving the hot summer weather every year means one thing to most people: turning on the air conditioner. Regardless of the type of unit you have, it's a good idea to perform some basic air conditioner maintenance before turning it on.

First, if you have a window air conditioner or a mounted "in-the-wall" type air conditioning unit that is more than 5 years old, consider replacing it with a new energy efficient model. Much like your home heating system, air conditioners use a lot of energy and your electricity bill is going to spike during the peak heating season.

The fundamentals of home cooling and heating are pretty much the same thing. One good way to reduce your overall cooling expenses is to discover ways to keep the hot air outside and the cooled air inside. So think about ways to keep your home or apartment cool by minimizing the loss of cool air. Keeping cooled air inside the home isn't easy, but it can be done and doing so will save you money. Inside cooled air will escape your house anywhere it can learn a crack or crevice. Floor heating registers and the space beneath a door are two locations.

Maintenance wise, it's important to check your A/C unit for dust and dirt buildup. The obvious place where dirt accumulates is on the dust filter behind the front cover. Remove the cover and the filter, and then wash them with soap and water. Once you have cleaned and dried the filter and the cover, put them back on the A/C unit. Check the inside of the A/C unit for dirt and dust, as well. Use your vacuum cleaner brush to remove any dirt or dust inside.

Take a look at the cooling fins located on the outside of the unit. For proper working and cooling, the fins should be positioned for an unrestricted flow of air. Opening the fins back up is easily accomplished using a kitchen or crafting tool. Even if the damage to the cooling fins appears minor, you should take the time to straighten them out. All A/C units need an unrestricted flow of air across the cooling coils in order to work correctly.

Making repairs to a central air conditioning unit is beyond the scope of this service guide. For most homeowners, maintaining these units is just a matter of basic cleaning and replacing air filters. If your unit is making odd noises, such as clicking and banging, or it simply isn't cooling as it should, it's time to call in the professionals. Additional indications of serious trouble that requires professional service repair are smoke and the burning smell of plastic or rubber insulation.

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