When your air conditioning unit is working well, it disappears into the background, and you forget it even exists. However, when it stops working, it can make life inside the house extremely uncomfortable. Instead of waiting for the system to break down, consider regular maintenance to keep it working great. With regular maintenance, your system can continue to work in the background as you enjoy life. Check out these four reasons your air conditioning unit should get regular maintenance.

It Saves You Money on Repairs and Replacement

The main reason you may choose to ignore regular maintenance is the price. However, having your air conditioner serviced annually only costs between $70 and $100. If there are any necessary repairs, the price may increase, but regular maintenance reduces the need for repairs by keeping the system running smoothly. Plus, a technician can spot and fix minor issues before they become expensive repairs. This maintenance also helps reduce stress on the system, which may allow it to last longer. This also helps you save money because a replacement may cost anywhere between $2,000 and $15,000, depending on the size and model. If your system is extremely old and you need frequent repairs from lack of regular maintenance, however, it may be more cost effective to get a new energy-efficient system.

Wear and Tear May Lead to Inefficient Cooling

Wear and tear from lack of maintenance doesn't just cause the system to wear down faster. It may also make the system less efficient. Forced-air cooling is already somewhat inefficient because it uses a lot of energy to cool your house. However, when the system isn't working as well as it should because of friction, a dirty filter, and other issues, it loses even more efficiency. As a result, less cooled air may reach the living space. Depending on several factors, such as the size of the home and system, this may mean the system can never make your home the right temperature. Even if it can, you will likely have to use more energy and money to reach that desired temperature.

Maintenance Techs Can Examine Ducts Too

One reason forced-air cooling is inefficient is the ducts used to transport the cooled air. With this type of system, the air-conditioning unit cools air and sends it to the various rooms throughout the home via ducts and vents. This leaves a lot of room for problems, such as leaking air and heat loss. Due to wear and tear or poor installation, the segments of ducts may separate, creating gaps. In other cases, damage may cause holes to appear. These allow the cooled air to escape, which means less cooled air reaches you. On average, a typical house with a forced-air cooling system loses about 20 to 30 percent of the air that travels through the ducts. During regular maintenance, your repair technician may be able to spot these problems and correct them.

It Helps Keep Your Family Safe

The last, but perhaps most important, reason to schedule regular maintenance is that it helps keep your family safe. As dirt and grime gather in the system, they may interfere with circuits, causing them to malfunction, which could lead to a fire or other disaster. During regular maintenance, this grime is removed to keep the circuits clean. Similarly, this grime and dust can enter the ductwork, which means it eventually reaches your living space, reducing the indoor air quality. This may cause breathing problems in people with allergies, asthma, COPD, etc.

If you have been neglecting your air conditioning unit and/or you've been noticing problems, it may be time to call a technician for maintenance and repairs. Keeping your system in good condition will keep it working more efficiently for longer. For more information about air conditioner repair and maintenance, contact a technician at a company like Baton Rouge Air Conditioning & Heating in your area today.