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5 Tips to Keep Your AC in Good Condition

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family talking
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Prevent costly AC repairs by knowing these five common issues with air conditioning units.

Is there anything worse than expecting a blissfully cool house, but walking into a hot, stale one instead? What happened? Here are five common reasons your air conditioning (AC) unit might be wasting energy, working ineffectively, or not working at all:

  1. Leaky ductwork. According to the Department of Energy, 20 to 30 percent of the air that moves through the duct system of the average home is lost due to leaks, holes, and poorly connected ducts. This leads to two problems: it wastes valuable cooled air and brings unwanted contaminants into your home, including mold, odors, and allergens.

  2. Dirty coils. The coils in your AC absorb heat. Over time, bacteria and airborne contaminants can combine to create a film that traps heat in AC coils, making them less effective.

  3. Broken condenser fan.  The condenser fan, typically located outside the home, is responsible for dispersing the heat generated when compressing the refrigerant inside the condenser. When it’s not working correctly the AC unit can overheat, along with other problems.

  4. TXV issues. The thermal expansion valve, or TXV, is a modulating unit in your AC that regulates the amount of refrigerant depending on how much cooling is needed. If it’s not working correctly, neither is your AC.

  5. Age of the unit. AC units generally last around 10 years, depending on the unit and how often it’s used. If your unit is reaching the double-digits, it might be time for a checkup or replacement.

Higher energy bills and lower performance are sure signs your AC unit needs fixing, but these other symptoms are also signs that it needs a little TLC:

  • Moldy odors or other smells
  • A noisy air flow or bumping noises when the blower starts up
  • Streaks of what looks like dirt on air conditioning grills
  • Recurrent power failures in your area (voltage issues can damage AC units)
     

The good news? Regular maintenance will not only prolong the life of your unit, but also help you keep your cool.

So, what do you do if your AC unit isn’t working as well as it should or it’s nearing the end of its life? Our Air Conditioning Protection Plans can shield you from unexpected repair expenses and help you avoid costly breakdowns in the future.

 

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Our plans give you lots of options, so you can get just what you need for your home without paying for coverage you don't need.

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Terms and conditions contained in the protection plans may limit our contract obligations due to coverage caps, coverage exclusions, and our cash back offer. View plan details for more information.

*Repair claims are limited to $500 per service call and $2,000 per plan in the aggregate per plan term. Plans are provided by NRG Protects Inc. Independent contractors will be performing various services under the plans. In some instances we may make a cash payment in lieu of repairs or replacement in the amount of actual cost, which may be less than retail, to repair or replace any covered system, component, or appliance.

**If your authorized repair technician determines that the water heater is deemed irreparable, we will give you a credit of $500 towards a replacement water heater by your authorized repair technician.

Once repair plans commence, there is a 30-day waiting period before you may request services for a claim. Unless the plan provider elects not to renew the plan, upon expiration of the first year, the plan will automatically renew at the standard rate and terms unless you opt out of the auto-renewal option in writing by mail at P.O. Box 2309, Houston, TX 77252- 2309, by email at cancel@nrgprotects.com or by calling us at 1.855.241.9094. Sales tax will be added in select states.

This is a summary of what the provider will and will not cover under the plan, and is subject to the Terms and Conditions of the plan. The Terms and Conditions may limit the provider's contractual obligations due to coverage caps, coverage exclusions and any cash-back option available under the plan. Please refer to the Sample Terms & Conditions for details.