Why You Need Surge Protection on an AC Unit

Your air conditioner keeps you cool in the boiling heat of summer. It is also a very expensive piece of equipment. If you want to keep your air conditioning working and you want it to last for a long time, you should install surge protection on an AC unit. With the proper care, an air conditioner should last up to 10 years. 

Photo of Air Conditioning unit for DIY Tips
Your furnace and AC units are likely the most expensive parts of your home that are connected to electricity.

Why You Need a Surge Protector

When the voltage suddenly spikes in a power line or the wires in a home, it is called a power surge. Most outlets in a home will be able to handle 120 volts of electricity. Surges happen due to fallen power lines and lightning storms. You can click here to read more.

A power surge can cause damage to your electronic equipment. Many homeowners’ insurance policies will not cover an air conditioner that has been damaged by a power surge. Hence, It is important to buy a high-quality surge protector. 

Photo of a Belkin surge protector
Image by WikimediaImages

Remember that surge protectors and power strips are not the same thing, even though they may look alike. A power strip does nothing to protect your electronic equipment; it just offers a place to plug in multiple appliances.

A surge protector stops the energy spike from happening. Not all surge protectors are of the same quality. A good surge protector will divert unneeded energy, and it will block electric overloads. You will have to pay more money for quality.

Why You Need Maintenence

An air conditioner has several different components, which means there are several opportunities for things to go wrong. If you live in the warmest parts of the United States, you probably run your air conditioner most of the year. Most air conditioners are not designed to run full-time. 

You can perform basic maintenance yourself. Check and change your air conditioner’s filter regularly. Filters trap debris, and when they get dirty, the air conditioner will not be able to do its job.

 You should also check the vents for dirt and obstructions. Make sure no leaves or branches are blocking the outside unit. If vents are blocked, your air conditioner must work harder to cool your home. When this happens, it will use more power, and your energy bills will increase. 

Dirty filters and clogs can also cause more wear and tear on your air conditioner. Your air conditioner will not last as long as it should if you do not maintain it.

Performing home maintenance is vital to saving money in the long run. Your HVAC system is a big part of that. So you should also have professional maintenance at least once a year. Choose a reputable HVAC repair company that only uses trained technicians and has great online reviews. 

Professional technicians can repair small problems before they become big ones. If they have to take your system apart, they will have no trouble putting it back together again. They will have replacement parts on and will clean your system completely.

An air conditioner is an expensive and necessary appliance. Installing surge protection on an AC unit, along with regular maintenance, will keep you cool for a long time.

Tre Pryor, Realtor

Tre Pryor is the leading real estate expert in the city of Louisville. He is a multi-million dollar producer and consistently ranks in the top 1% of Louisville Realtors for homes sold. Tre Pryor has the highest possible rating—5.0 stars on Google—by his clients and is routinely interviewed by the local NBC news. Tre Pryor is a member of the RE/MAX Hall of Fame.