Money Monday: A/C Tune Ups

WSVN -- As the temps heat up AC man Jeffrey Wolf gets busy doing tune-ups so homeowners can cool down.

Jeffrey Wolf: "Make sure all the electrical connections are tight."

He says everyone should have their AC serviced twice a year. A technician like him can spot problems before they happen.

Jeffrey Wolf: "It's the nuisance break down. The clogged drain, the weak capacitor that would have been picked up during a tune up icing up because it's low on freon. Things like that that can all be averted by having a twice a year checkup."

Tune-ups cost between $70 and $100, but consumer expert angie hicks of "Angie's List" says it's worth it because it saves money in the long run..

Angie Hicks: "Your air conditioner will lose about 5 percent of it's efficiency each and every year, so if you've skipped out on tune-ups for the last four years, your air conditioner is only running at 80-percent efficiency, which adds up to real dollars throughout the year."

The Smiths get their AC checked twice a year:

Greta Smith: "They check the freon level and other things that might cause a problem because we don't want to be without AC when it gets really hot."

Air conditioners usually last 15 to 20 years with a little TLC. Like keeping the area around the unit clear to improve air flow and cleaning the filters

Greta Smith: "Our air is cleaner and the filter is not getting clogged up, which would cause us a major expense if that does happen."

It's time well spent to save money down the road.

Lynn Martinez: "If you want to save money on the tune ups get them in the off season when it's cooler because the AC companies aren't as busy."

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