How to Budget for AC Maintenance: 5 Different Options
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How much does your AC maintenance cost each year? Do you constantly feel blindsided by an unexpected repair cost? Just like a car, your air conditioner takes regular maintenance to maximize efficiency and increase its lifespan.
However, that doesn’t mean that you need to compromise your budget to keep up with regular maintenance. In this article, we’ll cover how to budget for AC maintenance, including common maintenance expenses, why it’s important to budget, and how you can create a budget that fits your needs.
What is AC Maintenance?
AC maintenance involves regular service to keep your air conditioning system operating efficiently. The goal of AC maintenance is to thoroughly assess each component in your air conditioning system to prevent damage that shortens the lifespan of your unit. For example, testing the electrical components of your unit each year can help detect any wiring problems before they become a hazard.
It’s important to note that AC maintenance isn’t a monthly expense. In fact, most air conditioning experts suggest maintenance twice a year: once in the spring and once in the fall. However, if you live in an area that runs the air conditioning unit year-round, you might need more frequent service.
Common AC Maintenance Expenses
The AC maintenance expense you incur will depend on your unit. For example, a unit that is ten years old might require more maintenance compared to a unit that is one year old. Nevertheless, AC maintenance expenses can be broken down into three main categories: system inspection, cleaning, and additional services. Let’s explore each of these maintenance categories in more detail.
System Inspection
System inspection involves checking all major components of your unit, including the compressor, condenser coil, thermostat, wiring, and evaporator coil. Your service provider is looking for any visible signs of damage, such as a snagged wire.
As a part of your system inspection, your service provider might also check refrigerant levels to ensure no damage is being done to the compressor, test electrical components to verify that there are no safety concerns, and look for any leaks to avoid environmental damage. The average system inspection can cost as little as $70 or as much as $700.
Cleaning
The next category of air conditioning maintenance is cleaning. This often involves cleaning air filters to improve airflow, removing dirt from condenser coils, wiping down dust from evaporator coils, and cleaning drain lines to prevent water damage.
Wiping down each of these components prevents buildup that can negatively impact the efficiency of your machine. For example, built-up dirt on your air filter can lead to poor indoor air quality. It can cost anywhere between $75 and $700 to clean your AC unit.
Additional Services
Some AC service providers will offer additional maintenance services, like thermostat calibration, airflow measuring, ductwork inspection, and safety control checks. These additional services can also improve the longevity of your AC unit. Some service providers will add these services to cleaning and inspection services for a small cost.
What Influences AC Maintenance Prices?
The average AC maintenance costs depend on a variety of factors. For one, the time of year you complete your maintenance can influence price. AC service technicians are busier in the summer months, meaning they may charge more compared to services done over the winter months.
Additionally, the complexity of your service will also impact your price. A simple cleaning will cost more compared to an in-depth system review. Moreover, the company you work with can alter your price. A trusted and reliable company with years of experience may cost more compared to an inexperienced technician.
Remember, the quality of work is important when selecting your service provider. While the cheaper option may be better for your wallet, it could result in missed maintenance items that are costly down the road. For example, if your service provider misses a refrigerant issue, you might need to replace the entire unit. This is why thoroughly vetting your provider is important.
The Importance of Budgeting
Budgeting for AC maintenance can help prevent costly repairs, minimize financial disruptions, and ensure your system is being serviced regularly. Let’s say that you don’t budget for AC maintenance. Spring rolls around, and you have to choose between spending $500 to service your air conditioner or $500 to get new tires on your vehicle. Which one are you likely to choose?
By budgeting for AC maintenance, you don’t have to worry about making those tough decisions. Instead, you planned throughout the year for your AC maintenance costs and have the funds to cover both expenses. Budgeting for AC costs is also important if your unit is nearing the end of its lifespan. For example, if your unit is 20 years old, you might want to start saving for a new unit.
Creating Your Budget
AC maintenance budgeting will look different for each person, especially depending on where you live, how old your unit is, and the service provider you choose. Before creating your budget, it’s recommended to get a quote for your AC maintenance from a reputable provider, like Casey Services HVAC. This can give you a baseline of how much you need to budget for your next maintenance visit.
Before we get into how to create your budget, let’s set up our example. You get a quote from Casey Services HVAC for your semi-annual AC maintenance. It’s estimated that the service will cost $300 each visit or $600 for the year. Using this estimate, let’s cover how you would break down your budget weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, semi-annually, or yearly.
Weekly
Weekly budgeting works great if you want to make smaller contributions over the course of the year. Using our $600 estimate, you would need to set aside about $12 each week. This makes the goal of saving for AC maintenance more manageable!
These funds should go into a separate account, like a high-yield savings account, to earn extra interest. Separating the funds will help you avoid spending them.
Bi-Weekly
Bi-weekly budgeting is another great option, especially if you get paid every two weeks. You would need to set aside about $24 every two weeks to meet your savings goals.
Monthly
Since it’s estimated that you will pay $600 per year for AC maintenance, you will need to divide this cost by 12 months to get a monthly cost of $50. This means that each month, you should set aside $50 for your AC maintenance.
Semi-Annually
Now, let’s say that you want to budget semi-annually. Maybe you get a bonus twice a year or have times during the year when expenses are lower. Whatever the case, you decide to set aside two lump sum payments. Semi-annual budgeting means you set aside $300 twice a year, such as in January and July.
Yearly
Yearly is another budgeting option. Maybe you decide to set aside a portion of your tax refund, or you get a commission or bonus check once a year. Once a year, you will separate $600 from your normal spending account for AC maintenance.
Summary
Do you currently have an AC maintenance budget set up? If not, now is the perfect time to start setting aside money for your next maintenance visit. For more information about the average maintenance cost for your home, reach out to one of our team members today for your free quote.
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