Special to DJW

YUMA, Ariz. - With summer temperatures often topping the 120-degree mark, homeowners here tend to listen carefully when their air conditioning contractor offers advice.

And what advice is he most likely to offer? "Make sure your central air conditioning system has been checked out thoroughly before the start of the peak cooling season," cautions Frank Gilmore, co-owner of Quick Refrigeration Co., a Trane air conditioning dealership here for nearly half a century.

In essence, both the homeowner and the dealer have their work cut out for them during a heat-scorching period of five-months beginning in May.

"Homeowners should change the air filter at least once every 30 days during intense heat periods," advises Gilmore. "That's because the air conditioner has to work much harder, resulting in more frequent dirt buildup on the filter. In some of the area's dustier farm communities, the filter may have to be replaced more often."

In addition, contractors should inspect an air conditioning system twice a year - in spring and fall - and clean the evaporator and condenser coils during each visit, Gilmore says.

Failure to adhere to an annual maintenance program in an area like Yuma could lead to the failure of a major component, such as the condenser fan motor, or one of the many capacitors in the electrical system. That's bad news for both the homeowner and air conditioning contractor, who may have to endure stifling heat for up to two hours if the repairs involve components in the outdoor condenser.

Failure to adhere to an annual maintenance program in an area like Yuma could lead to the failure of a major component, such as the condenser fan motor, or one of the many capacitors in the electrical system. That's bad news for both the homeowner and air conditioning contractor, who may have to endure stifling heat for up to two hours if the repairs involve components in the outdoor condenser.

Even with regular bi-annual checkups, air conditioners in an area like Yuma may have a much shorter life cycle than units in other parts of the country. Typically, a central air conditioning system in Yuma has to be replaced every 10 to 12 years.

But there are exceptions. One of Quick Refrigeration's customers has a Trane unit that is still functioning flawlessly after 30 years. "We've serviced the system twice each year as long as we can remember," Gilmore said. "The homeowner, in turn, does all he can to keep the unit running smoothly and efficiently."

For areas that experience extreme heat, Gilmore suggests that only high-efficiency central air systems - those with a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio rating, or SEER, of 14 or higher - be considered by homeowners looking to replace their existing units. Most high-efficiency systems have a SEER rating of at least 12. The higher the SEER rating, the higher the efficiency of the unit and lower the energy use.