[donk.]

^
Ac maintenance is like car maintenance

You can do the bare minimum, and pay the premium when stuff breaks.
Or you can be pro active and have a healthy unit while everyone else is panicking mid summer finding someone to do the work.

If you have a quality unit, it has built in safeties, and can be "run into the ground" with cheaper repair bills.
If you have a cheap unit, it will probably not have shit in it, and eventually cost lots down the road.

Ex. Cheap units don't have low pressure cut outs, compressors end up cooking them selves when low on charge, costing you about 1.5k+ for repairs.
This can be avoided by an annual check up that will probably cost you 300$

If your gonna DIY,
-Keep the indoor air filter clean / replace as needed.
-Clean the condenser coil, this will also reduce energy bills upwards of 50%. (Chemical clean with unit off)
-On a 20C+ day, run the unit for 20 minutes, go outside, grab the thicker of the two copper lines, it should be cold. If it's not, I would suggest bringing someone out.
-Visual for electrical only, I don't even suggest taking off covers unless your highly mechanically inclined


/Hvac tech for 8 years