ExecutiveChronicles | Tips For Air Conditioning System Maintenance | The filters, coils, and fins of an air conditioner must be maintained on a regular basis for the unit to perform successfully and efficiently over the years. How well individuals maintain their air conditioning systems determines how well they function. Disregarding basic maintenance will lead to the deterioration of the air conditioner’s performance. When the summer heats up, you can’t afford to have an air conditioner with problems or malfunctioning components.
In addition, dirty condenser coils and clogged air filters might cause your air conditioner to use more energy to get the intended cooling effects. That indicates that the air conditioning equipment will cost you more money in the long run when it comes to energy bills and will have a greater carbon impact on the environment, which is harmful to our health. So, it is an important factor to have quality maintenance for your air conditioning units to ensure energy efficiency, lower your power expenses, and maintain a clean environment by reducing carbon emissions.
In this article, you will learn some tips on how you can effectively maintain the air conditioning systems at your home. However, you can acquire an aircon service if you think you’re too busy to do the work. Besides, it’s regular maintenance. So it’s better to hire a professional to do the work for your convenience.
AirCon Filter Maintenance
Since dust, fur, and other tiny particles easily accumulate in an air-conditioning unit, changing or cleaning the filters on a regular basis is the most important maintenance activity to ensure the unit’s performance. Clogged filters restrict airflow and diminish the system unit’s efficiency dramatically.
Furthermore, if the airflow is blocked, dirt can skip the filter and enter the evaporator coil, the part of the air conditioning system responsible for absorbing the heat from inside a room. If that happens, it reduces the coil’s heat-absorbing ability while also increasing energy consumption. Thus, replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one can also decrease the energy usage of your air conditioner by about 5 to 15 percent.
To make sure that your air conditioning systems are always in good condition and functioning well, it is recommended to clean the air filters once every two weeks and change them once a month. You may also consider buying pleated filters rather than the standard ones, since they work better and last longer than the cheap ones. It’s worth noting that cleaning a filter is a simple task that can be done just by washing it with plain water.
Maintaining AirCon Coils
The coils of an air conditioner acquire dirt after months and years of use. The evaporator coil is less likely to gather dirt if the filter is kept clean. On the other hand, it will continue to gather dirt over time. As has been said earlier, the dirt obstructs airflow and insulates the coil, lowering its heat-absorbing capacity. Always check your evaporator coil at least once or twice a year and clean it as needed to avoid such a problem.
Furthermore, if the external environment is dusty or there is greenery around, the outdoor condenser coils can become exceedingly dirty. These parts of the air conditioning system function as the parts that transfer heat from inside the air-conditioned room into the open outdoors. Because they are put outside, they are immediately visible, allowing you to examine if dirt has gathered on their fins.
Dirt and debris should be kept away from the condenser unit. These materials might come from your dryer vents, falling leaves, or your lawnmower. To make sure your condenser has enough space for airflow, clean the area that surrounds the coil, remove any trash, and prune unnecessary bushes to about 2 to 3 feet (0.6 to 1 meter) from the condenser unit.
Adjusting The Thermostat to a Normal Temperature
The thermostat is where you can mainly control the system. It also displays information about the current temperature of the air-conditioned room. It is an important thing to remember to keep the temperature displayed on the thermostat at its normal level. A cool temperature might be refreshing, especially when the sun is so hot, but a too low temperature may cause the air conditioning system to work inefficiently, wasting a lot of electricity.
In addition, if you want to maintain the temperature at a specific time period, you may use the timer function of the thermostat and set it according to your preference. Besides, air conditioning systems now are so advanced that they are designed for efficient power usage and easy maintenance. You can now select a scheduled time when you would want to turn it on or off, and high or low in temperature.
Checking The System’s Interior Components and Wiring
Though this would be better done by an expert, say an electrician, you can still check the basic status of the interior components and wiring of your air conditioner for yourself. Before you do so, turn the power of the unit down first and unplug the main switches. Remove the access panel and inspect the inside of the unit for any burned wires, potential overheating, melted insulation, or other electrical problems.
