Air Conditioner Maintenance: A Guide to Keeping Your AC Running Smoothly
| It is quite disheartening that many of us don’t really appreciate our air conditioning units and frankly many other machines that make our lives easier. In fact, the majority of us only pay attention if the AC unit malfunctions, then of course you rush to call Lake Michigan Heating, Cooling, Plumbing to repair your broken ac! Whilst repairs are obviously necessary, servicing and maintenance are crucial too and can actually help by catching problems early and minimizing any potential damage and repair work. With this in mind, you should always do regular maintenance using the services of reputable companies like those from SALT Home Services, to keep your AC running well. In this article, we have compiled a simple AC maintenance guide you should follow to prolong the lifespan of your unit. Let’s get started, shall we? |
How does Air Conditioner Work?
It is a no brainer that to know how to maintain anything, you should first understand what it is, how it functions, and its core parts. In a simple overview, an AC is a cooling system that absorbs the heat from a room using a refrigerant that circulates between the air handler and condenser. Return ducts transport the warm air to the air handler for filtration and cooling while the supply ducts disburse cooled air. This is just but a simplistic way of looking at ACs but there are lots of guides where you can learn how air conditioners work. You can also use your AC manual to get an insight into how your specific AC model works before you can do any regular maintenance on it.
You may be wondering why you should do any maintenance when your AC is actually running smoothly. Well, there are many advantages to doing regular AC maintenance. Let’s look at some of them.
Why do Maintenance Practices if the unit is Running Smoothly?
By definition, maintenance is what you do, even when nothing is wrong. Put simply, it reduces the possibility of preventable faults that will require professional AC repair services.
*It saves you money-Carrying out the practices save money keeping in mind that your AC will run efficiently meaning it consumes minimal electrical energy thus lowering utility bills. In addition, an efficient system lasts longer and needs few to zero AC repair services.
*It improves the quality of air– who doesn’t love breathing in clean air? If the unit is clogged by leaves or dust, air circulation is impaired, and this can even cause allergies or respiratory infections.
*Keeps the surface in good condition – as mentioned above, the machine uses a lot of water, and leakages can destroy the roof, walls, or even floors.
*Ensures overall safety– electrical and mechanical issues are common in poorly maintained ACs. If clogged, some parts may break, and interrupted power supply can end up creating fire or power leaks. Implementing maintenance practices allows you to identify such hazards and respond accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions about Air conditioner Maintenance
When is the most appropriate time to implement the practices?
It depends on how long you have your AC running and the manufacturer guide. Check the recommended frequency and stick to that in your regular AC maintenance.
Which brands of air conditioning systems require maintenance?
All AC brands require maintenance. Being of superior quality does not mean it is exempted from harboring foreign matter such as leaves, dust, etc.
Professional AC Maintenance
You can do some simple AC maintenance practices on your own but some residential and especially commercial ACs are too complex to handle on your own. This is where you might want to look at Air conditioner services near you for help. If you’re from Singapore, consider hiring the services of this aircon cleaning service. AC maintenance done by pros will be far more detailed and bound to keep your systems running longer, according to AireControl.com AC maintenance experts. This is obviously due to the fact that a licensed AC repair company will have the technical expertise, the right equipment, and the experience. Thus you are in safer hands compared to when you do it on your own.
Maintenance practices of an air conditioner
Most maintenance practices are very simple and straightforward and majorly consist of cleaning. The cleaning process entails removing the leaves-either manually or using a vacuum cleaner and clearing the grass, cleaning the fins, the condenser, indoor units, drain port, and the tubes, etc. The outdoor unit needs more attention when cleaning gave then leaves are often blown towards it. The grass may also grow around it. Here are some AC maintenance practices you can do it yourself:
*Cleaning and straightening the fins
Fins are small metallic blades surrounding the unit. Dirt in this part often comes from dust, leaves, and trapped grass that eventually dries pulled in by the fan. They are brittle, and you should always use a soft brush or water at moderate pressure, and when using water, run it from the inside out. You may also notice that no amount of cleaning is allowing air to flow freely; this doesn’t mean that you should stop. On the control, take a gentle knife and straighten the fins. Always turn off the power before doing this.
*Cleaning the indoor unit
Turn off the power and lift the filter off the unit. Inspect for dirt accumulation and make the necessary changes. Unless the dirt is stuck, it should come off easily.
*Vacuuming and lubricating
From the previous lists, you may have noted that dust is an enemy to the air conditioning unit. Since it doesn’t stop invading, you should vacuum the compartment regularly especially if it’s in a dusty environment. You should also lubricate the AC. This may not be straightforward but with a lubrication guide, everything will be easy.
*Unclogging the rear drain
The most common sign of a clogged drain is water dripping into the room or some surfaces appearing extremely moist. With air conditioning units using more than 30 gallons of water, a portion may likely seep into the rooms. This is often due to clogging by foreign materials. Keep the drains clean by inspecting and removing foreign stuff regularly.
Again, consider licensed air condition experts if you lack the expertise to handle some of these AC maintenance practices.
In a Nutshell
Installing an air conditioner is a good leap towards convenience, energy efficiency, and comfort in hot conditions. Should you be interested in buying a new unit, you can find affordable refurbished packaged terminal air conditioners (PTAC) units at PTAC4Less. But to keep the AC running and serving the intended purpose, you should be ready to play your part in regular maintenance practices. Prevention has always been better than cure so don’t let your AC malfunction and be forced to buy a new unit. It’s the simple practices that will keep it running smoothly and for long!
