To keep your air conditioning equipment working properly, regular maintenance is necessary. This process allows you to achieve several important goals: prolonging the life of the system, increasing productivity. Moreover, the air conditioner starts to supply clean air without any dust particles or other things, energy efficiency increases and the time to reach the set temperature in the room decreases.
Home system maintenance consists of several steps. Adherence to a clear schedule is the key to the equipment’s performance at the end of the service. We have compiled a step-by-step guide on what to do after what.
Air conditioner maintenance: routine tasks and tips for homeowners
Most homeowners can perform a system cleaning on their own. This way, you can clean the filters of dust and perform other simple tasks to keep your air conditioner running like new. Standard home ac system maintenance involves a few simple steps:
- cleaning of split-system units;
- cleaning of drainage channels;
- complete disinfecting;
- refrigerant refilling (if necessary).
The main purpose of this process is not to fix, but to prevent potential breakdowns at the stage when the problem is just beginning to originate in the system.
Air conditioning experts recommend that you have your air conditioner serviced twice a year. The best time is in the fall and spring. If the home system is used minimally – only for a few hours in winter as a heater, then the fall maintenance of the system can well be abandoned. But before summer cleaning of the air conditioner is obligatory.
By regularly checking the operation of your climate control equipment, you will be able to keep it running at the proper level, control the load on the compressor, and prevent fungus, mold and bacteria growth in the room.
10 tips for maintaining and caring for your air conditioner
Regular air conditioner unit maintenance can reduce electrical costs and keep your home system in top condition. Like many other types of equipment, air conditioner needs a little care to work smoothly during the whole period of operation. It is worth noting, air conditioner care can be performed by yourself. Please note that it is worth servicing the equipment by yourself only if there are no signs of malfunction.
1. Turn off the power and remove all debris
To keep your air conditioner working properly, you need to clean it regularly. Start with safety – disconnect the equipment from the mains. All maintenance works should be necessarily carried out on the switched off equipment (not just from the button, but exactly by pulling the plug out of the socket). A lot of dust, dirt, and even mold can accumulate on the indoor unit of a home system. This is especially true of the coil and fan housing.
Debris buildup may result in an unpleasant odor and reduced air flow. It is a good idea to wipe the indoor unit regularly with a cloth. You can also use a feather duster or a damp sponge. To clean and disinfect the equipment, you can clean it with an antibacterial solution. It is better to spray the remedy exactly on a cloth, and then wipe the internal unit with it. In no case should you spray the substance directly on the equipment itself.
You will also need to vacuum the fins of the unit. You will most likely need to remove the metal cover of the unit to get to them before doing so. The instruction manual will help you in this situation. You can remove debris with a vacuum cleaner attachment or soft brush.
2. Inspect and replace the air conditioner filters
Ac unit air filters are important for air quality, especially if you have a duct system installed. Dirty filters affect the quality of the air that flows in the room. If they are clogged, the air flow is reduced and the air conditioning equipment has to work harder, this reduces efficiency and shortens its lifespan. Cleaning of filters takes place in several steps:
- Unplug the equipment.
- Locate the service panel and open it to reach the air filters.
- Take out the filters and rinse them under running water (in case they are permanent).
- Dry the filter completely and put it back in.
- If you have disposable air filters, discard the clogged ones and put in new ones.
Before going inside the equipment, you should study the air conditioner’s manual to find out whether the filters inside are disposable or permanent. If they are disposable, you need to find identical products for replacement, which correspond to your model.
3. Check and clean the condensate drain
A clear sign that your air conditioning equipment needs maintenance is a clogged draining ac condensation. This element is used to drain condensation that occurs during the room cooling cycle. The drain is connected directly to a drain pan or a tray in the indoor unit that leads outside to a collection point. The drain can become clogged with mold, slime, etc.
To check for a clog, you need to inspect the sump. If there is water, it indicates that a clog has formed somewhere inside the line. A clog may also be indicated by accumulated water under the air filters.
To clear a clog, you need to access the drain and use a vacuum cleaner to clear the clog. This is an effective way of cleaning. If the equipment did not work better, then it is worth contacting specialists for quality cleaning inside.
4. Straighten the coil fins
The air flow passes through the coil. The condenser and evaporator fins are most often made of aluminum, so they bend quite easily. Incorrect bending of the ac coil fins causes the airflow to be blocked. To correct this situation, you can use a special comb (this is a separate tool created specifically for air conditioner maintenance) or a table knife. To straighten the ribs, you should gently press on the bent elements, straightening them for further effective work. This way you will be able to improve air flow and ensure even circulation throughout the room. As a result, the air conditioner will cool the air much better.
5. Clean the drain channels
Every air conditioner has a drain tube. It is needed for moisture drainage. You should definitely know how to clean ac drain channels, as this is one of the most common problems. If the channel is clogged, water will accumulate inside the house or even cause equipment leakage. If you see a puddle on the floor, you should call a handyman to clean it as soon as possible.
6. Clear the area around the unit
Nothing should prevent the equipment from the street from doing its job. Therefore, you should worry about cleaning. Large objects can obstruct the normal air flow. This reduces the efficiency of the equipment. This is why the air conditioning unit should be in a place where nothing will surround it. Remove garbage cans, garden or household equipment and other items around the outdoor unit.
If you see dirt, soot, or dust on the unit while cleaning, you should also clean the case. It is best to use a damp cloth. You can also use a deep cleaning brush to get into hard-to-reach areas and corners where dirt can accumulate.
7. Align and level the unit
If your outdoor unit is skewed, it is unable to supply air properly. The piping should not be stretched. If you visually notice that the unit is not fixed correctly, then it needs to be leveled. Even with professional installation, over time the fasteners may not be as secure, causing the equipment to become misaligned.
8. Check the insulation
If you perform regular maintenance, it is definitely worth paying attention to the air conditioning unit insulation, which is located around the copper pipes of the equipment. The fact is that refrigerant is constantly traveling between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, which is located in the room. It is with the help of insulation that the optimal thermal efficiency in the climate equipment is maintained. It is in the form of a white or black foam material that is wrapped around the piping between the units.
The condition of the insulation can be assessed visually by simply inspecting the pipeline. In particular, it is necessary to check for cracks, rodent marks and other defects. If there are some problems with the insulation, it is necessary to contact specialists for help as soon as possible.
9. Clean thoroughly using a brush
It is also worth remembering to clean the outdoor unit. You should only clean it with a brush if you can reach it easily. You should clean the outdoor unit only if it is on the first floor, where you can reach it from a stepladder and use a brush. If the outdoor unit is too high up, it’s best to call in professionals who know how to work at heights.
Clogging of the outdoor unit is most often caused by dust, debris and other things. Visually at a glance to determine the clogging is problematic, because the unit is at a height. In this case, it is worth focusing only on the efficiency of the home system. If the air is slowly cooling, then it is best to clean as soon as possible, before a complete failure occurs. It’s also worth keeping in mind that decreased efficiency doesn’t always indicate a clog. It could be due to a decrease in refrigerant and other problems. It is worth contacting a specialist to solve them.
10. Turn the power back on
After you have completed all the service steps, you should check if the equipment is working properly. Plug the wire into the mains and activate the air conditioner. It should work better: quieter, air should circulate better and cool down faster. If you notice that the equipment does not work as it should (extraneous noises appear, the equipment does not supply cold air at all, etc.), it is necessary to address to professionals.
When to hire a professional for maintenance
If your equipment needs professional home ac system maintenance, you should call in the experts. For example, you may need to call a professional if your equipment is no longer cooling the room to the desired temperature. The experienced technicians at Best Heating Cooling & Air will find and fix every breakdown in your air conditioning system.
Skilled maintenance for ac unit involves more complex tasks than normal home maintenance that a homeowner can perform:
- Checking the amount of refrigerant and topping up if it needs to be done.
- Correcting error codes.
- Removing clogs in the drainage system.
- Checking the quality of belt tension on the engine and replacing them if defects have been found.
- Aligning and levelling
- Removing old pipe insulation and installing new insulation.
- Testing of technical units for problems.
You should also keep in mind that self-cleaning of the equipment from dust, unprofessional installation or using the wrong air filter can lead to the breakdown of your home air conditioning system. If you are not confident in your abilities and prefer to entrust the service to professionals, it is best to entrust this issue to a Best Heating Cooling & Air specialist.