How To Maintain Your Air Conditioner For Long Term Use
For people who live in typically hot areas like Arizona, having a working air conditioner is non-negotiable, especially during summer. With temperatures reaching up to 120°F, not having air conditioning for even a few weeks can be detrimental to people's health. This is why having a proper maintenance routine for your air conditioner is essential.
Having a maintenance culture is essential if you want to squeeze out as much value as possible from your purchases. It also helps you prevent the unforeseen breakdown of equipment. In this article, we will be discussing the maintenance activities you should do to ensure the longevity of your AC unit. We will also consider basic problems that can be fixed DIY.
It is, however, crucial that you keep in mind that air conditioners are complex systems and will need proper maintenance from time to time. If you need to overhaul the system or fix a major fault, it's best to leave it to professionals like Ace Home AZ. Trying to fix anything in the system without proper knowledge can lead to further problems.
Signs Your Air Conditioner Is Faulty
Understanding when your air conditioner is faulty is also part of maintenance. The earlier you find out that something is wrong, the quicker you can get someone in to fix it. Here are some of the more common signs that your air conditioner is faulty:
• It produces warm air: Sometimes, the reason you feel warm air coming out of your home’s vents is that you set the thermostat all wrong. Other times, it’s not. If yours is the second case, then it’s either an issue with the compressor or restricted airflow.
• There's poor air circulation: This could be as a result of your air conditioner not working efficiently or there being a blockage within the ducts. It could also be down to a broken motor or a clogged air filter.
• It cycles on and off frequently: This may be one of the problematic signals to observe because it's typical of air conditioners to cycle on and off to maintain the room temperature. However, you should expect more on time during the summer as opposed to the winter. If you notice more frequent cycles than usual, you should get that unit looked at.
• Leaking water: Although most air conditioner units rely on condensation for their cooling properties, it's not normal for you to notice a pool of water forming outside your unit. It's typically an indication of a fault you have to get fixed soon. Leaking water can lead to all sorts of unwanted problems with the wall structure and even support mold growth.
• Unpleasant smells: This could be as a result of microbial action within your air conditioning unit. In the case of microbial growth, Ultraviolet lamps can be useful in mitigating it. You may also need to clean up dirt that has accumulated in the ducts.
• High humidity: Most modern air conditioning units have humidifiers and dehumidifiers built into them. If you notice that the humidity level of your room is unusually high, it could be a sign of a broken unit.
• It generates disturbing noises: Air conditioners are typically designed to work with little noise production. If you notice a rattling or buzzing sound, it can be an indication of loose parts within the system. Whistling or grinding noises can be indicative of even more severe issues.
How to Maintain an Air Conditioner
Carrying out routine maintenance on an air conditioning unit is something everyone should be able to do. This routine maintenance doesn't, however, replace getting professionals to come and take a look at the unit at least once a year.
The first thing to keep in mind is that you have to switch off the air conditioning unit before working on it. Make sure to shut off all power switches that feed the air conditioner before you begin work. Once you’ve done that, here are some other activities to perform:
• Make sure to remove the fan cage on the external compressor and clean the interior. Since it's outside, there's a high chance that dust, leaves, and other debris find their way in there.
• After cleaning out the debris, use water from a garden hose to spray through the fins from the inside out. This should be done to remove all dust particles and debris that are stuck in the fins. Make sure to always use gentle streams as high-pressure streams can damage the fins.
• Over time, it's normal for some of the fins to get bent. However, this bending of the fins can affect the efficiency of your unit. If you notice any bent fins, straighten them using a fin-straightening tool. If you don't have one of those handy, a bread knife will do just fine. Make sure you don't damage the tubing of the fin while doing this.
• Clean or replace the air filters: If you frequently use your air conditioner, then routinely cleaning and changing your filters is essential. One-inch pleated filters should be replaced every month if you’re intent on keeping your unit in optimal working condition.
• Within the furnace, you'll find the evaporator coil. You may need to loosen some bolts to get to it. Once you do get to it, however, you should make sure to clean it using a soft brush and a no-rinse coil cleaner.
• The evaporator drain is the reason why you should ordinarily not have water dripping around your air conditioner. However, it can become filled with debris and begin to accumulate water leading to spillover. Make sure to check it for any blockages and clean it out.
• Finally, the last thing to do is to clean the internal and external environment around your various air conditioning units. Having dirt and debris all around increases the risk of blockages.
