During the hot summer season, we all depend on our air conditioners to provide much-needed comfort. However, if you want your HVAC unit to function optimally, you must ensure it is properly maintained and in tip-top condition. A properly maintained air conditioner will not only save you money, enhance the quality of air in your indoor environment, but will equally keep your home and family safe at all times. A well-maintained system runs more efficiently, implying that you’ll use less amount of energy to run it, and this will certainly keep your monthly energy bills as low as possible. What’s more, a well-maintained air conditioner will serve you for an extended period with very minimal repairs in between.
How can you maintain your air conditioning system?
It is imperative to note that when your unit requires more than routine maintenance, hire a licensed and experienced technician. Skilled, well-trained HVAC technicians boast the expertise to identify and fix all the potential problems with your air conditioner unit. Below are proven, expert tips on how to maintain your unit and ensure it operates in peak condition.
Clean and replace dirty and clogged coils and filters:
Your air conditioner condenser, as well as evaporator coils, are known to collect lots of dirt over their continued years of service. Usually, a clean filter ensures the evaporator coil doesn’t accumulate dirt quickly. However, with time, your equipment’s evaporator coil will still collect some dirt. The dirt will not only reduce the free air circulation, insulate the evaporator coil, but will equally reduce its heat absorption potential. Clogged filters and dirty coils usually force your unit to strain and consume lots of energy to cool your home and this will directly translate to your monthly bills.
To ensure your air conditioning system doesn’t experience this type of problem, always contact your local technician to clean your unit’s evaporator coil more regularly.
Take care of your outdoor condenser:
If you weren’t aware, the outdoor condenser coils will also accumulate lots of dirt especially if the outside surroundings are dusty or filled with leaves and other debris. You should ensure that this essential component is free from all sorts of dirt and debris. To ensure sufficient air circulation around the outdoor condenser, take the initiative to remove any fallen leaves and dirt around this unit. Also, ensure that the trees nearby are well-trimmed such that they don’t hinder adequate airflow around the unit.
Contact an air conditioner service provider to examine components and wiring:
This is a complex and potentially dangerous task and should only be handled by professionals. Proper maintenance should involve checking all the electrical connections within the air conditioner unit to ensure they are properly connected and effectively secured. He should look for signs of overheating and burned wiring. The technician should also closely examine the contactor switch and may replace it if there are signs of excessive pitting.
Always keep an eye on your thermostat:
This is arguably the most important component of your unit simply because it regulates your home temperature to keep you comfortable. You should have professional inspecting this essential component to ensure it is working as expected to keep your house at the right temperature. If you are currently using the conventional, manual type of thermostat, you should seriously consider upgrading to a programmable model. A programmable thermostat not only guarantees high levels of comfort but convenience as well. It will automatically set the right temperature requirements of your home accordingly. It only means that you can save lots of energy and money by not having your unit operating constantly even when you aren’t available.
Regularly lubricate the fan motor bearings:
While this is a relatively easier maintenance task, you are highly advised to have it executed by a professional. The condenser fan does a great job of cooling your outdoor unit. You just ensure that it is in good condition and occasionally replace the blades if they show visible signs of cracks or chipping.
Take note of your unit’s drain line:
If you didn’t know, clogged drain channels can potentially prevent a heating and cooling system from tackling the humidity problem, allowing excess moisture buildup in your home and this can be dangerous. Always ensure that your unit’s drain channels are not clogged.