The Dos and Don’ts Of Aircon Servicing
Your air conditioning is one of the important systems in your house. When summer rolls around, a broken AC system can make life in your home unbearable. Inefficient air conditioning systems may also run longer than normal, resulting in higher utility bills. While you are trying to service your aircon, you will find that there are so many do’s and don’ts that you have to follow. Some of them are.
1. Change the filter
If the air filter in your air conditioner is dirty, that can restrict the air flow through it, which makes your AC system less efficient. A dirty filter is also not as good at keeping the air inside your home clean for your family. How often to replace the filter will depend on the type of filter, as well as how much use your system is getting. A good rule of thumb is to replace standard filters monthly or clean them if they are the washable type. Pleated filters are better at capturing dust and dirt, and they last longer, too. You can replace pleated filters every two or three months.
2. Check the temperature
If you have a programmable thermostat, set it so that it keeps your home at the temperature you like while you’re there, and switches to a more energy efficient temperature while you’re gone. This saves on your utility bill and also reduces wear on your AC system, delaying the time when you need an AC replacement.
You can also check the relative temperatures of the air coming out of a register, and the air going into the filter, to determine how efficiently your system is running. You should find a temperature drop of about 14 to 20 degrees. If the temperature difference is less than this, then your unit needs to be serviced.
3. Check and clean the indoor unit
The air conditioning unit inside your house has an indoor coil, which is also known as an evaporator coil. The system pulls air from your home across this coil to cool it. Sometimes this can cause the coil to get damp, and the moisture can attract dirt, and lead to mould or mildew. The fan blades on the blower can also collect dirt. Dirty coils lessen the air flow, reduce efficiency, and increase your costs of operation. Check your indoor unit each year, and clean it as needed. Trained service personnel generally handle this procedure.
4. Check and clean the outdoor unit
Outside your house is the condenser unit of your AC system. The condenser coils are thin pieces of metal, with tubes of refrigerant that dissipate heat into the outside air. If dirt builds upon those coils, they will no longer be able to cool the air in your home as well, and the unit will need to run for longer times. It’s a smart idea to check the outside condenser coil each year, and clean it as needed. If you find that any of the fins are bent, there are special combs which can be used to straighten them. Another basic step is to make sure that the area around your outside unit allows for good air flow. Remove any tall grass around it or any other items which could restrict the air flow.
Cleaning the coils
It is important for you to clean the coils one time in seasons for better efficiency of the air conditioner. It is recommended to remove the cover and use a vacuum, soft brush or compressed air to clean them. It is also important to let the air conditioner unit dry completely before plugging it on.
Sometimes cleaning can improve the efficiency of your air conditioner. The coils are always needed to be clean for perfect heat transfer.
If you are not using your air conditioner for long times then store it in a clean and dry place. The best place to store air conditioner is basement than your garage for storage purpose.
Do invest in buying the best digital thermostat of high quality so that you can get right to reading possible. It is also rare for the digital thermostats to break and if they break your aircon will not work well.
Don’ts
Don’t allow weeds and any other obstructions to grow around the outside aircon unit.
Don’t let your aircon unit to stay for a long period without cleaning properly. If your aircon system is dirty, it will not heat your home or cool it efficiently, thereby reducing the quality of the indoor air.
It is also recommended for you to don’t run your appliances especially air conditioners on the extension cord. Air conditioners need a lot of power and these extension cords can cause overheating or fire. Air conditioners compressor needs lots of energy to run. Running your air conditioner with less or little power can damage the compressor of your air conditioner. The new compressor for replacing purpose is very expensive.
You should not tamper with the aircon electrical connections or lines. This is is because it can result in an electrical shock which may damage your aircon. Situations like this must be handled by a certified aircon expert.
Don’t let the birds and insects build their nests on the outside unit of the aircon.
Don’t leave your aircon to be on 24/7. Although you may see this to be a good an idea in cooling your home, it can result in you paying more energy bills. You should also not keep your aircon at its lowest setting as it cannot efficiently cool your house.
Avoid Putting Waterproof Covers
There are several who feel that putting up waterproof covers for the outdoor and indoor unit helps in keeping it safe from the moisture. Well, plastic covers do no good for the units as that is known to trap moisture in it and when you remove it after the winter is gone, you will find a rusted outer cover as well as internal parts. The best option would be to protect it with plywood, which is breathable, and prevent rainwater or snow to accumulate on the outdoor unit.
