Have you ever had one of those summers that was so hot you didn’t even want to go outside?
Imagine that same kind of heat, but with a broken air conditioning unit… that sounds even worse, right?
The truth is that air conditioner maintenance is a key part of keeping cool in the summer months.
If you’re interested in making sure your air conditioning unit is maintained for the upcoming heat this summer, check out our top tips below to beat the heat!
Air Conditioner Maintenance: The Basics
There are a few things that you are able to do on your own to maintain your air conditioning unit. Doing these things regularly will help expand the lifetime of your system, but it will also help it function more effectively in the meantime.
Change Your Air Filter
The air conditioner has the job of moving air throughout the home. Once cool air is in the living spaces, it will collect the old air and move it back through the air conditioning (AC) system.
Before the old air returns into the system, it goes through an air filter. This gets rid of the pollutants and particles in that air that would otherwise stay in the air in your home.
Changing this filter is crucial because it gets clogged up with all of the stuff it filters out! Your AC units can’t function properly with a dirty air filter because they use more energy to do their job.
Clean Your Air Ducts
Cleaning the air ducts of the AC unit is equally as important as changing the filters!
The duct covers get clogged up with lint, pollutants, and other contaminants that make your air conditioner work much harder. This is bad for your energy bill, but may also require you to have to replace your unit much sooner than would normally be necessary.
Vacuuming out the ducts when you clean that room will help you keep them clean and cared for within the system.
Clean the Drainage Hole
Every air conditioning unit has a condenser that leaks water. The drainage hole is underneath your air conditioner cabinet and will collect that water.
If it isn’t cleaned, there will be buildup from debris and minerals in that sitting water. That stuff will eventually get back into your system and can cause a bunch of problems for your unit!
Letting this water out regularly will help you with general AC maintenance and prevent extra wear and tear.
Check on Pipe Insulation
The insulation on your air conditioner’s pipes is important. They protect the pipes and help improve cooling power overall.
If they are torn, disintegrated, or even broken, they need to be replaced so the air conditioner can keep running. This is something you can do yourself as long as you know which type of materials you need.
Clean the Outside Compressor
This is something that is done when you get a professional tune-up, but it can also be done on your own if you think it needs to happen sooner. An evaporator coil can get dirty easily and they won’t be able to absorb heat when they get too dirty.
It is possible to clean the evaporator and the coils at the same time with a garden hose. You need to be careful that you don’t get water on the electrical parts though!
What Else Can You Do?
If you still want to do more than the basics, there are some other things that you might want to try as well! It can help your AC unit function well for years to come.
Check Out the Duct Work
Even if your home is brand new, the ductwork might still be dirty. It’s easy for dust and dirt to naturally collect there.
When this happens, those tiny particles can easily drift around your home and many can get through the air filter in some cases.
Cleaning the ductwork will help you improve your overall air quality and can be useful right away.
Inspect Wiring
Check out the wiring in your condensing unit to see if it has been overheating. Before you do this, make sure that your air conditioner is off.
If something looks off, hire a professional to come out and repair those wires. The last thing you want is some kind of electrical fire!
Hire Someone to Tune Up
Although it may seem easier to try and do everything yourself, there is a reason that professional HVAC companies exist. It is important to get your air conditioning unit tuned up regularly and to make sure everything is functioning as it should be.
The technician is going to check your coolant levels and will be able to diagnose any problems that may exist.
If you care about energy efficiency and avoiding an AC service breakdown, a tune-up is essential.
In fact, many great air conditioning services are available for people that need extra assistance. Not only will you get your ac units working again, but you will know it has been done correctly.
Maintain Your AC Unit Today
As you can see, air conditioner maintenance isn’t rocket science. If you are taking care of your unit regularly, it will last for a long time!
Every home deserves an air conditioning system that works well.
To get your tune up done by a group of professionals, please contact us to set up an appointment as soon as you can!
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