Do you know you can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your air conditioner by regularly servicing it? An air conditioner is not an exception to any other machine; it requires frequent servicing to guarantee a longer servicing time and maintain its effective performance.
Depending on whether your air conditioner needs more than just maintenance, you can opt to hire a technician to service or maintain it in case of a breakdown. No Sweat Experts (HVAC company) helps create this article elaborates on maintaining and service your air conditioner.
Ten Easy Steps to Keeping Your Air Conditioner operating Effectively
You can improve the performance and add your air conditioner’s lifespan by following the ten easy steps below.
Step One: Switch the Power Off
Since working while the electricity is on is risky, and due to the air conditioner parts’ moving nature, it is critical to turn off power to the unit entirely. On the outer part of the condenser, find the exterior switch and turn it off. Indoors also ensure that the switch of the breaker box is turned off.
Step Two: Remove Debris
Replace the fan cage on the exterior compressor/condenser. By using a wrench or a screwdriver, remove the fastener and lift the fan grill/cage away from the top part of the condenser. Clean the leaves and other interior debris using your hand or a dry vacuum.
Step Three: Wash the Fins
Eliminate the exterior covers and use a brush attachment on a strong shop vacuum to eliminate all the dirt. Using a smooth stream obtained from a garden horse, eliminate any built-up dirt or debris between the fins by spraying them from the inside out. You should always avoid using the pressure washer because it can damage the fins. If the fins are extremely dirty, use a commercially available cleaning spray.
Step Four: Straighten the Fins
By using a commercial tool for straightening or a butter knife, smoothly straighten the bent fins since reducing airflow through the fins can minimize the air conditioner’s efficiency and performance.
Step Five: Wash the area around the Air Condenser
Replace the fan cage after you have finished cleaning. Rake back the debris and leaves on the condenser’s exterior side and cut down vegetation and branches at least two feet in all sides to enhance the proper flow of the air around the condenser. Throughout the months of winter, when the condenser is not operating, it is advisable to shield the unit’s upper side by using a plastic or plywood to prevent debris from falling in. However, avoid covering the entire sides of the unit since moisture can form in and cause corrosion. An entire closed unit allows vermin to construct nests inside. Avoid covering the unit while it’s in operation.
Step Six: Level the Unit
The pad which the condenser sits can start to tip as the soil forms under it after some time. A condenser can stop working earlier due to it being out of level. Check the unit for level and level it up by using rot-resistant shims. In cases you possess a heat pump system, it is right to keep the pad sloped a little away from the home’s foundation to permit defrost run-offs during the winter season.
Step Seven: Clean the Evaporator Coil
You know, move inside at this time. On the furnace unit/ inside blower, look for the operator coil door. You may consider removing a few foil duct tape and remove little bolts or screws. Inside, use a gentle brush to remove dust from the coil and then use a commercially no-rise coil cleaner to spray it. The spray will form a foam and the drip inside the drain pan. Clean the pan using hot water, soap, and small bleach. Follow by pouring a cup of half water and half bleach down the drain. To maintain the drain clear in the long term, put a drain tab tablet commercially available in the pan. This will promote algae growth in the future.
If the drain solution drains quickly, skip the step that follows. If not so, move on to the step that follows. Replace the evaporator coil’s door and make use of the foil duct tape for resealing if required.
Step Eight: Wash the Plugged Evaporator Drain
Inside the condenser, humid and warm air from your home’s interior side is blown across the evaporator coil. The cold coil cools by absorbing heat from the air before it is circulated back to your home. The air humidity forms on the surface of the coil, which is cold as liquid water. Time by time, algae and mold can form and possibly cause the drain to be plugged; therefore, if the drain either flows very slowly or not flow, it will require to be plugged out. A plugged drain can cause overflowing onto the flow and eventually lead to destruction, or in case the system is made with a drain float, cause the system to end the cooling to prevent flooding. Use a dry vacuum to clean the drain line that causes the evaporator line enclosure.
Step Nine: Replace the Blower Filter
The blower filter should be changed minimally two times per year; before the heating season begins and one time after the cold season. Change the blower filter of your air conditioner more often in case you live in a dusty environment.
Step Ten: Switch the Power Back on
Turn back on the power and the air conditioner switch that you had previously turned off.
The performance and effectiveness of your air condenser can be significantly enhanced by following simple steps, as analyzed above. Seeking a technician’s services is always good since some servicing of the unit, such as a slow refrigerant leak, may require a trained person. A technician may also be necessary since you may lack some tools to operate the air conditioner.
