In a hot climates, air conditioning systems are a godsend. They provide cooling comfort during the warmest months and create a perfectly agreeable indoor environment throughout the year.
However, many businesses and homeowners neglect to maintain their air conditioning units, only to find one day that their system suddenly packs up, often when they need it the most. This results in them feeling frazzled, frustrated, and desperately trying to contact an air conditioning company that can repair it for them.
Just like any other piece of mechanical equipment, your air conditioning system needs regular attention to enable it to run as efficiently as possible, and the best way to do this is through routine AC tune-ups.
In this post, we will highlight why it is a good idea to maintain your air conditioning system regularly and the best way to do this.
Hopefully, armed with the knowledge we share, you’ll be able to save yourself a tidy sum of money and extend the shelf life of your system for a good few years to come.
Why is it important to tune up your air conditioning system regularly?
Regularly tuning up your air-conditioning system can provide you with a number of benefits.
Arguably, the biggest is that it can extend the lifespan of the system while reducing the costs involved in repairing or replacing one.
Doing this can also improve your energy efficiency because it would require less electricity to power it and go a long way towards improving your air quality.
Depending on the manufacturer, it might also protect your warranty, as some require you to perform regular maintenance and cleaning of the system to keep it valid.
How often should you tune up your air conditioner?
Generally speaking, you should have your air conditioning system looked at by a professional, such as Alliance Climate Control, every 12 months.
If you don’t, you could find it becomes more expensive to run and doesn’t do it as efficiently as it used to.
It could also be erratic in performance, and if it produces poorer air quality, you could suffer from health issues such as asthma, allergies, and other respiratory problems.
This could mean you need to spend money to replace the air conditioning system much earlier than you otherwise should.
Tips for DIY Maintenance
Aside from getting your air conditioning system looked at on an annual basis, there are a few things you can do to ensure your unit remains in good working order.
They include the following:
1. Clean or Replace Air Filters
If your air filters are dirty, they can lead to restricted airflow, less efficiency, and even the evaporator coil freezing over.
For this reason, it is important to check your filters every 4 to 6 weeks and give them a good clean or replace them as necessary.
2. Check Refrigerant Levels
If your system has low refrigerant levels, it can seriously impact upon its cooling performance.
Always look for a refrigerant leak, and at the first sign of one, contact a professional to have it repaired.
3. Clean Evaporator and Condenser Coils
Over time, dust and dirt can gather on the evaporator and condenser coils, reducing your system’s cooling efficiency.
You should inspect these coils regularly and clean them well using a soft brush and a coil cleaner.
4. Test the Thermostat
You should always check the thermostat to ensure it is working properly. If it is not, the cooling function may not be as efficient as it should be, and too much energy may be used to power it.
5. Lubricate Moving Parts
Depending on the system you have, some air conditioning units have moving parts which might need lubricating on a regular basis.
It is a good idea to refer to your manual to determine if your system has parts that require any lubrication and follow the instructions for doing so.
6. Unblock and clean registers and vents
If your system’s vents are blocked, disrupted airflow could reduce its effectiveness in cooling the room.
Therefore, you should take the time to clean them and ensure they are not blocked by curtains, furniture or other items within your interior design.
7. Watch out for air leaks
If there are large gaps around your home, it can allow hot air to enter your property, which means your air conditioning system will have to work much harder to cool the room down.
You should inspect the seals around windows and doors regularly to ensure they are tight.
8. Remove any debris around an outdoor system
It is easy to forget about outdoor air conditioning systems. But if you have one, you should make a conscious effort to remove grass, leaves, or any other debris that might form around it.
If you do this, you will ensure the unit provides optimal levels of ventilation and airflow when in use.
