Air conditioning systems are more complex today than they used to be. Whereas once all that was needed regularly was some light dusting of the unit, now several components require ongoing maintenance to keep your air conditioner running smoothly and efficiently throughout the year.
At this point, you might ask yourself, “What exactly is air conditioning maintenance? How do I know if my system requires it or not?”
Air conditioning maintenance is pretty much anything you can do to make sure your AC system is running at maximum efficiency while also ensuring its lifespan isn’t cut short by preventable issues. This includes changing filters regularly, making sure no obstructions are blocking airflow, replacing refrigerant when necessary, and more.
It’s simple!
When it comes to your AC system, you’ll want to do anything and everything you can to ensure it stays in excellent working order throughout the year. This means changing filters regularly, keeping airflow unobstructed, replacing refrigerant when necessary, and much more. Who knows—maybe by taking care of your air conditioner now, you could end up saving yourself a lot of money on future ac repairs.
Many people realize that they need to give their AC unit some TLC but aren’t sure what this entails beyond basic dusting and maybe cleaning out mold around the drain’s opening (which is something we recommend). If that sounds like you, we’ve got all the details you’ll need to know about air conditioning maintenance (and what isn’t) below. We’ve also included a few tips for primary AC care that we recommend everyone performs no matter their situation.
Air Conditioning Maintenance: Filters
It would be best if you realized that it needs clean and unobstructed airflow for your air conditioner to work correctly. This starts with ensuring your filter is free of any obstructions such as dirt, pet hair, or bugs before it even makes its way through the rest of your system. Over time these items can add up and cause all sorts of issues such as dramatically reduced performance and efficiency, so make sure you replace your filter every three months if possible.
If you have pets, children, or a lot of foot traffic in your home, replacing it as often as once a month might be necessary.
A clean filter is also key to prolonging the life of your air conditioning unit. When one is clogged with dirt and debris, it restricts airflow throughout the system, which heats the components. This puts a lot of unnecessary strain on them and can cause damage or even a malfunction requiring heating and cooling professionals to fix it.
Filters are pretty inexpensive, so there’s no reason not to replace yours at least every three months, if not more frequently if needed. We usually suggest thinking about it this way: if you could get away with socks every day for three months straight without anyone noticing, would you do it? Probably not! Replace your filter at least that often and be sure to give it a good sniff for any sign of odor before doing so. If the smell is powerful or if it’s discolored, then replace your filter right away.
What Is Air Conditioning Maintenance: Blower
Although most people are only familiar with their unit’s cooling side, blowers are responsible for pushing clean air throughout the system type—through the ductwork, registers, and out through your vents. This seems pretty straightforward, but several things can quickly cause problems here, including dirty coils, broken belts, iced up motors, high resistance caused by lack of maintenance (or poor ac installation), clogged vents, and more.
A clogged vent is one of the most common problems we see, and it’s usually a simple fix. If you’ve ever cleaned out your gutters, then you have an idea of what needs to be done here. All you need is a long pipe with a brush on the end (or something similar) and can be done from either inside or outside your home. You’ll want to check all your vents for obstructions, including pet hair, dust, lint, and anything else that might have found its way in there.
What Is Air Conditioning Maintenance: Coils
Your AC system’s coils are another critical component that must be kept clean and clear of any obstructions. The coils release the cold air, and they can quickly become blocked with dirt, dust, ice, or even mold. Not only will this reduce the system’s performance, but it can also be a health hazard.
If you’re seeing any ice on your coils, you’ll want to turn off your AC unit and call a professional immediately. This is not something that you should try to fix on your own, as you could potentially cause further damage or even start a fire.
What Is Air Conditioning Maintenance: Drain
The drain is another crucial part of your AC unit, which needs to be kept clean and clear at all times. This is where the water from the AC system collects, and if it becomes clogged, it can quickly cause all sorts of issues such as water leakage, mold growth, and even electrical shorts.
You can easily clean the drain by pouring a cup of bleach down it every month or so. Just be sure to avoid getting any of the bleach on any of your other components, as it could potentially cause damage.
What Is Air Conditioning Maintenance: Electrical
Last but not least, we have the electrical components of your AC unit, which need to be kept in reasonable condition at all times. This includes the compressor, fan motor, contactor, and relays. These components can quickly become damaged if they’re not properly maintained, so it’s essential to watch them.
One easy way to do this is to check your system’s voltage and amperage levels regularly. If you see any values outside of the normal range, it’s a sign that something is wrong and needs to be fixed. Be sure to call a professional if this is the case, as these are not things that you should try to improve on your own.
Conclusion
As you can see, a lot goes into air conditioning maintenance, and it’s not something that should be taken lightly. By keeping an eye on these critical components and performing regular maintenance tasks, you can help to ensure that your AC unit runs smoothly and efficiently all year long. Thanks for reading!
Our Company:
| Mor Air Inc – AC Repair |
| 11661 Saticoy Street North Hollywood, CA 91605 |
| 818-203-2878 |
| https://morairinc.com |
