Air Conditioner Maintenance 101; Simple Tips to keep your Air conditioner going for years.

An air conditioner without a doubt, is one of the most important appliances that you would buy for your home. It is also one of the most important investments you will make for your home. Not just any investment, but one of the most expensive investments, which is why it is so important to make some efforts to protect it.

Air conditioners serve a multitude of purposes, making them an extremely important appliance in the home or workplace. And regular maintenance can make the system even more efficient and make it last longer, keeping you comfortable for less. The major purpose of an air conditioner is to control the temperature, humidity, filtration, and air movement of the indoor environment.

In most homes and institutions, air conditioners have replaced standing fans because they are more effective and have long-lasting results. The temperature of your room has been said to have a serious effect on your mood and comfort, hence, you can’t afford to overlook the importance of an air conditioner to your home and body.

We live in an environment where the weather is unpleasantly warm and so, we can understand the unparalleled comfort found in air conditioning. An air conditioner does more than cooling, they have been known to significantly improve indoor air quality and create a much healthier atmosphere. They are capable of filtering out pollen, dust, and other allergens present in the environment. 

Air conditioners are essential during summers as they help in the conditioning of the air, which leads to a pleasant atmosphere within your home. You rely on your air conditioning system to keep your home cool and comfortable, but in order for that to happen, your air conditioning system requires regular maintenance to function efficiently.

Just like any other home appliance, it is normal for your air conditioning unit to experience some wear and tear from regular use and develop mechanical problems at some point during its lifetime. Proactively taking care of your air conditioner not only extends the life of your unit, but it can also save you money and headaches from unexpected breakdowns that can leave you sweaty and fuming! 

It can be highly inconvenient when an air conditioner does not work properly especially when humidity levels are at an all-time high. An air conditioner that is not maintained starts consuming more energy and doesn’t function as effectively as it should.

Keeping your system up and running smoothly requires proper attention to its maintenance and service needs. Something as simple as changing the air filter in your air conditioning unit can prolong its efficiency as well as improve the air quality in your home. Ignoring regular maintenance can turn into costly repairs and replacement. You can avoid that scenario by keeping your air conditioner in top shape.

The importance of Air conditioner maintenance cannot be overemphasized. I would give you 5 reasons why it is so important to keep up with your air conditioner maintenance.

Importance of Air Conditioner Maintenance.

* To stay healthy and breathe in Cleaner air.

It is important that you and your family to stay healthy as well as breathing clean air. If your air-conditioner is clogged with bacteria, dirt and dust, it can lead to various health issues. By having your aircon being serviced regularly, you can ensure clean air filters and unit. This will ensure that you are constantly breathing in clean air that are free of dust, bacteria and pollutants. 

Regular servicing would help to prevent the accumulation of dust, dirt and bacteria and ensure that you have only clean air circulating in the room.

* To extend your unit's lifespan.

Just like any other machine, regular serving of your air conditioner is required to ensure your units is running in top-notch condition. A professional would help to ensure that your air conditioner is working well at all times and is free from any risk of breakdown.

This will not only ensure that your units are running in top-notch condition, but will also extend the lifespan of the units in the long run. In the real sense, expensive air conditioning units are pointless if you fail to maintain it properly.

* To save cost in the long run.

An air conditioning unit without regular maintenance can cost you more such as higher electricity bills, as well as high repair bills if there are major repair required due to poor maintenance. With malfunctioning air conditioner or reduced cooling efficiency, you can expect your electricity bills to increase.

Proactively maintaining your air conditioner cost very little and it would help to keep your air conditioner from any major breakdown that would cost a lot to repair. This is like as case of "Prevention is better than Cure".

* To stay cool and save the earth.

When your air-conditioner faces problem such as refrigerant leakage, it will release HFCs, or man-made greenhouse gases. All those are harmful gases towards the environment, promoting global warming. Also, if the refrigerant is leaking that means that it would not do a very good job of cooling your living space.

Except if you want to suffer under the heat in your home or office, it is very important to regularly maintain your air conditioner to prevent this from happening. Regular maintenance would help you notice any refrigerant leakages on time before it wreaks havoc in the environment.

* To prevent expensive replacement.

Other than high electricity bills or repair, a poorly maintained machine can face many problems which may require replacement which are costly. The air conditioner might be broken beyond repair and would need to be replaced. It would be an impromptu expense that you never planned for and it can cause a dent in your budget for the year.

Even if you have the money to replace your air conditioner whenever you like, it is still necessary to pay attention to the one you have. With proper maintenance, you can get your unit to last longer, in some cases, it can last as much as 8 to 10 years! So, you can save that your money for a more productive cause.

That been said the amount of maintenance a homeowner can perform on an air conditioner is rather limited, but some simple, easy to perform steps can breathe new life into an older, poorly performing units or those that produce foul odors.

Here are some things to be aware of that can help improve your comfort and the efficiency of your air conditioner.

Air Conditioner Maintenance tips.

* Get the Air filters washed and cleaned.

Air filters in air conditioners help in stopping dirt and dust particles from coming into your room. If your air filter is dirty, it will not only put excessive strain on the air conditioner but also impact your room’s air quality. These air filters should not have an excess of particulate matter and should be cleaned in order to function efficiently.

The most important maintenance task that will ensure the efficiency of your air conditioner is to routinely replace or clean these air filters. Replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one can lower your air conditioner's energy consumption by 5% to 15%. These filters are easily removed and wash with water and neutral soap to get rid of the dust. Rinse and dry before putting back to the unit. 

Remember that the air filters may need more frequent attention if your air conditioner is in constant use, is subject to dusty conditions, or you have pets in the house.

* Get the Coils cleaned.

Air conditioning coils are an important component of your air conditioning system. They function to help refrigerant absorb heat and cool your home. Over time, the coils become insulated with dirt which reduces the amount of heat they can absorb. As a result, your air conditioning system has to work harder to cool your home.

To prevent such a situation, make sure that the coils are cleaned regularly. And because the coils are sharp and it will be risky to touch them directly. Instead use a soft brush to dust off the coil then spray the coil with a coil cleaner if you have one. You can also use a garden hose or a wet cloth to gently clean them. Do it at least once a month or every 2 weeks depending on the frequency of use.

Better still you can get a professional to clean the coils for you during regular maintenance time. Keeping the evaporator clean will ensure that the cooling capacity of the air conditioner is not lost due to the dirt that obstruct the flow of air to the room.

* Ensure that the Condenser unit fan is functioning properly.

The condenser unit fan is an important part of the air conditioner because it cools down the refrigerant gas. So, if it doesn't work properly then the air conditioner can no longer cool the room. First, turn the power off to your air conditioner unit and check the fan mounted on top of the outside condenser unit to make sure it’s still in good shape.

In a case where the condition of the fans is very bad or you hear a weird sound coming from your air conditioner, there’s a possibility that the condenser unit fan is at fault. In such a case, you must call up professional experts immediately to check for heaviness in the motor or examine any chips or cracks in the blades.

Over time, things like leaves, dirt and grass clippings will build up on the outside of your air conditioner, decreasing system capacity and reducing airflow. And so, you should also take care of the debris around the unit. Rake back leaves and debris outside the condenser to ensure proper airflow around the unit.

* Ensure that the Coil fins are cleaned and straighten.

Within every air conditioning system are a condenser and an evaporator, each of which has fins. The aluminum fins on evaporator and condenser coils are easily bent and can block airflow through the coil. To keep your air conditioner functioning efficiently, regularly check the fins to make sure they haven’t bent.

And if they have, you can straighten them using a "fin comb". Air conditioning wholesalers usually sell this tool. You can also use a butter knife to carefully straighten the bent fins. Be gentle so that the tubing embedded within the fins is not damaged.

* Ensure that the Condensate drains are emptied.

The condensate drain is an integral part of any air conditioning system as it allows the condensation created within the system to drain outdoors. Over time, the condensate drain can become clogged, which can impede drainage as a result. Always ensure it is functioning efficiently, periodically check that the condensate drain is draining water properly.

And if it is not draining properly, you can pass a stiff wire through the unit's drain channels to unclog the drain. Clogged drain channels prevent a unit from reducing humidity, and the resulting excess moisture may discolor walls or carpet.

* Regular professional maintenance.

In the instance, when you are too busy to carry out any of the above tips, it is best you go to a professional and schedule a maintenance appointment. Your entire air conditioner will be cleaned, inspected and tuned, ensuring it is functioning at optimal levels and that there are no underlying issues.

It’s an easy way to protect your investment and your home’s comfort, all with one easy step. Air conditioner maintenance experts have been trained to examine and troubleshoot for any issues that your air conditioner unit might have. They would also save you the stress of doing all the maintenance yourself and you won't have to spend so much too.

And because you are proactively maintaining your air conditioner, it will serve you for a much longer period.

Conclusion.

It goes without saying that maintaining your air conditioner is not only important for saving electricity bills but also to prevent equipment breakdowns. With proper maintenance from trained experts, you can enhance the operational efficiency of your AC so that both you and your family members experience the utmost level of comfort when it comes to air conditioning at home.