Having an air conditioner is a must especially during the summer period. As important as this fixture is, a lot of homeowners do not understand how they work. Having a little bit of knowledge about your A/C can help you perform some preventive air conditioning maintenance practices that keep your unit working optimally. Here are a few tips that will help you extend the life of your A/C.
1. Clear out the Condenser Unit
The condenser unit of your A/C should be cleaned regularly. It is usually outside your home, and end up most times gathering debris, dirt and any other particles, which are then blown by breeze around your house. To clear the unit out, use a coil cleaner, flush the coil out and allow it to dry. Finally, you can clean the fins of the condenser with a brush.
2. Check the Evaporator
From time to time, take a look at your A/C’s evaporator. You can find it above the furnace area which is known as the plenum. If you can access the evaporator by yourself, ensure that you clean it out regularly. Experts’ advice that you perform a thorough cleaning of your evaporator, at least once a year. This will help extend the life of your A/C. To clean the evaporator, remove the foil from the front of the plenum, remove the screen or buts and lift the plate off. Use a damp cloth or rag to wipe away the dirt from it, as well as any other build up from the bottom side of the evaporator. You can also use a bush to do this.
3. Observe the Freon Level
What cools your home in an A/C is called the Freon. Any unit that lacks this component will not be able to cool your home. Ensure that your unit has enough Freon in it. If you feel that there is a problem with the Freon level of your A/C, contact a professional technician to help you check it out.
4. Clean or Replace the Filter
At the beginning of every summer, make sure you remove the grill of your A/C. You can clean it or replace it entirely. Also, make sure you check it at least once every month. If you stay in an area that is elevated and receives more than normal amount of wind, sand or dust, you should clean and replace your filters more frequently than others would.
5. Clean the System’s Fan
Your A/C has fans that cool it while it is working. Take a look at the fans and see if they are dirty. If there are any residues or dust on it, or if the blades are askew, fix it before it becomes a problem. Open the cabinet to access the fan, and then use a damp cloth to clean it. If the blades are loosened, tighten them in place. Also, if the fan has oil ports, drop a few drops of non-detergent motor oil in them at the beginning of every summer. This will help system operate at its greatest efficiency.
