Air Conditioner Maintenance Tips
Air conditioners are a highly valued and used unit in today’s society. Hardly can you walk past two to three blocks without noticing a numerous amount of air conditioners hanging by the walls of several buildings. This is because people have realized that investing in an excellent air conditioning unit positively affects the state of their well-being. Air conditioners are expensive devices with a very long life span. This gives you ample time to enjoy your investment to the fullest.
However, Regardless of its life expectancy, this device is still vulnerable to damages caused by external factors or internal malfunctions. But most users do not understand the importance of maintaining and caring for your air conditioners. People pay little or no attention to understanding how the air conditioner works, the dynamics and mechanism it employs to generate and regulate both hot and cold air present in your environment. Due to this ignorance, people just tend to buy and install the air conditioner and leave it for ages without proper maintenance until it develops some kind of problem. Prevention is better than cure. it is of a greater good for users to maintain their air conditioning unit regularly
In this article, we will detail essential tips that will help you care and maintain your air conditioner regularly and adequately. But before that, let us discuss your air conditioner’s working mechanism and why you need to maintain your air conditioner periodically.
How Does the Air Conditioner Work?
The air conditioner works basically by removing heat energy or hot air from your room and replacing it with cold air. The device contains chemicals that can reversibly condense gas to liquid and vaporize the liquid back to gas. The chemicals are responsible for the extraction of hot air from your room to the outside air.
Why Do You Need to Maintain Your Air Conditioner?
Breathe Pure Air
It is quite challenging to differentiate clean air from contaminated air as both air types can be odorless and colorless. Furthermore, the air is an excellent medium of movement for various viruses, bacteria, and other pollutants. It is, therefore, essential to be sure of what you take into your body system. However, your air conditioner contains filters that prevent dangerous bacteria, particles, and allergens into the airflow. However, the efficiency of this filter decreases with time. However, proper and regular air conditioner maintenance will keep your AC filter clean and free from harmful debris.
Save on Bills
When your air conditioner is poorly maintained, its efficiency drops, and, as a result, your air conditioner’s amount of power to heat or cool your room increases. Sadly, increased power consumption will also increase your electricity bill. Furthermore, if your AC is left at this state for a long time, some of its vital components will start to breakdown and, you will spend more money to fix or replace them than you would have spent on routine maintenance of your air conditioner.
Long Life and Efficiency
Having your air Con in the perfect condition automatically increases its life span and efficiency. If you fail to maintain your air conditioner, you risk your air conditioner’s efficiency and durability.
Having discussed this, now, we will highlight a few maintenance tips necessary for your air conditioner;
- Change or clean the air filters.
- Clean the air conditioner’s coil.
- Remove debris from the unit.
- Straighten the coil fins.
- Check the insulation pipes.
- Check for leaks.
Change or Clean the Air Filters
When maintaining your air conditioning unit, an essential maintenance tip is to ensure the periodic cleaning or replacement of your air conditioner filters. This process will vastly increase the efficiency of your air conditioner. However, if you are struggling with the filter to use, you can seek the help of a professional to help you decide what filter best suites the configuration of your air conditioner. Furthermore, if you put your air conditioner to constant usage, you may need to pay more regular attention to its filters because it is subject to more dust than usual.
Clean the Air Conditioner’s Coil
Your evaporator and condenser coils collect dirt over time. This dirt reduces airflow and insulates the coils, thereby reducing the air conditioner’s efficiency to absorb heat. Note that the outdoor condenser coil can be dirty too. To eradicate this problem, ensure that you check and clean your air condenser coils properly during your routine maintenance.
Remove Debris from the Unit
Things such as leaves, specks of dirt, or shrubs may accumulate on the exterior of your air conditioner, disrupting airflow and reducing the system’s capacity. All you need to do is check and trim away any plants on the back of your air conditional to ensure proper airflow through the system.
Straighten the Coil Fins
Ensure you check the state of the aluminum fins and condenser coils. When bent, they can impede airflow through the coil. Contact a professional to help you adjust the fins and coils.
Check the Insulation Pipes
A layer of thick insulation covers the line that transfers the refrigerant through your air conditioning system. But as a result of sun exposure, this protective lining can be destroyed. Make sure you check this insulation regularly as it keeps the refrigerant cold.
Check for Leaks
This is another essential tip. This particular maintenance practice can mostly be done correctly by a professional. So, if you notice any leak in any of the refrigerant lines in your air conditioning unit, we strongly recommend that you hire professional personnel to help with the repairs.
Conclusion
An air conditioning unit is just another machine. And it is widely known that no Machine is a hundred percent efficient or ideal. Therefore, the best you can do is to get the best out of your air conditioning unit. How do you do this? By simply following the tips stated in this article for the proper maintenance of your air conditioner.
