Maintenance
& Servicing Your Air Conditioner DIY/Or
Professional EHomeServices
People who want to ensure that their air
conditioning unit functions effectively and
efficiently throughout the year, they must keep
the unit’s coils, filters and fins maintained.
Air conditioner maintenance and servicing are a
major part of eHomeServices, and if they are
ignored, the performance of an air conditioner
may diminish over time. Moreover, such an air
conditioning unit will also gradually begin
consuming more and more energy, causing the
household electricity bill to rise.
Ultimately, all of the following is necessary to
ensure the longevity and optimal performance of
an air conditioner, but there is always the
option of hiring a home services company.
How To Service An Air Conditioner?
Clean The Coils
After being used for months or even years, dirt
tends to gather within the condenser and
evaporator coils of the air conditioner. Of
course, if the filter is clean, then the
evaporator coil will not get soiled too quickly.
However, dirt still keeps on building up within
the evaporator coil over time, even with a clean
filter. Consequently, airflow declines and the
coil gets insulated, as a result of which it is
not able to absorb heat effectively.
Fortunately, this can be avoided by annually
checking the evaporator coil and cleaning it
when it seems too dirty. Dirt can particular
build up considerably within outdoor condenser
coils, especially if a lot of dust blows
outdoors and/or if there is foliage around. Any
dirt that may have built up in the fins of the
condenser coil can be easily check and usually
quite noticeable.
Generally, it is best if an air conditioner is
installed in a place where debris and dirt tend
to be minimal, but if not, those should be
minimized. Common household sources of debris
and dirt include dryer vents, foliage and trees,
and lawn mower. Therefore, the area around the
coil should be cleaned as well, any debris
should be removed, and there should be no
foliage within 2 feet or 0.6 meters of the coil
to ensure sufficient airflow.
Clean Coil Fins
Much like the condenser coils, the evaporator
also has aluminium fins that can get bent easily
and as a result, air may not adequately flow
through the coil. You may even buy a “fin comb”
from air conditioning wholesalers and use it to
comb the coil fins back, so that they are no
longer bent just like they originally were.
Clean The Filters
If you want to ensure that your air conditioner
operates efficiently, one of the most important
things you should do is clean its filters
routinely and eventually replace them as
necessary. Normal airflow will get blocked if
the filters are clogged and/or dirty, causing
the air conditioning unit to function less and
less efficiently, and eventually malfunction
over time.
If normal airflow gets blocked and the filter is
really dirty, whatever air gets through may end
up carrying dirt directly into the evaporator
coil. Gradually, the evaporator coil may lose
its ability to absorb heat effectively. Your air
conditioner will consume anywhere between 5% and
15% less energy if you replace a filter that is
too extremely clogged and dirty.
If you have a central air conditioning unit in
your home, you will likely find the filter
somewhere along the length of the return duct.
Other locations where you may find the filter
include inside the air conditioner itself, or
somewhere in the ceilings, furnaces or walls.
Depending on the type of filters, you may be
able to reuse them, or you may have to replace
them. Of course, the efficiency of a filter
varies from one type to another. The cooling
season is nearing and that means that you should
clean or even replace the filter or filters in
your air conditioning system at least twice
during it. If you use your air conditioning unit
constantly, if the environment where you are is
always dusty and if you have household pets,
then you pay have to pay more frequent attention
to the filters.
Unclog The Condensate Drains
Even the drain channels of an air conditioning
unit may get clogged and occasionally, a stiff
wire should be passed through them. If the drain
channels of your air conditioner are clogged,
the unit will not be able to reduce humidity,
and consequently, excess moisture may circulate
within your home, causing the colors of your
carpets and walls to fade.
Seal The Windows
Despite not being a part of the actual air
conditioner maintenance and servicing, this is
equally important to ensure the efficiency of
your air conditioner during every cooling
season. From the season actually begins, check
the seal between the unit and the surface it is
installed into. The seal should be airtight,
i.e. in complete contact with the metal case of
the unit. This seal tends to get damaged by
moisture and if that happens, cool air from the
air conditioner will likely get out from your
house, raising your electricity bill.
Why Hire A Professional eHomeServices Company?
The fact of the matter is that air conditioners
need to be regularly maintained and serviced, in
which case there is nothing better to do than to
hire a professional home service technician. A
well-trained technician from a professional and
reliable home services company will be able to
detect and resolve any problems that may have
occurred in your air conditioning unit.
When you hire a professional technician:
= Airflow through the evaporator coil will be
measured
= A leak detector will be used to detect
refrigerant leaks
= Leaks in the seal duct will be checked if you
have a central air conditioning system
= Motors will be oiled, and belts will be
inspected to ensure that they are tight and not
worn down
= Refrigerant will be safely collected from your
air conditioning unit in case it needs to be
tested
= The amount of refrigerant remaining in your
air conditioner will be checked
= The thermostat will be inspected to ensure
that it is functioning accurately
Get Ready For The Next Winter
Although winter just ended, once winter
approaches again, make sure you cover the air
conditioner in your room since it would be too
much of a hassle to remove and then store it
somewhere else. You can keep your air
conditioning unit safe from debris and the
winter weather conditions if you keep it covered
throughout the season.
