8 Air Conditioner Maintenance Tips
Keeping your air conditioner well maintained brings many benefits. For example, you’ll be able to ward off costly repairs. Furthermore, a properly maintained air conditioner will save you money on energy and work better for more years. You’ll be able to go much longer before you have to purchase a replacement.
However, most homeowners neglect periodic AC maintenance services and only call a technician when the system is not working. If you want to make sure that your HVAC is operating at optimum efficiency, especially during the hot seasons in Seattle and Tacoma, you need to follow a scheduled maintenance strategy. Here are some simple maintenance tips that are essential to keeping your air conditioner in top shape.
1. Straighten Coil Fins
Coil fins play a central role in the working of an air conditioner. They aid in the heat exchange process, which involves refrigerant inside the coil being evaporated as heat is absorbed. However, these components have a huge weakness. Condenser coils and aluminum fins are easily bent and can block airflow through the coil. This will slow or stop the cooling process.
To avoid this problem, you can schedule regular maintenance with your technician. For a professional, it is relatively easy to detect bent fins and straighten them. This will help in keeping the system in optimal condition.
2. Removing Debris from the System
Over time, debris and vegetation are likely to grow around the outdoor system. Unfortunately, this can have a significant impact on HVAC efficiency. At Brennan Heating & Air Conditioning, we commonly find grass clippings, dirt, and leaves surrounding the outdoor unit. These materials are likely to decrease the capacity of the system by reducing the airflow.
In the removal of debris and dirt, you don’t need to call a technician. However, a professional will complete this task for you if you schedule a maintenance check. This is just a simple chore that does not need any knowledge, training, or experience. By removing all the vegetation, debris, and leaves, you will enhance the airflow and therefore, the optimum performance of your unit.
3. Cleaning Air Conditioner Coil
As highlighted earlier, the air conditioner’s evaporator coils and condenser coils are important components to the cooling process. They are positioned in an area where they are likely to collect foreign materials such as dust and dust particles. Unfortunately, these can have negative impacts on their functionality. Anything that obstructs the airflow along the coils has a major impact on the performance of the entire unit.
In addition to reducing airflow, dirt has insulation tendencies on the coil, which reduces its ability to absorb heat from the house. The outdoor evaporator may also be adversely affected by the accumulation of dirt. Working with an air conditioner technician will help solve this problem before it can affect the operations of your unit. Cleaning the coils regularly will prevent any buildup of dirt on the evaporator and condenser coils.
4. Clean or Change Air Filters
Filters are among the most important components in your HVAC system. Without filters, your system will spread airborne pollutants throughout your home. To keep on top of your indoor air quality, you need to make sure that you pay attention to the filters in between tune-ups. If you are in constant use of your air conditioner, checking the filters once a month is a good idea.
HVAC experts indicate that air conditioning filters are prone to pet dander, pet fur, and other dusty pollutants in the house. Most HVAC systems use replaceable air filters. You’ll know when to replace your filter as you’ll be able to see all the collected dust on the screen. While a technician can handle the replacement during a maintenance check, you can also do this yourself every two to four months.
5. Use a Programmable Thermostat
As part of your maintenance goals, you should aspire to make your air conditioner to perform optimally at all times. Therefore, you should go the extra mile to ensure your system gets the best technology if it helps everything to perform to your expectations. A programmable thermostat can actually prevent your HVAC from getting overused. Thus, it limits wear and tear.
This innovative technology allows you to program when the system will kick into high gear. With a programmable thermostat, you are incorporating automation in your unit. The system will heat or cool the room when necessary, and you will not be required to hover around the system constantly.
6. Unclog Condensate Drain Tube
The condensate drain tube is essential because it works as an evaporator and sometimes a condenser in your cooling system. This means that it experiences extreme temperatures. When cooling, the system might end-up condensing most of the air into water.
The problem occurs when the condensate drain tube becomes clogged with accumulated water and foreign materials such as debris and leaves. The system will not work in such situations. However, unclogging your system will improve its functionality and could bring it back to optimum functionality. To avoid potential damage, this task should only be done by an experienced technician. At Brennan Heating & Air Conditioning, our professional HVAC maintenance services involve unclogging the condensate drain tube when necessary.
7. Adding a Duct Booster
In most cases, you might have a feeling that one of the rooms is hotter than others in your house. This is a clear indication your air conditioner has more work than it can handle. If you notice uneven temperatures, you need to make sure that you have incorporated the necessary strategies to deal with the problem.
An experienced air conditioning expert can help you to balance cooling in your home by adding a duct booster. This is another important maintenance tip that most of the homeowners neglect. Duct boosters are currently being used by many people who do not want to buy a larger air conditioner to meet their cooling needs.
8. Fix a Sinking Air Conditioning Unit
You may not realize that most of the concrete pads under your heat exchanger unit tend to settle over the years. If the system continues to sink without your knowledge, it could end up having significant impacts on your heating and cooling. The issue becomes worse if the system sinks on one side. This means that most of the systems will not be working as expected. You should call a technician to check on electric lines and copper coolant tubes to make sure that the system rests level.
Hiring a Professional Air Conditioner Technician?
At Brennan Heating & Air Conditioning, we have been in the heating, cooling, and air conditioning industry for more than 30 years. We offer unmatched service to our customers by using air conditioning technicians who have undergone rigorous and intensive training. If you need help with a furnace, air conditioner, tankless water heater, indoor air quality product, gas water heater or some other heating and cooling equipment, contact us today. We have offices in Seattle and Lynnwood.
