Maintaining your air conditioner is not only essential to secure the comfort of your home, particularly in the warmer months, but also for ensuring the efficiency of the system and avoiding costly repairs or air conditioning installation of a new unit. Regularly changing the air filters, keeping the outdoor unit clear of debris, and cleaning the indoor unit are just a few of the simple preventative measures you can take to ensure your air conditioner runs smoothly throughout the year. This article will discuss some of these tips in more detail so you can ensure you’re doing everything possible to maintain your air conditioner throughout the year.
Change Air Filters Regularly
Changing your air conditioner’s air filters is a simple and effective way to maintain its efficiency and improve indoor air quality. Dirty air filters can restrict airflow and cause the air conditioner to work harder than it was designed to. This extra strain on the system can wear down components as well as increase energy costs. Check your air filters every one to three months and replace them as needed. If possible, try to use high-efficiency filters that are designed to capture a higher level of airborne particles.
Schedule Annual Maintenance
An annual tune-up by a professional can help identify any potential problems with your air conditioner before they become bigger and more expensive issues down the road. During maintenance, the technician will check the refrigerant levels and inspect the hardware and electrical components. This will help ensure your air conditioner is running efficiently and reduce the likelihood of unexpected breakdowns. An experienced technician can design a regular maintenance plan for your particular unit which could give you a good indication of when it’s likely you’ll need to opt for new air conditioning installation.
Keep the Outdoor Unit Clear of Debris
The outdoor unit of your air conditioner is often an afterthought, however, this unit should be treated with the same attention to detail as your indoor unit. Ensure the outdoor unit is clear of any debris, leaves and grass clippings. Doing so is the best way to ensure it operates efficiently and will mitigate any potential damage to the unit.
Regularly removing debris around the unit is especially important to allow proper ventilation and avoid any potential blockages to the condenser coils, which can be expensive to replace. You should also trim back any shrubs or trees that are near the outdoor unit, as these can cause obstructions to the airflow of the unit as well as increase the likelihood of debris build-up. If you notice that your air conditioner isn’t cooling as well as it used to, first check the outdoor unit for debris or obstructions and clear away anything that could be blocking airflow.
Check & Clean Ducts
Dirty ducts are often the cause of reduced efficiency of air conditioners, and they can also have a negative impact on indoor air quality. If you’re noticing your ducted air conditioner is suffering from decreased performance or you’re suddenly aware of a foul odour throughout your home that doesn’t have an obvious source, you might consider having the ducts cleaned to boost the performance of your air conditioner and improve indoor air quality. Regularly cleaning or replacing your air conditioning system’s filters will also help to keep ducts clean and reduce the amount of dust that accumulates in them, which in turn will decrease the likelihood of you needing air conditioning installation in the near future.
