As a homeowner, it is important to always observe and take care of the equipment and gadget that facilitates the smooth running of your home. The air conditioning unit is one of those things you ought to watch and maintain. In this article, we are going to be looking at the reasons and steps in maintaining your AC.
Reasons for Maintaining Your AC
There are several reasons why you ought to maintain your air conditioning unit. Here are some of them.
Helps Avoid Unwanted Health Issues
When an air conditioning unit is faulty, it tends to cause health problems; it wears out and slowly affects air filtration. When this happens, the air gets contaminated with bacteria and germs. Click here to know more about toxic air. Therefore, the air becomes toxic and unhygienic to you and your family. It is very important to maintain your AC to avoid getting health problems from it.
Improves the Level of Comfort
When your AC is properly maintained, it helps in improving the level of comfort in your home. There will be no difficulty in sleep, relaxing and, taking naps, because the air is cool and right.
Conserves Energy
An air conditioner that is not properly maintained tends to consume twice the energy as a well-maintained one does. There are many reasons why this happens, but one major factor is when the filters are clogged by debris or dirt, thereby, hindering the appropriate outflow and inflow of air and causing more consumption of energy.
Helps with Tension
When your AC unit is working properly, you would notice that it reduces the stress of making emergency calls to specialists and having to wait for their arrival. When you maintain your AC from time to time it reduces tension.
Maximize Your Ac Lifespan
If you are aiming at using your air conditioning unit for a long time, it is only right to ensure that you maintain it properly. Doing this will help to prolong your Ac lifespan.
Easy Maintenance Steps
There are some easy steps you as a homeowner can take to help maintain your AC. They are …
Turn off Your AC Power
One of the vital steps to take during the air conditioner maintenance process is to turn off the unit’s power; it is to avoid the danger of electricity and some parts of the unit. Shut off the power from the frame near the unit, it can be found on the outer compressor/ condenser. Also, turn off the power on the box seen inside.
Remove Debris
The fan cage on the outer compressor/condenser must be removed using a wrench or screwdriver. The fasteners ought to be removed next, then lift the fan grill or cage from the unit’s top and put it away. Using a dry/wet vacuum or hand, clean the interior and remove the debris seen on it.
Fins Must be Cleaned
The next step is removing the exterior cover and using a brush attached to a vacuum to eradicate all the dirt outside. After that, use the hose for gardening to spray the fins thoroughly inside and out to detach any debris or dirt stuck between them. Makes sure that the water coming out from the hose is a gentle stream to avoid damage to the fins.
Unbend the Fins
Air-flow reduction through fins tends to reduce efficiency, so avoid this. You must straighten any curved fins making use of a fin-straightening device or a small knife. Make sure you are gentle to avoid damaging the tubing inserted inside the fins.
Clean Zones Surrounding the Unit
After the cleaning, the cage of the fan must be put in place. Clean the zones surrounding the unit by raking debris and leaves away from the outer condenser, cutting vegetations and back branches from all directions to allow proper flow of air around the AC.
Clean the Condenser/Evaporator Coil
Check for the coil door on the furnace/blower unit; remove some of the duct tapes on it. Then take out some bolts or screws. Dust the coil off using a brush with soft bristles; next spray coil cleaner on the coil, the spray will create foam that will drain into the drainage pan. Clean it out using hot water, soap, and a small quantity of bleach.
After doing this, makes sure it is dried before putting back the coil door. If necessary, reseal with duct tape.
The Filter Must be Changed
Changing your filter is very essential, in a year this must be done twice, before the start of the heating period and cold period. Changing it more often is advisable if you reside in a dusty area. The filter must always be replaced with a fresh one that features the type of airflow as the old one.
The indoor AC/furnace is where you can locate the enclosure of the filter. Make use of a wrench or screwdriver to unlatch the enclosure door. Removing the filter and replacing it with the fresh one is the next step. Make sure you match the directional arrows of the flow of air on the new filter with the ones seen on the AC. Finally, close and seal the door.
Turn on the Power
This step does not need any serious instructions, simply go back to where you earlier turned off the power and put it back on.
Conclusion
Knowing how to maintain your AC is key, but every homeowner must know this; some air conditioner maintenance tools would not be readily available to them and they would not be able to make use of the tools. It is important to have a professional technician check out the system from time to time. It is also advised to have the unit serviced between seasons.
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