A common way to ensure your air conditioner runs properly from year to year is to have a professional HVAC company inspect it at the beginning of each season. However, as things do come up throughout the summer that can impact your unit’s performance, it is important to understand some of the things you can do safely and economically to help maintain your unit’s ability to keep you cool.
1. Keep it clean
One of the easiest things you can do to ensure your air conditioner continues to work properly is to keep the unit and the area around it clean. For instance, it is very common for leaves, dirt, and grass clippings to build up around an air conditioner. This buildup will eventually block airflow, which will negatively impact your air conditioner’s ability to provide cool air.
To avoid this problem, you should remove any leaves that have fallen on top of the unit as well as any leaves, dirt, and debris gathering around the base of the unit. Additionally, you should be sure to trim any bushes that are located near the unit. Doing these simple tasks will help air to flow freely in and out of the unit.
2. Replace the filter
An important part of maintaining your air conditioner is ensuring that your unit experiences proper airflow at all times. One of the best ways to ensure proper airflow is to change your unit’s filter on a regular basis.
It is generally recommended that you change your air conditioner’s filter approximately every three months. However, during particularly hot months, it is recommended that you change the filter a bit more frequently as running the unit more often can result in dirt and debris collecting in the filter.
3. Condensate drain
The condensate drain is designed to direct the condensation your unit creates away from the unit. However, it is quite common for the condensate drain to become clogged over time. Fortunately, you can easily avoid this problem by simply doing a periodic visual inspection of the condensate drain.
If the water is draining properly from the drain, you can be sure that there is no clog within the system. However, if you notice a decrease in the amount of water draining, you should do a further inspection to locate the clog and remove it.
4. Registers
When it comes to two-story homes, it is common to close the registers downstairs to force the cool air upstairs where it is typically much hotter. Once the upstairs air has cooled, the lower level will naturally fill with cool air as the cooler air flows downward and throughout the lower level.
However, it is important to not completely close your registers as this can cause the coils on your unit to freeze and result in your unit shutting off. To help maintain your unit’s ability to effectively cool your home, you should ensure that all your registers remain slightly open at all times to allow air to flow freely throughout your home.
5. Keep the coils clean
The coils on your air conditioner are an integral part of your system. They are designed to help the cooling agent in your air conditioner to change from a liquid state to a gas state while simultaneously absorbing heat.
Because a portion of the coils on your air conditioner are exposed to the outside, dirt and debris often collect on them over time. Unfortunately, coils that are covered in dirt and debris cannot properly absorb heat. A decreased capacity to absorb heat will put undue strain on your system and decrease the amount of cool air the unit will produce.
If you notice dirt or debris on the coils, you can simply use your garden hose to remove any unwanted buildup. However, if this cleaning method does not result in clean coils, you can do an online search for “air conditioning Brisbane” to find a reputable HVAC company to professionally clean your unit.
6. Inspect the fins
The fins on the condenser and evaporator can become bent over time. Bent fins result in inadequate airflow. If your unit does not receive the proper amount of airflow, it cannot properly cool your home. Fortunately, if you notice bent fins, you can simply use a fin comb to straighten them.
