26 Jun Summer Air Conditioning Maintenance Tips
These summer air conditioning maintenance tips will keep your system running efficiently and your A/C unit will last longer too. Just like a fine-tuned car, your air conditioner will run better and longer if you keep it cleaned and maintained.
Professional A/C Maintenance
While these DIY maintenance and cleaning tips will help your air conditioner run better, many of the systems in your heat pump or central air unit are designed to be closed systems. This means in order to keep them oiled, cleaned and maintained, you need to hire a professional HVAC repair company. They can do regular or routine maintenance on your air conditioning system that is better off left to the professionals.
DIY Summer Air Conditioning Maintenance Tips
Here are a few DIY cleaning and maintenance tips you can do yourself. Always be sure and turn the unit completely off before beginning any A/C maintenance. This involves turning the breaker off and the outside main shut off. If you don’t feel comfortable working with your air conditioning equipment, you are better off allowing your heating and air conditioning company to do it for you.
All HVAC cooling systems whether it is a central A/C unit that works with your furnace or a heat pump system that works to both heat and cool your home, require the same maintenance. They basically consist of an evaporator coil and blower inside and a condenser and compressor outside.
The Evaporator Coils
Your evaporator should be located above the furnace. It may have foil insulation wrapped around it. You can remove the foil and unscrew the access door. Dust the coil and clean the underside with a soft brush. You can also spray no-rinse coil cleaner on the coil too. Check the drain to make sure it is draining properly. You can find the end of the drain and use a wet/dry vac to unclog the drain if It’s running slowly. Your HVAC company can help you fix the clog if it doesn’t begin working right. Before you finish with the evaporator make sure the drip pan is clean and back in place.
The Condensor Unit
Unscrew and lift the fan cage from the outside unit. You can then remove dust, leaves and debris by hand or with a wet/dry vac. Clean the grill or fins around the unit. Straighten any fins that are bent to ensure your system runs efficiently. You A/C unit (unless it is a heat pump which need to lean away from the house) should be level. You can use shimmies to level the unit. Make sure that the area around the unit is clean and tree branches are removed.
Replacing The Filter
Your air filter is located inside where the return air duct is. It should be changed a minimum of 2x a year and in most cases monthly. You can refer to your air conditioning owner’s manual for how often your air filter should be changed. Filters that claim to reduce the most amounts of allergens and dust often need to be changed more often to ensure the best airflow possible.
A/C Maintenance For Summer
It is important that you keep you’re a/c system running at peak performance. This will save you money on your cooling bill but it will also keep your unit from having to work harder. This results in more repairs and a quicker replacement time. ADA Heating and Cooling can help you maintain your A/C unit with bi-annual maintenance. To schedule routine A/C maintenance or if you have questions about keeping your unit clean call ADA Heating and Air today.