One of the chores that will pay off over the long run is cleaning your air conditioner. Regular maintenance should be part of owning this unit so that you will consume less energy each month. The overall costs of running the AC with lesser energy will also decrease. Another advantage is that you will have an appliance that has a longer lifespan and fewer breakdowns.
As a homeowner, you can have technical assessments done by professional HVAC contractors in your area. If you’re unsure about doing air conditioner cleaning on your own, it’s best if you could call a technician to perform this for you. The experts can do the job in minutes, and you can benefit for months.
And now, here are some tips!
1. Examine the Thermostat
One way that you can do this is to ensure that the thermostat works appropriately at night. Smart technologies today allow you to set the thermostat at a higher temperature, especially when you’re not at home. It won’t necessarily turn the AC off, but it will set this to a higher temperature. When you’re arriving after a long day at work, it will set the temp to cool half an hour before you arrive.
With the thermostat doing this, you will have a comfortable home waiting for you. You’ll save energy and money when your AC does not cool down the environment when no people are present.
If you want to maximize your overall savings, you can always opt for a thermostat that reports and monitors your energy usage. You can set these daily schedules at home and pocket the money that you’re saving each month. Learn more about the thermostat on this site here.
2. Cleaning the Air Filters
You need to clean the reusable filters every month. High-use seasons like summer are where you may want to call your technicians and ensure that your filters are in proper condition. Find the filters on the ceiling in the central parts of the home. Read the manufacturers’ instructions about the location of the filter, or a technician can pinpoint this for you.
It’s worth noting that if the filter becomes full of allergen, dirt, and dust particles, the overall airflow inside your home can significantly decrease. This will make it harder for your compressor to work. The air inside the house will also become dirty and can trigger asthma attacks and allergic reactions to the home occupants.
Some of the solutions include the installation of a high-quality filter. There are many inexpensive fiberglass varieties in the market, but they may not be able to capture bacteria and viruses. Go for the high-quality ones with a higher Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value or MERV rating.
3. Cleaning the Outside of the Unit
If you have a split-type AC, remove the grasses, twigs, bushes, and leaves around it as they can go inside the unit. The debris can reduce your appliance’s airflow and system capacity, so it’s essential to maintain the outside unit.
The first thing you need to do is unplug the appliance by going into the primary breaker panel inside your home. Use a garden hose for washing out the debris. Avoid using the power washers as they can damage your units.
While you’re in the process of washing the outdoor unit, you should also trim the other plants and shrubs around your AC. This can prevent them from impeding airflow in the future.
4. Checking of Components and Wires
The internal connections of your appliance are vital to its overall performance and operation. The things that you don’t know about them could hurt you financially, so it’s important to have them checked by a qualified technician at least once a year. Know more about common problems of ACs here: https://www.thespruce.com/repair-a-central-air-conditioning-system-1824750.
Turn off the power of the condenser unit, look for signs of heating when you remove the access panel. For example, this may involve blackened or burned wires or melted insulation. Check for electrical connections that are loose. If you’re uncomfortable tinkering with the electrical wires of your AC, an expert can check the appliance’s capacitor with the electrical test meter.
If you notice an issue and you’re not exactly sure about the things you’re seeing, you may want to find an HVAC expert who is very comfortable correcting these problems for you. They will work with the insulation and ensure that your home will not catch fire. A bi-annual check-up may be something that you need in the long run.
5. Check the Unit Fan of the Condenser
Your AC can’t cool without the help of the fan blades and condenser. You may notice hot air that’s being blown by your unit, which can indicate that your AC is in bad condition.
For you to check the condenser, turn off the power and unplug your appliance first. Check the mounted fan, and this is usually located at the top of the outside condenser. See if they are still in good shape.
If you find this necessary, replace the fan blades by purchasing them at a local store or online shop. If you see chips and cracks visible in one or more of the blades, this is a tell-tale sign that they need to be replaced as soon as possible.
You may be unsure about doing the whole thing or if you’re doing what’s right. What you can do is to call a technician that will ensure that you need new blades. They will do an assessment, and they can tell you about the right size of the blades that will fit inside the brand you have. Expert contractors know how to match the blades with the condenser’s model number, so don’t hesitate to call them anytime.
Also, if you have a very old appliance, you’ll need to maintain the bearings of the fan motor by oiling them regularly. Again, if you’re not comfortable doing all of these types of maintenance, you can always contact an HVAC professional in your area to do everything for you. These things will only take an hour at most, and you can rest assured that the units are in excellent condition after they have worked on them.