Cleaning and air conditioning maintenance is just as important as turning it on in the first place, otherwise you'll be breathing in air that's full of recycled dust and dirt. We have put together a quick five step guide which should ensure you're on the way to an effective air conditioner unit that's as good as brand new. For a more comprehensive guide on the upkeep of air conditioners there are tonnes of great resources out there on the web (such as this), but for something quick and easy, keep reading...
Clean the evaporator.
This can be found over the furnace in the plenum and should be given a clean once a year at least. One thing to note at this point is that sometimes they're not accessible and therefore it isn't possible to do this yourself. The way to tell if you can access it is to check if the plenum has foil-wrapped insulation at the front. If it doesn't and the plenum is inside a sealed metal box then you must not attempt to get inside it. Doing so could irreparably damage your unit.
Maintain the condenser.
The majority of condenser units for air conditioning maintenance are naturally found outdoors. This does however mean that it's up against more grime than it would be otherwise. The condenser has a fan that projects air across the condensing coil - this must be cleaned on the intake side. Before you do this, you ought to check the direction of air flow across the coils or you could end up cleaning a part which simply doesn't need it.
Repair the system's coolant lines.
Insufficient amounts of refrigerant could mean that the unit does not provide enough cooling and the system will eventually overheat. Do not try to charge the system's refrigerant lines - you really need to call a professional in for that. You can however examine the lines from the condenser to the evaporator indoors. If any insulation is frayed it'll become less efficient and it should be replaced. Do carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions for this though, and if you're still unsure then call the professionals.
Test the thermostat.
It's important to check that the thermostat is operating correctly - after all, this is what regulates the temperature, and is therefore an integral part of the system. Before you do test it though, check how many wires are running though the thermostat. If there are more than two lead wires going into it (not including the sensing bulb wire), then again it is a job best left to a professional. They will always include this test along with all the other standard checks.
Check the effectiveness of the fan.
The fan is a key part of an air conditioning maintenance unit, so when it malfunctions it's pivotal that you sort that issue as soon as possible. Thankfully it's often a simple issue associated with dirty blades. Turning off the power and giving it a good clean is usually all that is needed. Tightening the blades if they're a tad loose will also make the unit more efficient and safer.
To know more click on Air Conditioning Maintenance.
Clean the evaporator.
This can be found over the furnace in the plenum and should be given a clean once a year at least. One thing to note at this point is that sometimes they're not accessible and therefore it isn't possible to do this yourself. The way to tell if you can access it is to check if the plenum has foil-wrapped insulation at the front. If it doesn't and the plenum is inside a sealed metal box then you must not attempt to get inside it. Doing so could irreparably damage your unit.
Maintain the condenser.
The majority of condenser units for air conditioning maintenance are naturally found outdoors. This does however mean that it's up against more grime than it would be otherwise. The condenser has a fan that projects air across the condensing coil - this must be cleaned on the intake side. Before you do this, you ought to check the direction of air flow across the coils or you could end up cleaning a part which simply doesn't need it.
Repair the system's coolant lines.
Insufficient amounts of refrigerant could mean that the unit does not provide enough cooling and the system will eventually overheat. Do not try to charge the system's refrigerant lines - you really need to call a professional in for that. You can however examine the lines from the condenser to the evaporator indoors. If any insulation is frayed it'll become less efficient and it should be replaced. Do carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions for this though, and if you're still unsure then call the professionals.
Test the thermostat.
It's important to check that the thermostat is operating correctly - after all, this is what regulates the temperature, and is therefore an integral part of the system. Before you do test it though, check how many wires are running though the thermostat. If there are more than two lead wires going into it (not including the sensing bulb wire), then again it is a job best left to a professional. They will always include this test along with all the other standard checks.
Check the effectiveness of the fan.
The fan is a key part of an air conditioning maintenance unit, so when it malfunctions it's pivotal that you sort that issue as soon as possible. Thankfully it's often a simple issue associated with dirty blades. Turning off the power and giving it a good clean is usually all that is needed. Tightening the blades if they're a tad loose will also make the unit more efficient and safer.
To know more click on Air Conditioning Maintenance.
No comments:
Post a Comment