With a little regular maintenance, your air conditioner’s life expectancy can be increased dramatically and put money back in your pocket. Maintaining your air conditioner can save up to 30% on operating costs, protect it from early failure, prevent mold from developing in the system, and help it perform at its best. Just follow these simple steps and your AC will run like new for a long time.
Change Filters
It is crucial to change the filter monthly. Clogged, dirty filters block normal airflow and reduce a system’s efficiency significantly. With normal airflow obstructed, air that bypasses the filter may carry dirt directly into the evaporator coil and impair the coil’s heat-absorbing capacity. Replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one can lower your air conditioner’s energy consumption by 5% to 15%. There are a lot of different filters varying in quality. Make sure to contact an air conditioner professional to determine the best filter for your unit.
Clean the Coils
To clean the air conditioner coils, make sure the power from the unit is disconnected first. Wet the area you are cleaning with a garden hose. Using gloves and safety glasses, spray the commercial air conditioner cleaner (available at an HVAC supplier) onto the coils. Let it set for a short while, and then rinse it down thoroughly with the garden hose.
Fix Coil Fins
The aluminum fins on evaporator and condenser coils can be easily manipulated. These can block airflow through the coil. Use a tool called a “fin comb” that will comb these fins back into nearly new condition. This will help improve the efficiency of your unit as well, saving you in energy costs.
If your air conditioning unit needs more than just regular maintenance, we would be happy to help. Contact Robert B. Payne at 540-373-5876 today!