That wonderful machine - your
air conditioner - keeps you cool and comfortable all summer
long, but many people don't even realize it requires
seasonal maintenance in order to continue running
efficiently. Proper maintenance will ensure that your air
conditioning unit lasts for several years without needing
repairs or replacement.
Maintaining your a/c unit means you won't have to call a
service person any time soon and spend a lot of money on
expensive repair jobs. In fact, if you give your air
conditioning professional a call on a seasonal basis, at the
beginning of every summer, you won't have to pay him/her
truckloads of cash when something goes terribly wrong. For
example, sometimes refrigerant leaks out over time, which
slows down the efficiency of your system. A professional can
fix this problem before it gets out of hand.
In addition, once a month conduct a few checks to make sure
the unit is in good working order.
 Air should flow freely through the condenser,
evaporator coils, and the furnace's blower unit. The coils
look like the radiator in a car. They are comprised of loops
of tubing through a honeycomb of aluminum fins. Look for
leaves, debris, and dust - this type of material on the fins
has the potential to hinder airflow and compromise your
cooling system.
 Clean the fins to ensure the proper running of
your a/c unit. Just be careful when doing so, as the fins
bend easily and anything sharp may damage the soft copper
tubing.
The blower unit in your furnace is also important. Cool air
is heavy and can strain belts and bearings, so regular
furnace checkups should be part of the procedure.
 The condensing unit needs to be clear so that air
can flow through uninterrupted. If leaves have settled
there, hose them out, and also prune any nearby shrubs so
that they stay out of the way. Also examine the condensate
drain when the weather turns humid to double check that
moisture is being carried away from the system.
 Filter maintenance is also crucial. In fact, a
clogged filter can shut down an air conditioning unit
entirely. Several times per season change the filter and
remember, never run a unit without a filter installed. |
