Maintaining Your AC Unit
Your AC unit is exposed to varying environmental conditions that gradually reduce its efficiency and effectiveness. So, it’s important for each homeowner to educate themselves about good the AC unit maintenance practices so that it remains reliable. In this article, we discuss some of the things that professionals at Clarke & Rush recommend that you to do keep the AC working well.
AC Filters
AC filters are one of the most common wear items in your air conditioning system. These filters trap varying levels of contaminants, such as pet hair, pollen, and dust from the conditioned air in your home. Since AC filters get dirty quickly, you’ll have to replace or clean them on a regular basis. In fact, the most popular AC filters need to be replaced on a monthly basis.
Dirty filters allow contaminants to coat the evaporator coil, thereby compromising its effectiveness and efficiency. Dirty filters also expose your family members to allergens, and flare-ups may be more frequent if someone in your family suffers from asthma, COPD and other respiratory issues.
It is, therefore, a good habit to check the filters each month. Your filter needs to be replaced if light cannot penetrate through its filter media when held up to a light. The recommended filter change interval is just a guideline, so use the monthly inspections as a more reliable way to decide when it is time for a filter change.
Evaporator and Condenser Coils
The indoor unit of your AC has an evaporator coil while the outdoor unit has the condenser coil. The efficiency of these coils reduces when dirt is allowed to coat them. It is therefore advisable for you to clean them annually, or as the need arises (especially the outdoor coils) so that you can get a long life from these components. Get help from a Rocklin HVAC professional if you aren’t sure how to keep these coils clean to the degree expected.
It is also good to clear away any vegetation that is within a two-foot radius from the outdoor unit so that it can do its work uninhibited by a congested environment.
The Coil Fins
The condenser and evaporator coils discussed earlier have fins that aid the functioning of the coils. These fins are usually made from aluminum and are prone to becoming bent. When that happens, the affected coil will no longer work as efficiently as it used to.
The AC unit installation experts at Clarke & Rush recommend that you buy a fin comb from suppliers of AC equipment. This tool will help you to “comb” the bent fins until they return to their proper positions without putting them at risk of breaking.
The Condensate Drains
AC unit maintenance should also include ensuring that the condensate drain lines aren’t clogged. You can do this by pushing a stiff wire through the lines so that any blockage can be cleared. If you can, treat those drain lines with an anti-algae chemical so that the growth of these microorganisms can be prevented.
Window Seals
Do you have an AC unit mounted on the window? It is advisable for you to check the seal between the window and the unit at least once each year to be sure that a gap hasn’t developed to allow conditioned air to escape.
Preparing for Season Changes
The AC unit maintenance described earlier covers the routine maintenance that you should do. However, those activities may not go far enough when the season changes, such as when you are preparing for winter or the warm months.
For those major preparations, a professional AC tune-up is recommended. AC tune-ups are more thorough than what you can do as a homeowner. For example, the professionals at Clarke & Rush check whether your unit has sufficient refrigerant, as well as verifying that the unit’s electrical control systems work in the right sequence. These comprehensive maintenance checks ensure that the AC will work efficiently and effectively during the demanding summer months. Why take the chance of having a broken AC unit? Contact Clarke & Rush today and schedule an appointment to have AC unit maintenance done by our experts.
