Summer is almost here. Everyone is going to need their air conditioners to work without glitches. Did you know that Air Conditioners need to be cleaned and maintained properly for their optimum performance? Yes, just like you check the air in your tires and change the oil in your cars, air conditioner maintenance will help prolong its life up to a considerable time. Proper maintenance also helps the air conditioner run more efficiently and cool your home more effectively. Do you know how to maintain your air-conditioner properly?
Air conditioner maintenance is comparatively an easy process if you do it regularly. The most important thing you have to remember about the efficiency of an air conditioner is that it requires regular, uninterrupted airflow. Below are some common air conditioner maintenance tips you can follow to keep your AC running smoothly all through summer.
Air conditioner maintenance checklist
Before you start, you need to understand that an air conditioner has three main parts- the outdoor unit, the indoor unit, and the thermostat. All three parts are cleaned differently.
The outdoor unit
The outdoor unit is where the air conditioner pulls in air from the outside. The air is pulled in by the coils and blown out the top. Here the biggest hindrance that can occur is that the coil is blocked. If the coils are blocked in any way, it will lead to a decrease in the efficiency of your unit. The first and foremost thing you must do is to make sure the air conditioner is disconnected.
There must not be any kind of debris around the air conditioner. Any kind of leaves, debris, and grass must be removed away from the unit. They should also not be near any shrubs or bushes. Next, the conditioner coils must be rinsed thoroughly. Take a garden hose and reach what you can to spray from the inside out. Let the water flow for some time so that all the dirt is removed. Spray off any debris you see on the outside. Be careful not to bend any fins on the unit during this process since they are extremely fragile. After the outer unit has been cleaned, make sure you place it back on level. If it is off-center, it might require a professional level up. Then, check all electrical connections to ensure that no wires have been exposed. Take one final look so that the installation around the line is okay.
Indoor Unit
As in the outer unit, the restriction in the flow of air is the biggest hindrance to its performance. To make sure air flows well, you must first check the filter inside the indoor unit. For this, remove the filter and see if you can see through it. If you cannot, that means that it is time to replace the filter. While replacing the filter, make sure that the arrow on the filter lines up with the direction of airflow through your unit. You can check the air conditioner DIY install videos for assistance.
The filters need to be replaced periodically. How often? It might be different for each home, so check once a month until you figure out how long it takes to change yours. Turn off the humidifier if you have one. Pour some water down its drain line so that it is not clogged. You can also add a little amount of bleach to clean the line.
Thermostat
You need the thermostat in the air conditioner to be working if you want to cool the room up to specific temperatures. To make sure that the thermostat of your Air Conditioner is working properly, you need to take a visual read thermometer and measure the room temperature. Make sure that this reading is within three degrees of the temperature displayed on your air conditioner. If the thermostat is not working well, get a professional for the air conditioner repair.
These are some of the tips that you can follow on your own. But manufacturers always advise erring on the side of caution. They always ask you to get your air conditioner checked regularly by a certified technician. Be it a Samsung air conditioner or a Voltas air conditioner, all of them have designated service persons who can come and check your air conditioners and tune them up.
If you are looking to buy ac online, make sure you compare air conditioner price and reviews before making a choice. Let us hope that these tips help you maintain your air conditioners.