Proper maintenance of the air conditioner not only saves energy and money but also increases the life of the air conditioning unit. This saves your money as you will not have to replace the unit frequently. Dave Moody, HVAC pro from Service Experts, says, ” An AC needs regular attention to be sure it’s operating at the highest efficiency.”
The HVAC (Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning) system consists of the furnace and a heat pump that can perform both the function of heating and cooling. Both the types have two units interior and exterior. Interior unit contains evaporator and blower whereas exterior unit consists of condenser coil and compressor.
Here are some steps that will help you in knowing how to maintain the AC on your own.
Step 1. Shut the Power
As we all know playing with electricity can even turn out to be fatal. It is recommended that you switch the main power supply off before you begin the cleaning process.
Step 2. Remove the Debris
On the exterior panel take off the fan cage with the help of screwdrivers and lift it up. Clean the debris in the interior panel with the help of a dry vacuum cleaner.
Step 3. Clean the Fins
Spray a strong stream on the fins inside out to remove any deposited dirt or debris accumulated into it. Do not use a pressure washer as it can damage the parts of the fins.
Step 4. Straighten the Fins
The air flow in the fins should be proper as it reduces the efficiency. Straighten the fins that have been bent during the cleaning process very carefully with the help of a butter knife.
Step 5. Clean the Unit
After finishing the cleaning process, reinstall the fan cage. Clean and remove all the debris outside the condenser to make sure it provides proper airflow for the unit. Cover the condenser in the winter season as the dust may get deposited and reduce the efficiency of the unit.
Step 6. Level the Unit
As the time passes the pad on which the condenser rests begins to sink as the dust starts depositing it. The condenser unit that is not at the right level can cause the compressor to fail much before it is supposed to. Check the level of the condenser, if it is not at the proper level, use rit-rims to level it back.
Step 7. Clean the Evaporator Coil
This is the time when real work begins. Look for the evaporator coil door in the interior unit that has a blower. Use a brush with soft bristles to clean the dirt and spray a no-rinse oil cleaner on the coil. This spray converts into the foam and drains into the drain pan. Clean the drain pan and add bleach and water in the equal quantities down the drain.
Step 8. Change the Blower Filter
The filter of your HVAC is supposed to be changed twice in a year. One when the summer season starts and once when the winter begins. If you reside in an area that has dust, you may even have to change it more frequently. Replace the filter with the one that has the same airflow rating. Place the entire filter unit into the interior unit of the HVAC where fresh air returns to the duct and the unit.
If you want your HVAC system to be functional for a long time without any trouble, it is recommended that you maintain the AC unit properly and regularly.
