How to Maintain Your AC Unit
Taking a proactive approach to summer AC maintenance ensures your unit’s readiness for seamless and efficient operation throughout the season. You can undertake several key maintenance tasks independently, optimizing your unit’s performance. Melton’s Heating & Air Conditioning provides practical advice to prolong your AC unit’s lifespan, reduce costs, and ensure your family’s comfort.
Steps for Cleaning Your AC Unit
In winter, debris accumulates around the outdoor AC condenser unit, including dirt, dust, leaves, and twigs. This buildup can damage the unit, obstruct airflow, and force the system to work harder to maintain indoor temperatures.
Maintaining the condenser unit’s cleanliness ensures your cooling system operates at its best. Below, we outline a step-by-step process for cleaning it. It’s always recommended to enlist the services of professional HVAC repair services to handle this maintenance task.
- Before you start, switch off the circuit breaker responsible for supplying electricity to the unit. Additionally, you’ll find a weatherproof disconnect box positioned near the unit, housing a lever, fuses, or a circuit breaker; be sure to turn this off as well.
- Commence by eliminating all external debris using a low-pressure water hose.
- Subsequently, take off the side and top panels of the unit to gain access to the condenser’s interior.
- Employ either a refrigerator coil brush or a vacuum cleaner equipped with a gentle brush attachment to clean the condenser coils and fins from the exterior delicately. Follow this by vacuuming them from the interior.
- Utilize a clean cloth to wipe down the fan blades of the blower.
- Remove any residual water within the unit, then proceed with reassembly.
Simple Tips for Maintaining Your AC Unit
In addition to cleaning the condenser unit before activating your AC, there are several straightforward measures to make sure your AC unit is running well.
- Regularly clean or replace the furnace or air-handler filters whenever they appear dusty, or at least once a month during the summer. These air filters play a vital role in maintaining indoor air quality.
- Ensure that supply vents in all rooms are open, clean, and free of obstructions like furniture, drapes, or rugs. Keeping vents closed or obstructed places unnecessary strain on the ductwork, causing the air handler to work harder and potentially wasting energy by allowing cool air to escape into the attic or basement.
- Regularly check refrigerant levels. The outdoor condenser unit should feature two copper pipes, with the larger one typically insulated. If this pipe doesn’t feel cold to the touch or fails to produce condensation when the unit operates, it may indicate low coolant levels. Only trained HVAC repair services should handle refrigerant replacement.
- Address airflow leaks by inspecting the AC ducts, connectors, and blower components for loose or damaged areas, seeking assistance from an HVAC technician to resolve any issues.
Before attempting any maintenance, please check with your HVAC service pro and service manual.
Stay on Top of AC Maintenance with HVAC Repair Services! Contact Us Now! Melton’s Heating & Air Conditioning is available for all your HVAC repair and maintenance needs. Enlist our services today! Contact us today.
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