Air Conditioning Maintainence and Safety Tips
Routine care of your air conditioner is critical whether it is an older
unit or a new, high efficiency model.
Keeping your system properly maintained will lower energy and repair
costs, prevent breakdowns and prolong the life of your equipment.
Some maintenance jobs should be left to the professionals, but there
is much that you, as a homeowner, can do to prolong the life of your
equipment, keeping it running at peak efficiency.
Maintenance by the Homeowner
A dirty coil is a frequent source of potential energy waste. Be sure to
inspect your filter every month, changing or cleaning it when
necessary. If you use a disposable type filter, it's always wise to
keep several spares inside the house.
Outside dirt, leaves, grass and other debris clog the coils, straining
the system. Once a month, inspect the outdoor unit to insure that
nothing is obstructing the airflow across the coil. Remember, before
you do any work on your condenser unit to turn off the power at the
disconnect switch mounted on the wall near the unit. If you don't have
a disconnect switch, turn off the breaker. If you find that your unit is
becoming dirty you can follow the procedure below.
After disconnecting the power, open the unit by undoing the screws
on the top panel and tipping it up. Now, you can remove debris from
the enclosure. Next, remove the side panels of your unit to clean the
outside of the coil using a commercial coil cleaner or a soft -bristle
paintbrush to clean the fin tubes. Brush gently, with a vertical motion
along the line of the fins. Be careful, as they are very thin and
delicate. They can also be very sharp. Check for damage to the fins.
If any of these fins are smashed, you can purchase an inexpensive
set of fin combs. From this set of combs select one that fits the
spacing on your coil, carefully insert the teeth, and comb through the
damaged area.
Next, check to be sure your compressor unit is level. An unleveled
unit will be nosier, less efficient, and cause excessive wear. Check
the level in both directions, making adjustments if necessary. Be
careful how much you move the unit. It has rigid connections to the
electrical and refrigerant lines. Too much (and it doesn't take much)
movement could cause a refrigerant leak to occur.
Be careful when using lawn mowers and trimmers around your
condensing unit. Flying debris can damage the coil and fins.
Finally, check the condensate line for a bacterial slime that tends to
grow in condensed water. The condensate line is the drain that
removes water that has condensed from your indoor coil. Pour a 1:9
bleach-and-water solution through the line. Find the fitting for the
hose, pull it out, and flush the line all the way to the floor drain. If the
drain is difficult to reach, you may be wiser to call your HVAC
contractor to do the job.
Maintenance by a Qualified Professional
In addition to the regular maintenance that you perform on your own
system, it is also a good idea to have a qualified professional perform
routine checks and service each spring and fall. Many contractors
offer Maintenance Agreements to help extend the life, safety and
efficiency of your heating and cooling system. Most service
agreements provide for at least two yearly visits by one of their
service technicians who will go through your system with a checklist.
During your annual spring maintenance and safety check, a qualified
technician will check operating pressures, voltage and amperage on
the compressor and motor, refrigerant charge, contactor points,
capacitors, belts/tension, filter condition, the crankcase heater,
tighten all electrical connections, clean and adjust the thermostat,
clean the condenser and evaporator coils, and lubricate all moving
parts.
During your annual fall check, your technician should look at the
burner and pilot assembles, check the heat exchanger for cracks,
look at the pilot thermocouple, examine the filter, check vent piping,
test gas piping for leaks, test the electronic ignition, test the fan,
adjust the burner for efficiency, test the limit switch, measure the
manifold gas pressure, measure the temperature rise, check for
carbon monoxide, set the heat anticipator, check belt/tension,
examine the draft diverter, and lubricate the fan motor.
Keep in mind, that just like your car, your air conditioning and heating
system needs regular care and maintenance. And just like having a
good mechanic for your car, you should have a good HVAC
technician for your air conditioning and heating systems. Give us a call.