Dear Community:
It is a simple fact that heating and air conditioning equipment that receives regular maintenance can save you up to 25% of the cost to heat and cool your home and eliminate costly repairs. Over 50% of our typical service calls were due to improper maintenance, or the lack of a regular tune up.
We recommend you to have your heating and cooling systems tuned up in the fall and spring, respectively.
Filters, coils, and fins on an air conditioner need to be cleaned and oiled regularly for the unit to work well and efficiently for many years. If you don't do the necessary maintenance, your air conditioner will keep getting worse and use more energy. Let's share some information with you:
Air Conditioner Filters
Air conditioner filters must be replaced or cleaned as part of regular maintenance.
The most important thing you can do to keep your air conditioner running well is to change or clean its filters regularly. Filters that are clogged or dirty reduce the amount of airflow and make a system much less efficient. Also, if the airflow is blocked, air can go around the filter and put dirt right on the evaporator coil, which reduces the coil's ability to absorb heat. When you switch out a dirty, clogged filter for a clean one, your air conditioner will use 5% to 15% less energy.
Most central air conditioners have filters somewhere along the length of the return duct. Most air conditioners have filters in the walls, ceilings, or in the unit itself. Room air conditioners have a filter attached to the grill that faces into the room.
Some filters can be used more than once, while others have to be replaced. There are different kinds and levels of how well they work. During the cooling season, you should clean or replace the filter(s) in your air conditioner every month or two. Filters may need to be changed more often if the air conditioner is always on, is in a dusty place, or if you have pets with fur in the house.
Air Conditioner Coils Over months and years of use, the evaporator coil and condenser coil of an air conditioner get dirty. If the filter is clean, the evaporator coil won't get dirty as quickly. The evaporator coil will still get dirty over time, though. This dirt makes it harder for air to flow through and insulates the coil, which makes it less able to absorb heat. Check your evaporator coil every year and clean it as needed to avoid this problem.
Outdoor condenser coils can also get very dirty if it is dusty outside or if there is a lot of plant life nearby. You can easily see the condenser coil and see if dirt is building up on its fins.
You should keep the area around the condenser unit as clean as possible. Dirt and debris can come from your dryer vents, the leaves that fall off your trees, and your lawn mower. Cleaning the area around the coil, getting rid of any trash, and cutting back plants by at least 2 feet (0.6 meters) will let enough air flow around the condenser.
Coil Fins
Aluminum fins on evaporator and condenser coils can be bent easily, which can stop air from moving through the coil. Wholesalers of air conditioning sell a tool called a "fin comb" that can be used to comb these fins back to almost their original shape.
Condensate Drains
Occasionally, run a stiff wire through the unit's drain channels. If a unit's drain channels are clogged, it can't lower the humidity, and the extra moisture may stain walls or carpet.
For any air conditioning and heating needs, call us @818-378-6508. Thanks!
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