AC maintenance helps you to save money on energy, as well it extend its longevity, saving money on costly replacement. An AC requires regular attention to be sure it’s operating at the highest efficiency.” Here are some ways to keep your unit running smoothly.
Remove Debris
On the exterior condenser/compressor, remove the fan cage. Remove the fasteners using a screwdriver or wrench, and lift the cage or fan grill. By hand, or with a wet/dry vacuum, clean leaves, and other debris from the interior.
Clean the Fins
Remove the outer covers and use a vacuum cleaner to remove all outside dirt. Then, using a gentle stream, spray through the fins from the inside out to remove any built-up dirt from between them. Never try to use a pressure washer, since the pressure can damage the fins. If the fins are particularly dirty, use a commercially available in cleaning spray.
Straighten the Fins
Since any reduction in air-flow through the fins can reduce efficiency, cautiously make straight bent fins using a knife or commercially available fin-straightening tool. Be gentle so that the tubing embedded within the fins is not spoiled.
Clean Area around the Unit
Once finished with the cleaning, replace the fan cage. Collect debris outside the condenser and cut tree branches to ensure proper airflow around the unit. It’s good to cover the top of the unit with a piece of plywood or plastic to keep debris from falling in. However, don’t completely cover the unit’s sides, since moisture can build up inside and cause corrosion
Level the Unit
Gradually, the pad upon which the condenser unit sits may have the chance to tip as the debris or dirt settles beneath it. This cause the compressor to fail early. Check the condenser for level and use rot-resistant shims to bring it back to level. Service Experts’ Moody adds this exception: “If you have a heat pump system, it’s okay for the pad to be slightly sloped away from the home’s foundation to allow for defrost run-off during the winter.
Clean the Evaporator Coil
Now it’s time to move inside. On the inside blower/furnace unit, find the evaporator coil door. You may need to remove some foil duct tape and take out a few screws or bolts. Inside, use a soft brush to dust off the coil, then spray the coil with commercially available no-rinse coil cleaner. The spray will foam up and then drip into the drain pan. Clean out the drain pan with soap, hot water, and a little bleach.
If the bleach solution drains easily, skip the next step. If not, move on to the next step. Replace the evaporator coil door and use foil duct tape to re-seal, if necessary.
Change the blower Filter
The filter in your HVAC system should be changed at least twice a year – once just before the heating season begins and once before the cooling season begins. If you live in a particularly dusty area, you may want to change it more often. Always replace the filter with a new filter that has the same airflow rating.
You might be a novice in doing these practices or you may be not confident to carry out. The best way to proceed is to hand over the maintenance job to a professional HVAC maintenance team, they will provide the necessary maintenance to make the unit running perfectly in all seasons. In Kuwait, you can contact the foremost HVAC providers, Advanced Services to maintain your unit.