When you buy an aircon, do you consider its maintenance needs?
Usually, when people buy an AC for their home they may neglect to consider what maintenance it needs and use it for years on end without checking or cleaning it. They only check it when something goes wrong.
Unfortunately, at this stage, it’s been getting progressively worse for years, so that “little something wrong” requires a serious fix.
Here’s the upside, though: If you maintain your AC well, it’ll last longer and be less likely to break.
Common Issues with airconditioners
When it comes to performing routine maintenance, it’s helpful to know what issues you’re trying to avoid in the first place. Here’s a list of common issues that arise with air-cons:
- Refrigerant leaks
- Mould or fungus growth
- Frozen coil
- Faulty thermostats
- Dirty air filter
- Faulty compressor
- Electronic issues
- Block drainage pipes
Why should you perform routine maintenance on your AC?
Prevention is better than a cure, right? Reading your instruction manual on your AC will give you instructions on what to do if any of the above issues arise.
However, if you start noticing the issues developing above, then that’s a sign that your AC needs maintenance.
Maintaining your AC by doing small things like changing the air filter every few months or cleaning the coils will prevent severe damage from occurring further down the line and will ensure that your AC provides you with consistent performance.
Air Conditioner Maintenance Tips
Here are some of the best air conditioner maintenance tips that anyone with an AC should swear by:
Change your filters
As air passes through your AC, its filters catch all the dust, bacteria and dirt in the air. Over time, this build-up can cause mould or fungus to start growing on the filter. Considering that your AC blows air through this filter into your room that doesn’t really seem ideal. This is why you should check and change your filters regularly to ensure that the air you’re getting is clean.
Fix AC leaks
Pipes and vents get damaged or corrode over time; this can cause them to develop holes that either leak refrigerant or reduce your AC’s ability to pump air through it at its normal capacity.
Sometimes, these holes can go for a long time without being noticed, but if you do, we suggest trying to patch them up as soon as possible. For pipes, it might be better to just replace them. However, if you have a larger vent, you might need to replace the whole vent or at least just that section of ventilation.
Use a timer
A good way to keep your AC in the best condition is to reduce how often it is used by setting a timer for it to turn on.
When you set a timer, you can choose when you want the AC to turn on and how long it should operate before turning it off again. Many ACs have an auto function that allows them to sense when the room temperature is dropping and turn on to equalise it again.
Air cons that run consistently are at a great risk of breaking sooner.
Service your compressor or condenser
Giving your compressor or condenser a service every few months is also a sure way of keeping it operational and maintaining its performance. You’ll typically find your compressor or condenser outside; for example, a split wall-mounted AC will have it outside and attached to the wall parallel to the cooler on the inside. The first thing you want to do when servicing your compressor or condenser is to get any dirt or debris off of it. When the wind picks up, leaves, twigs, and dirt can all get lodged in these items, hindering their ability to function.
Keep Your AC Unit Cool
Try to keep your AC cool! Usually, the refrigerant in the AC should do a decent job of ensuring it doesn’t overheat while running. Still, if your AC is in direct sunlight and it’s a scorching hot day, it might not have enough coolant to remove the heat from your home and keep itself cool at the same time. As a result, it might not work as well as it should. So, try to keep it where it gets shade, ideally in an area where the sun rarely hits.
Give it a full annual service
Once a year, you might want to contact a professional technician to give your AC a full service. Things like air conditioning cleaning you can do yourself on a regular basis, but a trained professional will be able to inspect your AC for any worn parts that need to be replaced and give it an overall service to keep it running for the years to come.
Remember, prevention is better than the cure!
Well, in this case, at least.
Keeping your aircon well-maintained will ensure that it performs well and lasts you much longer than it would if left without maintenance.
Basic maintenance includes cleaning and replacing the filters, wiping down the coils, checking there’s enough refrigerant, and inspecting it for any worn parts. Stay on top of your maintenance, and you’ll get a good return on your investment!
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