Taking care of your air conditioner before cooling season and between scheduled professional maintenance may sustain cooling performance, save money on energy costs, and provide the best returns on your investment. But the real savings comes from properly maintaining your system to minimize unexpected service calls and extend the life of your air conditioner!
Your air conditioner is an investment in home comfort. It provides a cool, comfortable environment for you and your family. Protecting that investment is essential and requires simple, periodic care! Luckily, there are a few basic, air conditioner maintenance tasks that you can tackle on your own between professional maintenance visits.
Below are some routine maintenance tips that you can do to help get the best performance possible from your air conditioner.1
AC Maintenance for Homeowners
You should always consult with your professional licensed HVAC contractor to determine the suggested AC maintenance tasks for your home's system.
Replace the Air Filter: A dirty filter blocks airflow. It can reduce a system's efficiency and performance significantly. Your HVAC air filters should be replaced per the manufacturer’s recommendation, but the schedule may also depend on where you live and how often your air conditioner operates. Your HVAC contractor can provide the proper filter replacement schedule for your AC equipment.
According to Energy.gov, changing out a clogged filter with a clean one can help lower your air conditioner's energy consumption by up to 15%.1 If the air condition portion of your energy bill equals $100, you may save an average of up to $15 per month just by replacing the dirty filters!
Inspect the Outside AC Equipment: Air circulation is essential for the outdoor condenser coil to run efficiently. Be sure to cut back foliage and remove any debris, fallen leaves, or grass trimmings that have collected around your outdoor unit. A reduction in airflow may make your air condition system work harder, reduce its performance, and can cost you money.
Examine Fins: The fins on your evaporator or condenser coils should be straight. Bent fins can reduce or block airflow, restricting the efficient operation of your cooling system. Bent fins can also lead to premature coil failure.2 If you see that unit’s fins are bent, contact your local HVAC professional contractor or technician.
Check Condensate Drains: A condensate drain line may be located near the outside unit. The drain is typically a small PVC pipe; however, some drain lines may be copper. If you see a consistent drip from your condensate drain on a hot day, it is most likely working properly. When condensate drains are clogged, the unit may not be able to properly reduce indoor humidity which can affect your indoor comfort and equipment performance.
Thermostat Batteries: Your thermostat or HVAC control system may be powered by batteries. You should replace the batteries as dictated by the “low battery” signal or when you routinely change out your fire/CO2 detector batteries. At a minimum, your thermostat or control system batteries should be replaced annually.2
Professional AC Maintenance
You have a big part to play in the maintenance of your air conditioner, however your equipment should always be professionally serviced prior to the cooling season. Professional or licensed HVAC dealers perform a more detailed check-up and are better equipped to identify airflow problems, system leaks, coil issues or potential failure concerns.
While each HVAC dealer has their own annual air conditioning maintenance process, professional services may likely include the following actions:
- Check for adequate air flow
- Look over condenser and evaporator coils
- Check refrigerant lines and inspect for leaks
- Clear drain lines and pans
- Check electrical connections
- Check operation of blower components
- Lubricate motors, bearings and other moving parts
- Inspect Exterior Fan
Your simple efforts, combined with professional HVAC maintenance, may help keep your air conditioning system operating at peak performance levels and help reduce energy costs.
By Jen (Anesi) Roby, the former Legislative Editor at ACHR NEWS magazine and current Chief Editor for Plumbing & Mechanical. The Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration (ACHR) NEWS is the HVACR contractor’s weekly news magazine and is the industry’s most trusted and utilized direct communications link to the HVACR buyer.www.achrnews.com