The subject of maintaining air conditioners may sound as if it does not apply to you. If you have an air conditioner, and if you care how much it costs to run it or replace it, you may find this to be a subject of considerable importance. You may not be the one to do the maintenance, but someone will need to. Maintaining an air conditioner properly and regularly means lower power bills, increased efficiency of the unit, and longer life for the air conditioner itself.
While air conditioner repairs are best left to the professionals, there are a number of tasks the home handy-person can do in the way of air conditioner maintenance. You can do much with tools and cleaning supplies you already have. Clean and cleaning are key words here. The air conditioner needs plenty of air flow to function well, and dirt and debris can prevent that free circulation of air.
Here are some recommended projects and procedures that you can tackle yourself. But before we venture into procedures, a word of caution: Please do not attempt anything without proper safety considerations. Do not touch anything to which the power is not disconnected. If you do not know the name of the part, and what it does, it may be best to leave it alone. Now, on to the air conditioner maintenance projects.
Remember the key words, clean and cleaning. The part of your air conditioner that is outside your home can be cleaned by the home owner. You can rinse the housing and coils with a hose, being careful not to douse important electrical parts. You can clean and clear up around the outside unit. While it is good to have shade over and around the unit, there should be several feet of clear space around and over the air conditioner, to ensure good air circulation.
Especially after a long winter, when the air conditioner was not used, debris may have accumulated around and over the unit. This must be cleaned and removed. Shrubs and trees should be cut back to a distance of four feet or more. Any thing that has been placed too near the housing, perhaps bags of leaves from last fall, abandoned bicycles, or unused lawn furniture, should be removed and the space cleaned.
If you are up to accessing the coil fins, you may be willing to use a fin comb to straighten them. You can buy a fin comb online or at a supply store. This small hand tool works to straighten the soft aluminum fins and may greatly improve air conditioner function. If you do decide to try this, please be careful. The fins are soft and delicate, but they can also be sharp and serrated and may cause some pretty considerable knuckle damage if caution is not used.
Beyond clearing up around the outside housing, cleaning the coils and possibly applying the fin comb, there are some things you can do inside the home to get ready to run the cooling system. The number one important task for the home owner is the cleaning or replacement of the filter or filters. There are reusable filters. These can be cleaned and replaced. The disposable type need to be replaced regularly. It is the easiest way to save money and increase the life of the air conditioner.
As a part of your air conditioner maintenance plan, you should consider a visit from a professional heating and air conditioner service. A pro can test electrical and other functions that you may not be qualified to do. They can also inspect the duct and ventilation systems, to be sure that these are functioning well. After you have done your part in the regular air conditioner maintenance schedule by cleaning and clearing up, the professional will do the technical tests and apply their knowledge and experience to make sure that your air conditioner is ready to keep you cool and calm for another summer.