Protect and Clean Your Air Conditioner

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Protect and Clean Your Air Conditioner

Your air conditioner unit provides you comfort especially during the warmer months. It is important that you know how to properly maintain and clean it so your comfort – as well as your family’s – will not be compromised. An air conditioner’s coils, filters, and fins all require regular maintenance for the unit to function efficiently and effectively. Neglecting proper maintenance ensures a steady decline in air conditioning function while energy use increases.

Here are some tips on how you can better take care of your AC unit:

AIR CONDITIONER FILTERS

The most important maintenance task that helps ensures the efficiency of an air conditioner is to routinely clean or replace its filters. Clogged, dirty filters block normal airflow and reduce the system’s efficiency significantly. When normal airflow is obstructed, the air that bypasses the filter can carry dirt directly into the evaporator coil and this might impair the coil’s heat-absorbing capacity. Replacing filters with a clean one can lower your air conditioner’s energy consumption by at least 5% to 15%, according to an Energy Saver article.

There are air filters that are reusable, and there are also some that need to be replaced. There is a variety of types and efficiencies. Filters need more frequent attention if you constantly use it, is subjected to dusty conditions, or if you have furry pets inside the house.

AIR CONDITIONER COILS

The air conditioner’s condenser and evaporator coils tend to collect dirt over months and years. A clean filter prevents the evaporator coil from soiling quickly but in time, the evaporator coil will still collect dirt. This collected dirt reduces airflow and insulates the coil, reducing its heat absorption ability. In order to avoid this problem, you should check your evaporator coil once a year and clean it as necessary. Outdoor condenser coils also become dirty especially if the outdoor environment is dusty or if there is any foliage nearby. Seeing the condenser coil is easy, so you can notice if dirt is collecting on its fins.

Dirt and debris near the condenser unit should be minimized. Keep in mind that dryer vents, lawn mower, and falling leaves are all potential sources of dirt and debris.

COIL FINS

The aluminum fins on condenser and evaporator coils are easily bent and they can block airflow through the coil. There is a tool called a “fin comb” that help comb these fins back into their nearly original condition.

If you want to know more about how you can protect and clean your air conditioner unit, give us a call at 1.844.894.6832. Our licensed experts will be more than happy to assist you.