13 Effective Tips for Air Conditioner Maintenance

June 17, 2021August 12, 2023 Abigail

To keep our home comfortable and cool, we mostly depend on the air conditioning system. However, to ensure it runs efficiently in the long term, you have to repair and maintain it frequently. So, what are the best air conditioner maintenance practices? Just like any other home appliance, your air conditioner will also experience some tear and wear at some point due to regular use. In addition to that, it will also develop different types of mechanical problems.

You need to pay attention to its service and maintenance needs to run it smoothly. It will prevent sudden breakdowns which can leave you fuming and sweaty!

This article will provide you with information about air conditioner maintenance methods, how to deal with your AC short cycling, and which are the things you should leave to experts.

Page Contents

1. Check Your Air Conditioner Frequently for Maintenance

If you recently shifted from a home where you mostly used window-mounted air conditioners or fans and are planning to install an A/C, you may not have enough knowledge about it. Do not worry. We are here to help you.

Ideally, you must have your air-conditioning units maintained every six months. It should coincide with the changing season, so your AC can work at its best during the hottest and the coldest seasons. This practice is essential because finding someone to fix your unit when it breaks down at these unfortunate times may be difficult.

Plus, for it to break down, say, on a frigid winter night can also be very dangerous. And for the unit to malfunction at the hottest point of the summer may have detrimental results. You’re either exposed to hypothermia or may suffer from heatstroke.

2. Filters of the Air Conditioner

To ensure the efficiency of your air conditioner, the most important task is to routinely clean or replace the filters. Dirty and clogged filters reduce the system’s efficiency and block continuous airflow. When the normal airflow interrupts, it decreases the coil’s heat-absorbing capacity, and the filter starts to pull dirt directly into the evaporator coil. When you replace a clogged, dirty filter with a clean one, it may save your air conditioner’s energy consumption by approximately 15%.

Aside from saving on energy consumption, replacing worn-out filters can improve the air quality of your home. Thus, you can keep your family healthy, away from respiratory illnesses and harsh skin conditions brought by contaminants circulated by an aircon with worn-out and dirty filters.

Usually, filters are adjusted with furnaces, ceilings, walls, or in the air conditioner itself. Filters of the room air conditioners are mostly mounted in the grill, which faces directly to the room.

Some of the filters are reusable while others must be replaced occasionally. You should clean or replace the filters monthly or at least once after every two months. However, if you have any fur-bearing pets or your house is subjected to dusty conditions, replace the filters more frequently.

3. Air Conditioner Coils

The main job of the air conditioner’s evaporator coil is to collect dirt during its entire service period. If a filter remains clean, it will slow the soiling process of the evaporator coil. However, if you use it regularly, the evaporator coil will become dirty. You have to clean the coil at least once a year.

Furthermore, you have to clean the outdoor condenser coils more often as they stay in the outdoor environment and catch dust very easily. However, you should try to keep away debris and dirt from the condenser unit.

The potential sources of debris and dirt are falling leaves, dryer vents, and lawnmowers. To create adequate airflow around the condenser, you should remove debris, clean the area around the coil, and remove the foliage in at least the 2 feet or 0.6 meters area.

4. Usage Advice

Homeowners should use the A/C more carefully. To ensure longevity, avoid using it 24/7 or continuously. Switch off in between uses at least for a short while. Also, ensure that the area where the unit is doesn’t have wide gaps and open spaces. Gaps like wide door gaps and window slats may cause the unit to run twice as much, resulting in inefficient consumption.

5. Coil Fins

The aluminum fins on the condenser and evaporator coils are flexible which can wodge airflow through them. If you want to keep the fin fine, you need to comb them frequently with a “fin comb”.

6. Moist Drains

Clogged drain channels block a unit from minimizing humidity, and the surplus moisture can discolor both carpet and walls of your house. To avoid such problems, you can pass a hardwire through the unit’s drain channels.

7. Check The Seals Before Every Cooling Season

At the beginning of each cooling season, check the seal between the window frame and the air conditioner to confirm it is connected to the unit’s metal case.

8. Preparations For The Cold Weather

Before the winter starts, either remove or cover your room air conditioner and put it away. If you do so, it will remain safe from both debris and cold weather.

9. Necessity For Professional Help

You should call a professional technician when your A/C requires more than regular maintenance. The professional will identify and solve the problem immediately. Aircon technicians usually offer a free consultation, so they can assess what your unit will require. You should be able to take advantage of this professional assessment so your unit would be in good

10. Gas Leakage

Air Conditioners cannot work properly without gas. Basically, the A/C absorbs the outside air, cools the air, and then spread it eventually. So, call a professional as soon as your air conditioner runs out of gas due to leakage. Using it without gas refills can affect the entire system dangerously.

11. Inspect Wires Frequently

The wires of your air conditioner can get damaged or twisted up due to voltage fluctuation or various power-related issues. It can even lead to power failure. If you overlook such issues, they may result in severe short circuits. So, you should seek professional help to deal with those problems.

12. Motor Corrosion

The motor of the air conditioner can collapse due to humidity. As a result, strange noises can come from the system. Such problems can be solved by professionals.

13. When to Replace an Old AC?

Like other types of machinery, your A/C will also collapse one day. You cannot avoid such a thing with any repair or replacement. If the system is damaged entirely and cannot perform anymore, you have to buy a new one. Let’s not stretch anymore and discuss the signs when you have to replace your old air conditioner-

Monitor the performance of your system
Identify and learn properly about each part of the system
Call a professional technician if the A/C is unable to work properly for more than 4 months

Air conditioner maintenance is something you should not take lightly. Preventive measures and regular maintenance are always better than sudden breakdowns.