Air Conditioning Maintenance You Aren't Doing But Should

7 August 2019
Categories: , Blog

Home maintenance can become quite a chore. By the time you get done cleaning and making your exterior look appealing, a lot of the home maintenance chores go to the wayside, but they shouldn't. Skipping out on home maintenance can cost you quite a bit in the end in repair or replacement costs. One particular maintenance chore you should be paying closer attention to is maintaining your air conditioner. If your air conditioner isn't being maintained it can cause breakdowns and leave you hot under the collar. Read on for a few air conditioning maintenance tasks you most likely aren't doing, but should.

Spraying Down Your Unit

You should be spraying down your unit at least once per month to get rid of debris that could be clogging the fins on your system. Debris like cottonwood seeds, grass clippings, and dust can all build up and leave a thick layer on your fins if you aren't spraying down your unit enough. When this occurs, air is not getting to your unit properly and it will then run sluggishly, or breakdown altogether. Spray the unit down with the garden hose at least once per month. Be sure to mow away from the unit to prevent blowing grass clippings into the unit.

Changing Your Air Filter

You should also be remembering to change the air filter at least once per month. The air filter will also help bring air to your system and help with circulation. If it isn't getting enough air because of a clogged air filter, the system can shut down altogether. Swap out the air filter and replace it with a brand new one. Don't attempt to clean the old filter - they should be replaced, not reused. New filters can be found at your local HVAC supply store or at any hardware store.

Vacuuming Your Air Vents

Vacuum the air vents around your home to remove debris. The debris can build up and block the flow of air to each room in your home, which can leave your home with hot spots. When this happens, your air conditioner will run in an attempt to cool these areas down. The endless cycle can result in higher energy bills. Open the vents and vacuum the vents and also vacuum the inside portion of the vent as well. Reach in as far as you can with the vacuum attachment.

If you aren't performing these air conditioning maintenance tasks, you need to start. Make a list and get started before you end up with a breakdown on your hands. Call a professional HVAC maintenance technician to help with these and other tasks.

About Me

I almost always have my air conditioner inspected every spring before I start using it in the summer. However, last year I decided to skip the inspection. Everything had been OK for the last couple of years, so I assumed that it would be fine this year as well. Why not save a few dollars and skip the annual check up, just this once? Of course, this was the year that my air conditioner decided to break down. It ran for a few days, but it never really seemed to get cool enough to bring the indoor temperature down. Then it started making a loud noise, right before shutting off completely. By that time, the AC repair company was swamped like it always is when the weather is warm, and I had to wait days for an appointment. Next year, I will definitely be getting that yearly inspection first.