QA

Quick Answer: How To Maintain Central Air Conditioner

What maintenance does an air conditioner need?

Air Conditioner Filters The most important maintenance task that will ensure the efficiency of your air conditioner is to routinely replace or clean its filters. Clogged, dirty filters reduce the amount of airflow and significantly reduce a system’s efficiency.

How often should I have my central air conditioner serviced?

How Often Is AC Service Needed? Though there can be a bit of wiggle room, generally speaking, you should have your air conditioner serviced twice yearly: once in the fall and once in the spring. This is to ensure that it’s clean, that its parts are in good shape and that it’s operating as optimally as possible.

Is it necessary to service AC every year?

It’s recommended that you service your home air conditioning system at least once every year. While it’s always a good idea to do some regular check-ins and cleaning throughout the year to make sure your system is running smoothly, a once-annual air conditioner service appointment is always essential.

Is it OK to spray water on your air conditioner?

Spraying water on your air conditioner can help it run more efficiently if you remove enough dust, dirt and debris to help improve airflow and prevent it from overheating. It’s certainly not going to damage your AC unit to do so. It’s a good idea to spray off the condenser coils in particular a couple times a year.

What happens if AC is not serviced?

When homeowners question what happens if they don’t have their air conditioners serviced regularly, the first thing they need to know is that their power bills will rise. However, if the AC unit is not well maintained, will have to work harder to achieve the same cooling results, ending up in higher energy costs.

How long do AC units typically last?

Modern air conditioners can last between 15-20 years, and older air conditioners last around 10-12 years. The health and efficiency of your A/C depends on a number of factors, including whether or not you properly maintained the unit throughout its lifetime.

Is it necessary to clean AC outdoor unit?

Outdoor units take a lot of dust, dirt and different debris, so that is why it is always a better idea to start cleaning from the outside. Duct cleaning is also important because it increases the efficiency of the air conditioner.

What does an aircon service include?

Now let’s look at how to service split system aircon. Clean and deodorize filters on the inside unit, possibly replace them. Check the thermostats. Clean the coils. How to service a split system air conditioner includes checking the evaporator drain and the drain valve.

How often should you clean your outside AC unit?

How Often Should You Clean the Outside Unit of AC System? For most homeowners twice yearly is sufficient, once before the summer season sets in and you’ll be cooling your home, and once during fall before cold temperatures set in and it’s time to switch to heat mode.

Does cleaning AC coils really help?

Surprisingly, we found that dirty air conditioner condensers often perform better than clean ones. The change in condenser coil heat transfer performance ranged from a 7 percent increase to a 7 percent decrease for the coils we tested. Most of the condenser coils we tested in the lab were cleaner than both of those.

How do I clean the coils on my central air conditioner?

Start by using a soft brush to clear away dust and buildup. For removing finer pieces of debris, use a soft cloth to wipe it clean. Use a can of compressed air or an air compressor if there are stubborn particles, or if you simply want to ensure a thorough cleaning.

What are common problems with air conditioners?

10 Most Common AC Problems You Could Face AC Running Constantly. AC Not Turning On. No Cool Air Flowing. Hot Air Blowing Out. Refrigerant or Water Leaking. Unit Turning On and Off Repeatedly. Condenser Coil Freezing. Air Conditioner Tripping Circuit Breaker Repeatedly.

What temperature should I set my AC to cool?

Start by setting your thermostat higher than normal when you are away, and at 78 degrees when you are home. That is the Department of Energy’s recommended setting when you need cooling, but want to save energy.

How long before I can turn on AC after coil cleaning?

Time to Turn on Your A/C The air coming out of the top of the unit should feel warm, as warm air is being removed from your home by the system. Step 3: Let the system run for 10 – 15 minutes or more, until you can feel the indoor temperature cooling off in all parts of the home.

Can I clean my AC unit with a hose?

Use the water hose spray to clean off loose debris (grass, leaves, etc) on the outside unit. Spray the outside unit with the coil cleaner. Wait 10-15 minutes as the cleaner foams and bonds with the dirt on the coils. Rinse the coil cleaner off with the hose.

How do you clean outside AC condenser coils?

Here’s the right way to clean an outdoor coil Turn off power to the unit. Check the refrigerant pressure. Remove the outer casing. Rinse the coil down with water. Spray the coil with cleaning chemicals. Re-rinse the coil with water. Remove all debris from inside the outdoor unit. Check the refrigerant pressure again.