Proper care and maintenance of your air conditioner (AC) help keep the appliance in good shape. This means your AC is more likely to cool your home or office efficiently, even in the summer months when it will be working harder than usual.
That said, many ACs develop issues during the summer. For instance, the unit might not sufficiently cool an entire house or work area. Also, the system could shut down unexpectedly or not turn on when it should.
Unless you’re an expert handyman, refrain from troubleshooting your AC as it may do more harm than good. Instead, hire professional AC repair services to restore your system if you encounter such issues.
But if you’ve gained sufficient experience doing AC preventive maintenance, you may undertake some minor repairs. Here are some tips that could help during the hot season:
1. Clean or Change the Air Filters More Often
A common problem many AC owners experience in summer is clogged air filters. Since the system works harder, the air filters will get dirtier faster than usual. This issue could keep your AC from cooling your house or office sufficiently.
Also, this concern can overwork your system, possibly causing AC failure and leading to high energy bills in your home or workplace.
Besides, the air from an AC with dirty filters is usually contaminated with bacteria, mold, dust, pollen, and other pollutants. These can cause health complications such as fatigue, allergic reactions, headaches, airborne illnesses, and flu-like symptoms that don’t seem to improve.
Changing or cleaning your AC air filters every one to three months is usually advisable. However, it might be best to do so more frequently during summer to avoid the concerns mentioned above. If you have a busy schedule, hire an AC technician to inspect and clean or replace your air filters.
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2. Clean The Condenser Coils Regularly
Condenser coils in your AC facilitate the heat transfer process. Simply put, they help ensure that the warm air absorbed by your unit is removed from the house and taken outdoors. In summer, condenser coils might get clogged more often than expected.
Since they’re found in the outdoor section of your AC, they’ll get dirtier than usual because there’s more dust, dirt, grass, leaves, foliage, and debris outside in summer.
If your AC isn’t cooling your home or office sufficiently in scorching weather, the condenser coils may be clogged. This could overwork the unit and increase your electricity bill as a result. It’s best to inspect the condenser coils in your AC more frequently during summer to prevent such issues.
If you notice they’re dirty, clean them immediately to prevent dust, pollen, debris, and other unwanted materials from building up.
If you’ve never done this before, consider hiring a professional for the job to avoid damaging delicate components, such as the condenser coil fins. However, if you’ve cleaned the coils several times before, a do-it-yourself (DIY) cleaning will save you some cash on the cost of hiring an expert.
Besides cleaning the condenser coil more often during summer, you should also take care of the area where your outdoor AC component is located. Always ensure that the foliage around the unit is at least two to three feet away to allow proper airflow.
3. Unclog The Drain More Frequently
Besides cooling, your AC also dehumidifies your space. The moisture eliminated from the warm air going into the AC goes through a drain hose or tubing, which can collect more water during the summer. The dust, dirt, pollen, and other contaminants missed by the air filters will also go through the same drain line.
If you don’t check the tubing regularly during the summertime, moisture and unwanted substances might clog your drain. Consequently, your AC might not turn on, or it could shut down unexpectedly. In addition, the system won’t be able to cool your space sufficiently.
Not only that, the area around your indoor AC unit will seem to have water damage, and there’ll be an unpleasant smell coming from your system.
So, check the drain line routinely during the summer months and call an expert in AC repair if you notice a buildup of moisture, dust, dirt, and other unwanted substances. They’ll clear it and leave your unit working efficiently.
It’s also advisable to hire an AC technician to do regular check-ups. This way, minor issues are promptly addressed before they become serious problems requiring costly repairs. This will also help ensure your system runs efficiently for longer, even past the summer months.
Conclusion
Your AC is an essential appliance during the summer months. Unfortunately, many home and business owners experience AC breakdowns or malfunctioning at this time.
As with any appliance, proper maintenance and repair are essential. So, apply the repair tips discussed above to keep your AC unit in peak working condition all year round, especially when it’s unbearably hot.
