The Top Things You Can Do to Maintain and Prolong the Lifespan of Your Air Conditioner

Air conditioning units have become a much more common sight, even in the United Kingdom, as more businesses and residential properties make use of air conditioning. Air conditioning is undoubtedly great during the hot summer months, but you can make use of air conditioning at different times of the year as well, particularly if you want your indoor environment to be at a constant temperature all year round. There are now units which work as combination air conditioning and heating systems so you can make use of the same unit at different times and seasons. But air conditioning is an investment, and if you want your investment to last, it’s essential to maintain it. Here, then, are the top things you can do to maintain and prolong the lifespan of the air conditioner.

• Maintain the filters

The filters are the most essential components of any air conditioning unit, and it’s crucial for you to ensure that they are regularly cleaned or replaced. If the unit’s filters are blocked, airflow will be restricted, and your air conditioning system will be less efficient. Also, if the flow of air in the system is obstructed in any way, the air which goes through the filter might allow dirt to affect the evaporator coil, and this can impair the capacity of the unit’s coils to absorb heat. If you swap a clogged and dirty filter with a new, clean one, you can actually lower your unit’s consumption of energy by as much as 15%.

If you have a central air conditioning system, its filters are usually located along the length of the return duct. You can find filters along ceilings, walls, or furnaces, and sometimes they are in the unit itself. If you have a room air conditioner, you will often find the filter mounted right on the grille which faces the room.

Keep in mind, though, that some filters may be reusable. There are various types of filters, so find out which filters your unit or system has. If you can, try to clean the filters every two months when the air conditioner is working a lot. If your environment is dusty, you may need to clean (or replace) the filters more often.

• Maintain the coils

As the professionals in Surrey air conditioning from Sub-Cool FM will attest, your unit’s condenser and evaporator coils may also gather dirt over a period of time. The dirt can limit the air flow and it can also insulate the coil, inhibiting the coil’s ability to suck up the heat. To prevent this, you should check the coils each year and clean them when necessary. Here’s another thing: condenser coils located outdoors can also become quite dirty if the environment outdoors is dusty or has a lot of foliage. Check the coil to see if any dirt or foliage has collected in the fins. One thing you can do to minimise the debris and dirt on the outdoor part of the unit is to clean out or cut any foliage surrounding the unit.

• Maintain the drains

You can also do your part in maintaining the drains by passing a wire (make sure it is stiff and strong) through the drain channels of the unit. If the drain channels are clogged, this can affect the unit’s efficiency when it comes to decreasing humidity.

Image attributed to Pixabay.com

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