Maintaining your air conditioner is essential to keep it running smoothly and efficiently. Cleaning or replacing the filter or filters in your air conditioning system every one to two months during the cooling season is a must. If the air conditioner is used constantly, is exposed to dusty conditions, or if you have furry pets in the house, filters may need more frequent care. A full inspection of your air conditioning units should be carried out by a licensed professional.
This involves cleaning and rinsing the condenser coils, emptying the tray (if the air conditioning unit has one) and the drain system, vacuuming the fan compartments, and checking the refrigerant and mechanical parts. During the winter, you should remove old grass, weeds, and leaves that accumulate near the air conditioner and avoid gardening within a couple of feet of the unit. For central air conditioning, look for the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER); for window units, the measure is simply called the energy efficiency ratio or EER. Consider running the air conditioner along with floor or ceiling fans to circulate the cooled air more effectively. The air compressor and condenser in a central air conditioning system are usually outside the house, close to the foundation.
Look for the minimum filter efficiency value, or MERV, which ranges from 1 to 12 for domestic air conditioning units; the higher the number, the better the filtration (and the more energy it will take to extract air through it, so balance air quality issues with energy costs). The cold coil absorbs heat from the air and cools it before the air circulates back to your home. Dr. Kirby, who is also the deputy director of the North Carolina State Extension, states that a properly functioning air conditioner removes excess moisture from the air and keeps occupants comfortable. For John Lyzenga, manager of air conditioning services at Milestone, it's about having a mentality of “working smarter, not with more effort”.
In order to keep your AC unit in top shape, there are certain maintenance tasks that should be done regularly. These include cleaning or replacing filters every one to two months during cooling season; removing old grass, weeds and leaves that accumulate near AC unit; looking for minimum filter efficiency value (MERV); running AC along with floor or ceiling fans; using aluminum tape to seal small gaps and duct putty in larger ones; placing foam between device and window frame; and avoiding gardening within a couple of feet of unit. Unless you're going on vacation, don't turn off the system; otherwise, the air compressor will have to work harder to cool the house later on. Additionally, there are maintenance tasks that only a trained HVAC technician can perform such as checking refrigerant levels. Without proper maintenance, an AC unit could suffer a premature failure leading to its repair or replacement. Moisture from the air condenses on the cold surface of the evaporator coil in the form of liquid water which drips onto a tray below.
Dirty air conditioners or systems that don't work properly can cause microorganisms such as mold to grow which can aggravate allergies and asthma. To ensure your air conditioner runs efficiently and smoothly all year round, it's important to follow these simple maintenance tips: clean or replace filters every one to two months during cooling season; remove old grass, weeds and leaves that accumulate near AC unit; look for minimum filter efficiency value (MERV); run AC along with floor or ceiling fans; use aluminum tape to seal small gaps and duct putty in larger ones; place foam between device and window frame; avoid gardening within a couple of feet of unit; don't turn off system unless going on vacation; check refrigerant levels regularly; and inspect AC units by a licensed professional.
