Air Conditioning Maintenance Guide

Maintenance of Your Air Conditioner

At some point in life, you will need to have your air conditioner repaired or replaced. You can put this off for a little while, at least, if you do some common yearly maintenance. Regular maintenance can help your air conditioner run longer.

Most major appliances need maintenance from time to time. If you take care of your air conditioners as you should, they will keep you cool all summer long. If you do not, you might have issues at the hottest point of the summer.

This article will help you to learn some of the things that you need to do to keep your air conditioner in good repair. It will give you some maintenance tips that you can do on your own or call a professional to help you with. You can also do some research to find more hints and maintenance tips.

Maintenance Tips for You

1. Conditioner Works Procedure – You should learn the basics of how your air conditioner works. There is an outside unit that is near your home that is called a condenser. There is another inside unit that is usually kept close to your furnace that is called the evaporator. These two units work together to provide you with cool air for your home. 

2. Fix Fins in Your Condenser – You can use a butter knife to gently move your condenser fins back into place. Do not stick the knife in more than half an inch to prevent any damage to the condenser. This will help the air pass through the condenser better – it helps with airflow. 

3. Keep it Clean – You need to make sure that you keep your condenser clean to keep it running during the hottest parts of the summer. You can start by taking a vacuum with a soft brush to sweep it clean. See here to see how you should clean your condenser: https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/clean-air-conditioning-condenser/.

You must be careful doing this because you do not want to damage the fins. Some units have a metal cage around the fins, so you will need to carefully remove it first. You do not want to break anything so be extra careful.

4. Fix Sinking Pads – Your condenser is usually put on a concrete pad that will sometimes settle through the years. You will need to be on the lookout for that as you maintain it. If none of the lines are being pulled tight, you will probably be ok. If the lines are being pulled tight, it is time to have that sinking pad fixed. 

5. Programmable Thermostat – If you have a programmable thermostat, you can monitor your temperature more closely. You can also program the thermostat to warmer temperatures when you are not home and cooler temperatures when you are at home. This will save some wear and tear on your air conditioner and will save you some money in the long run. 

6. Add an Inline Duct Booster – If you have forced air, and you are still not getting cool enough, you might need to add a duct or vent booster. These items can blow the air further and keep you cooler. There is one that fits into your vents to blow the air and another that fits on the outside. Using them will help you to stay cooler in your home. 

7. Quiet a Noisy Unit – If you have a newer condenser, the noise that you hear is probably coming from your compressor. There is an item called a sound blanket that you can place over your compressor that will quiet the sound. If your compressor is very old, this trick will not help you. 

8. Clean the Condensate Tube – All air conditioners have condensation that runs from them. If you see water puddling around your furnace when your air conditioner is running, you probably have a clogged drain tube. You will need to clean this tube by using a soft-bristled toothbrush in the tube. You will also need to clean the puddle because it contains slime and bacteria. 

9. Warm Season Checklist – Before you begin to use your AC in the summer, you might want to check things out. You can use a checklist to make sure that you see that everything is working well. See here for a form of checklist that you could use. If you see something that needs to be fixed, call a professional to help you. 

10. Replace Your Filter – You will need to replace your filter at the beginning of every season. It is easy to do, just check the old filter to see what size you will need. They are available at most home improvement stores and big box stores. 

11. Consider a Whole House Fan – A whole house fan can be turned on for those days that are hotter than others. It will help you to keep your home comfortable and help your AC to not work as hard. This can save wear and tear on your AC and save you some money, too. 

12. Control Heat Through Your Windows – Make sure that all your windows are closed before you turn on your AC. You also need to make sure that you have your curtains drawn, especially on the sunny side of your home. If you do these things, your home will stay cooler on those hot days. 

Conclusion

You need to maintain your AC to make sure that you stay cool during the hot days of summer. Most of these maintenance tips can be done on your own, without having to call a professional. If you feel that anything is out of your control, call a professional that can help you.