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Home::Home Accessories
Caring For Your Air Conditioner
Author : Donald Munn
When it comes to getting the most from your air conditioner
there are some things you can do that will extend its life and
keep it operating at maximum efficiency. All of these things
fall under the category of maintenance. Much of this maintenance
you can do yourself. Some will require hiring a contractor.
1) First on the list are filters. The filter in your air
conditioner is very important and should be changed every three
to six months, depending on how fast it becomes dirty.
There is nothing wrong with changing the filter too often but
not changing it often enough can cost you in many ways.
- Ice build up - This happens from low airflow through the
evaporator coil. If the ice build up is severe enough it can
damage the evaporator coil.
- Poor equipment performance - A dirty filter will decrease the
efficiency of the air conditioning unit and increase operating
costs by as much as 20% or more.
- Increased wear on the compressor - This is because it has to
run for longer periods of time to do its job. More run time
equals shorter life span. Compressor changes are very expensive.
2) Check the evaporator coil located inside the air handler
(section inside your home) once a year to make sure there is no
dust build up on the coil surface. This condition causes the
same symptoms as a dirty filter.
3) At the beginning of each cooling season it is a good idea to
check the outside section of the air conditioner (condensing
unit). Check around the unit and make sure there is no debris on
the surface of the condenser that will restrict airflow. Also
check between the fins of the condenser to see that it is not
plugged with dead bugs or pollen. This stuff usually accumulates
over time and depending on where you live may not be a problem.
Spraying the condenser with a garden hose is usually enough to
remove this debris.
4) Check the belt in the air handler and replace as required.
Many air conditioners made today use direct drive motors and
therefore only require that the motor bearings be oiled once per
year.
5) It is also important to check contactors and all electrical
components. Most of these will be located inside the condensing
unit. The contactor operates the compressor and the contacts get
pitted and need to be replaced occasionally. Different
manufacturers use different types of contactors. Some last much
longer than others. Check all electrical connections for
tightness and make sure no wires are rubbing against metal
surfaces.
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