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HVAC Maintenance for Air Conditioners

Your home’s air conditioning system is a key component of keeping you feeling comfortable in your home and regulating quality air flow throughout during the hot seasons.

The benefits of annual preventive air conditioner maintenance checkups on your central air-conditioning system far outweigh the costs of repair service. With regular preventive maintenance checkups, you can expect increased energy efficiency and a reduction on the monthly cost. This will also allow the system to perform at its best.

Annual maintenance contracts provided by your AC company are great way to ensure preventative measures are being taken. However, sometimes issues come up in between those appointments. Although most central air conditioning repairs require a professional, there are some things you can do to troubleshoot and even correct your home’s air conditioning system.

  • If the system is running but not cooling, try lowering the thermostat settings by 5 degrees.
  • The system is running but air is not coming out of the vents. Check for a dirty filter and replace if necessary. A dirty filter can lead to ice forming on the evaporator coil, which will prevent airflow.
  • Inspect the condenser outside unit coils for dirt, debris and vegetation that can impede airflow to the compressor. If the compressor cannot breath, it could overheat and shut down.

Some preventative HVAC maintenance tips that homeowners can do are listed below.

Change Out HVAC Filters Regularly

Changing out your air filters regularly is one of the simplest and most important steps you can take to maintaining your HVAC system. Dust, dirt and other debris are collected on the filter as air passes through the intake and into the system. However, if not changed regularly (every 1-2 months), the filter will become dirty and clogged resulting in gradually reducing the filter’s airflow until it eventually becomes so clogged it is detrimental to the system. When this happens, your HVAC system and related equipment must work harder to circulate the conditioned air. The additional strain can lead to premature equipment failure, as well as costly repairs. In addition, the system will also use more energy, which will increase your monthly utility bill.

Keep Air Returns and Registers Clean

This task is also an easy preventative step you, as a homeowner, can take. Dirty air returns and registers can introduce dust, dirt, contaminated particles and other debris into your HVAC system. As a result, your filter and/or coil can become clogged and experience reduced airflow, resulting in an inefficient performance of your system. Periodically (every 1-2 months) clean all air returns and registers to reduce the amount of dust build up from entering your HVAC system.

Clearing the Exterior HVAC Components

HVAC systems that utilize an outside component, such as a condensing compressor unit should be inspected periodically (every 1-2 months) to ensure that the unit is not obstructed. You will want to prevent grass, weeds and other foliage from blocking the airflow to the unit. Restricted airflow causes additional strain on the system, which can lead to reduced energy efficiency and costly repairs due to excessive wear and tear. In addition, dirt, debris, and leaves can build up around the exterior condensing coil and also reduce airflow. You can address this problem by gently rinsing the exterior condensing coil with a garden hose.

Keeping Your Home Airtight

You will want to make sure there are no leaks in your home that let the conditioned air outside. This is a vital component to HVAC efficiency. Many utility companies offer free or reduced home energy audits that gauge your home’s energy efficiency. The energy audits are a useful service that can identify areas of your home that may need to be addressed and resealed. These could include inadequate insulation, leaking windows and doors or cracks and crevices in exterior walls that allow conditioned air to escape. 

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