Monday, October 7, 2013

AC Maintenance Guide

By Kathy Weaver


Among the most important of all systems in a home would be heating and air conditioning unit. The reason you have such a system is for the purpose of making the interior of a home a lot more enjoyable to stay in, at least temperature wise, but routine maintenance is required for effectively ensuring such an outcome is achieved. When you maintain the system, you can help extend its life. Long before the system stops functioning, you will see the unit starting to fail and also require a lot more energy to keep the temperature in the home to remain comfortable. Many of these components that make up the system do require a lot of regular maintenance.

Indoor Coil and Filters

Anyone thinking about changing an air filter will likely be thinking most about air quality, but the modern air conditioner uses a filter for other purposes. The filter is intended (in part) to help protect the indoor coil and keep it clean to enhance good air flow. Once the cooling occurs, condensation forms on the coil and dirt just might be carried in the drain pan. A lot of buildup could clog the drain to the point an overflow occurs. The refrigerant running through the coil is necessary so the correct air flow is maintained. A filter or coil that is dirty will restrict air flow in the system and this can undermine the right level of heat transfer. In time, this can all get worse and the system ends up being an energy drain lacking efficiency. A huge amount of strain is placed on the fan motor and the compressor, which leads to a short lifespan on the AC.

Condenser Coils

A condenser coil can be found on the outdoor part of the system, and this is where the actual heat transfer is taking place. When the heat transfer is occurring properly it will keep the pressure of the refrigerant down so that the compressor isn't overworked, and your unit is operating as efficiently as possible. This coil lacks the filtering system present for the indoor coil and it is also exposed to the harsh elements, so a regular cleaning is important to keep your unit functioning properly.

Proper Lubrication

All machines will require lubrication so the moving parts do not wear down due to friction. A solid and experienced technician definitely does understand what parts of the system have to be lubricated via routine maintenance and he will also know what type of lubricant must be used

Electrical Connections

An AC unit houses a huge number of electrical components. As time goes on and the system has experienced a lot of use, the connections can become loose and worn, which contributes to head buildups. A unit might very well malfunction and this creates a major fire hazard. A great many will realize their system offers a high risk of failure during extreme temperature seasons so before those months arrive, a expert should be called in to look at electrical connections.

Refrigerant

All air Conditioning units contain some type of refrigerant. Having the proper level of refrigerant in the unit is important because levels that are too low or too high may damage the compressor. Having a technician check the refrigerant levels is a very important part of routine maintenance. Refrigerant does not just get used by the machine, so if your unit is low then there is a leak somewhere in the system.

Ducts

It would be critically imperative to ensure the duct-work is the right size for the system in the home. A host of problems will arise when a duct system is not in good order. No matter how good the equipment is, when ductwork is faltering, the home will not be heated or cooled correctly. The more time passes, the duct system ends up shifting and settling and that leads to gaps and leaks shall emerge in the duct-work. Once you take the steps to be sure the duct-work is inspected and cut down on wasted energy going into the attic.

As with all other machines, your cooling and heating system will eventually wear out. Preventive maintenance only goes so far and it cannot stop all breakdowns so you will eventually have to replace the unit. A proper maintenance can prolong the life of a system ensuring it runs effectively for as long as possible.




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