Routine care of your air conditioner is critical whether it is an older unit or a new, high efficiency model.

Keeping your system properly maintained will lower energy and repair costs, prevent breakdowns and prolong the life of your equipment. Some maintenance jobs should be left to the professionals, but there is much that you, as a homeowner, can do to prolong the life of your equipment, keeping it running at peak efficiency.

Maintenance by the Homeowner

A dirty coil is a frequent source of potential energy waste. Be sure to inspect your filter every month, changing or cleaning it when necessary. If you use a disposable type filter, it's always wise to keep several spares inside the house.

Outside dirt, leaves, grass and other debris clog the coils, straining the system. Once a month, inspect the outdoor unit to insure that nothing is obstructing the airflow across the coil. Remember, before you do any work on your condenser unit to turn off the power at the disconnect switch mounted on the wall near the unit. If you don't have a disconnect switch, turn off the breaker. If you find that your unit is becoming dirty you can follow the procedure below.

After disconnecting the power, open the unit by undoing the screws on the top panel and tipping it up. Now, you can remove debris from the enclosure. Next, remove the side panels of your unit to clean the outside of the coil using a commercial coil cleaner or a soft -bristle paintbrush to clean the fin tubes. Brush gently, with a vertical motion along the line of the fins. Be careful, as they are very thin and delicate. They can also be very sharp. Check for damage to the fins. If any of these fins are smashed, you can purchase an inexpensive set of fin combs. From this set of combs select one that fits the spacing on your coil, carefully insert the teeth, and comb through the damaged area.

Next, check to be sure your compressor unit is level. An unleveled unit will be nosier, less efficient, and cause excessive wear. Check the level in both directions, making adjustments if necessary. Be careful how much you move the unit. It has rigid connections to the electrical and refrigerant lines. Too much (and it doesn't take much) movement could cause a refrigerant leak to occur.

Be careful when using lawn mowers and trimmers around your condensing unit. Flying debris can damage the coil and fins.

Finally, check the condensate line for a bacterial slime that tends to grow in condensed water. The condensate line is the drain that removes water that has condensed from your indoor coil. Pour a 1:9 bleach-and-water solution through the line. Find the fitting for the hose, pull it out, and flush the line all the way to the floor drain. If the drain is difficult to reach, you may be wiser to call your HVAC contractor to do the job.

Maintenance by a Qualified Professional

In addition to the regular maintenance that you perform on your own system, it is also a good idea to have a qualified professional perform routine checks and service each spring and fall. Many contractors offer Maintenance Agreements to help extend the life, safety and efficiency of your heating and cooling system. Most service agreements provide for at least two yearly visits by one of their service technicians who will go through your system with a checklist.

During your annual spring maintenance and safety check, a qualified technician will check operating pressures, voltage and amperage on the compressor and motor, refrigerant charge, contactor points, capacitors, belts/tension, filter condition, the crankcase heater, tighten all electrical connections, clean and adjust the thermostat, clean the condenser and evaporator coils, and lubricate all moving parts.

During your annual fall check, your technician should look at the burner and pilot assembles, check the heat exchanger for cracks, look at the pilot thermocouple, examine the filter, check vent piping, test gas piping for leaks, test the electronic ignition, test the fan, adjust the burner for efficiency, test the limit switch, measure the manifold gas pressure, measure the temperature rise, check for carbon monoxide, set the heat anticipator, check belt/tension, examine the draft diverter, and lubricate the fan motor.

Keep in mind, that just like your car, your air conditioning and heating system needs regular care and maintenance. And just like having a good mechanic for your car, you should have a good HVAC technician for your air conditioning and heating systems. Give us a call.