Top Tips on Maintaining Your Air Conditioning You’ll REALLY Appreciate

Written by:

Mohammad Bakshayesh

Senior Engineer, Barnet Climate Control

It’s easy to forget about your air conditioning system until the summer months come around and the temperatures start to soar, and then you remember why it’s so important and you can’t do without it.

This is why maintaining your AC is so important, and preparing it for use in advance of that warmer weather is a must. With this in mind, the helpful experts here at Barnet Climate Control have put together some useful advice on how to maintain your AC unit to help you get the most out of it and ensure you can keep your cool this summer.

The importance of maintaining your AC on a regular basis

Regular air conditioning maintenance is beneficial in numerous ways. As well as keeping your living or working environment cool and your indoor air quality at healthy levels, a well maintained system will use less energy and therefore cost less to run, because it is operating at maximum efficiency. It will also be less likely to break down and require an emergency repair. What’s more, maintaining your AC system will increase its lifespan.

Some air conditioning maintenance tasks are simple and can be carried out safely by users themselves. For the purpose of this guide, we’ll look at the more straightforward tasks that you can take care of yourself. 

However, if you feel uncomfortable or unsure of anything, or you have a problem with your air conditioning that may indicate a more complex issue, such as with the internal workings or electrics, then we advise you call in a professionally qualified engineer.

Cleaning or replacing the air filter

One of the most crucial jobs of an air conditioning unit is to filter out airborne particulates that can cause respiratory health problems. This is why one of the most important tasks in terms of maintaining your AC system has to be keeping the air filter clean, and replacing it when necessary.

If your air conditioning system is fitted with a reusable filter, then you can clean it. To do this, switch the system off, remove the filter and brush or lightly vacuum it to remove the bulk of the dust. After this, you can wash the filter with warm water and a mild detergent. Rinse well, then dry thoroughly before returning the filter to the unit. Never run the air conditioning without the filter installed.

For systems that use disposable filters, these should be replaced following the manufacturer’s instructions every 45-90 days, depending on the nature of the environment and amount of use the A/C unit gets.

When the air conditioning is in use, you should clean or replace the filters every 1-2 months. If the unit is in continuous use, or situated in a particularly dusty environment, then you may need to increase the frequency.

A clogged air conditioning filter will increase the amount of energy required to cool the property, resulting in higher energy costs. It will also put unnecessary strain on the system’s components, as well as reduce efficiency in terms of filtering out airborne pollutants.

Checking and cleaning the condenser fan

The condenser fan has a very important job to do in transferring heat from the air conditioning system into the outdoor air, preventing the compressor from overheating. A poorly functioning fan will not only fail to produce cold air, but could also lead to overheating, which could damage the entire system.

If the fan’s blades are dirty or in any way chipped or cracked, then the fan won’t function properly. Reduced cooling power or rattling noises are signs that the fan isn’t operating as it should. The fan may not turn around at all, or may continue turning when the system is switched off.

With the condenser unit located outside and exposed to the elements, it is not uncommon for it to accumulate debris.

If you feel comfortable removing the cover to your condenser unit, you should be able to access the blades in order to clean them. Be sure to turn off the power to the unit before removing the cover. Alternatively, a professional air conditioning service will include a check and clean of the fan, which is a key factor in maintaining your AC.

The importance of a regular air conditioning service

We have offered some tips on how to maintain your AC unit. However, we feel it is important to point out that anything other than simple maintenance, such as cleaning air filters, vents and condenser fans, should never be completed by anyone other than a qualified engineer.

DIY air conditioning troubleshooting can often present more risks than benefits. It can lead to a need for costly repairs, damage to components and reduced system efficiency. It may also invalidate your air conditioning warranty, and could also pose serious health and safety risks.

Our advice therefore is, if you have been maintaining your AC but are still experiencing issues, there is likely to be something more serious that needs a professional air conditioning maintenance visit.

To learn more about our air conditioning maintenance plans, or if you are experiencing problems with your air conditioning system and would like to arrange a maintenance visit, you are welcome to contact us at [email protected] or call us on 0203-4888-663.


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