Maintenance on an air conditioner’s filters, coils, and fins is essential to keeping the unit running smoothly and effectively for its entire lifespan. If you don’t do the necessary maintenance, your air conditioner will worsen and use more energy. If you want the best air conditioner repair service in Lockport, IL do visit Winters Heating And Cooling.
Filters For Air Conditioners
AC Filters
The most important thing you can do to keep your air conditioner running well is to change or clean its filters regularly. Filters that are clogged or dirty reduce the amount of airflow and make a system much less efficient. Also, if the airflow is blocked, air can go around the filter and put dirt on the evaporator coil, reducing the coil’s ability to absorb heat. When you switch out a dirty, clogged filter for a clean one, your air conditioner will use 5% to 15% less energy.
Most central air conditioners have filters along the return duct’s length. Most air conditioners have filters in the walls, ceilings, or the unit itself. Room air conditioners have a filter attached to the grill that faces into the room. We provide air conditioning services in Lockport, Illinois for the whole locality.
Some filters can be used more than once, while others have to be replaced. There are different kinds and levels of how well they work. During the cooling season, you should clean or replace the filter(s) in your air conditioner every month or two. Filters may need to be changed more often if the air conditioner is always on, is in a dusty place, or if you have pets with fur in the house.
Coils for An Air Conditioner
Broken AC
Over months and years of use, an air conditioner’s evaporator and condenser coil get dirty. The evaporator coil won’t get dirty as quickly if the filter is clean. The evaporator coil will still get dirty over time, though. This dirt makes it harder for air to flow through and insulates the ring, which makes it less able to absorb heat. Check your evaporator coil annually and clean it as needed to avoid this problem.
Outdoor condenser coils can also get very dirty if it is dusty outside or there is a lot of plant life nearby. You can easily see the condenser coil and notice if dirt is building up on its fins.
It would help if you kept the area around the condenser unit as clean as possible. Dirt and debris can come from your dryer vents, the leaves that fall off your trees, and your lawn mower. Cleaning the area around the coil, removing trash, and cutting plants by at least 2 feet (0.6 meters) will allow enough airflow around the condenser.
Wrap Fins
Coils: The aluminum fins on the evaporator and condenser coils are easy to bend, stopping air from moving through the loop. Wholesalers of air conditioning sell a tool called a “fin comb” that can be used to comb these fins back to almost their original shape.
Condensate Drains
Run a stiff wire through the unit’s drain channels every so often. If a unit’s drain channels are clogged, it can’t reduce humidity, and the extra moisture can stain walls or carpets.
Room Air Conditioner Window Seals
At the beginning of each cooling season, check the seal between the air conditioner and the window frame to ensure it touches the unit’s metal case. This seal can be broken by moisture, letting cool air out of your house.
Getting Ready For Winter
Cover your room air conditioner or take it out and put it away for the winter. If you put a cover over the outdoor unit of a central air conditioner, it will be safe from snow and other debris during the winter.
Professional AC Service Technician
Hire a professional service technician when your air conditioner needs more than just regular maintenance, like when it doesn’t bring the temperature inside down to a comfortable level. A well-trained technician will find and fix your air conditioner’s problems.
The AC Mechanic Should:
- Check that there is the right amount of coolant.
- Use a leak detector to check for leaks of refrigerant.
- Capture any refrigerant that needs to be drained from the system instead of illegally letting it escape into the air.
- Check for and fix duct leaks in central systems.
- Check how much air is moving through the evaporator coil.
- Check that the electric controls are in the correct order and that the heating and cooling systems can’t be on simultaneously.
- Check electric terminals, clean and tighten connections, and add a non-conductive coating if needed-oil motors and check belts for tightness and wear.
- Check how well the thermostat works.
Do visit Winters Heating and Cooling in Lockport, IL for the best air conditioning repair service in a nearby location.