The most important maintenance task to ensure the efficiency of your air conditioner is to replace or clean your filters on a regular basis. Dirty, clogged filters can reduce the amount of airflow and significantly decrease system performance. Cleaning the outdoor unit and its condenser coils requires more effort than working with the inside of the unit. This part of your system is constantly exposed to the elements, so it gets dirty quickly.
You'll need specialized equipment to clean it properly. To keep your external drive working at its best, follow these steps at least once a year, ideally once in spring and once in summer. If your air conditioning unit is particularly dirty or has significant wear and tear, it is best to seek the help of an expert. You may also want to consider cleaning your air ducts as they can get dirty over time. You don't need to call a service to clean your air conditioner, and by following a few steps, you can easily do it yourself.
The best time to do this is on a warm day, so when you turn the unit back on, the AC condensation flushes out of the coils. Cleaning your air conditioner is a critical element of maintenance that will keep your system healthier for longer. Cleaning a standard HVAC system while it's operating is dangerous for both you and your air conditioner. Similarly, if you have a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, your heating may lose effectiveness over time. Maintaining a maintenance schedule for condenser coils can help ensure that the air conditioning system runs smoothly for a long time. When cleaning the condenser coils of your air conditioner, you need to make sure that you are not too aggressive with them.
Manufacturers of products marketed to coat and encapsulate duct surfaces claim that these sealants prevent dust and dirt particles inside air ducts from being released into the air. Air duct cleaning service providers can tell you that they need to apply a chemical biocide inside the ducts to kill bacteria (germs) and fungi (mold) and prevent future biological growth. You can use a vacuum with a hose attachment to clean the air filter, but eventually you'll need to replace it once the dust starts to collect. Whether or not you decide to clean your home's air ducts, committing to a good preventive maintenance program is essential to minimize duct contamination. However, if there's a particularly strong buildup, it's the start of the season, or you haven't cleaned them for a while, you might want to consider hiring a professional. A careless or improperly trained service provider can damage ducts or the heating and cooling system, which could increase your heating and air conditioning costs or force you to perform difficult and costly repairs or replacements.
