The beginning of spring is the best time to start thinking about the A/C system in the home. With central air units, it’s an excellent time to remove the seasonal cover and start going over the checklist of preventative maintenance measures. That whole procedure should take little time if homeowners took care of those measures at this time last year. Consistent preventive maintenance is the best thing a homeowner can do to prolong the life of an A/C unit.
Clean and Protect the Outside of the Unit
During the year, the outside of the unit can get dirty and clogged with leaves. Because of that, this is where keeping up on AC maintenance should start, with either a water hose or an air compressor. In either case, try to do it sparingly. Just enough pressure from water or air will remove any obstructions and make the unit look new. Some people build a small enclosure over the unit to make this job more manageable. Wood posts with wire mesh should help a great deal. However, enclosing the unit is not a good idea as it would restrict airflow and limit the view of the component.
Cleaning the Coil Fins
The fins in an A/C unit look like the fins of a car radiator. Take a shop vac with a brush attachment, and clean the fins. Simple cleaning is a quick way to help in the unit’s ventilation, allowing unrestricted airflow. The A/C system will work fine, but it’s putting strain on the motor, which reduces its lifespan. In addition, there are many ways that coil fins, if exposed with no cover, can get bent out of shape during the year. For example, something gets bumped against it, a windstorm kicks up debris, and some fins get bent. There is a tool that can be bought called a fin comb that is made specifically for getting between the fins to loosen any obstructions.
Checking and Replacing the Air Filters
How often air filters need to be changed depends on the area of the country. Homes in hot, dusty climates require a more rigorous replacement schedule. However, there will be less needed in a tempered environment because of the air quality and humidity. The course of action here would be performing a visual check twice a year, right before the beginning of the A/C season and at its end. A visual inspection will give new homeowners a good idea of how regularly it requires replacing. Whatever the climate is, however, replacing filters throughout the season is always a good idea.
A Simple Procedure
Besides those tips, all that’s left is to air out the whole unit and check that everything to do with the condensation components is good to go. Corrosion on certain parts may happen, but a small wire brush will clean that up. It’s all pretty straightforward, being just a series of simple procedures. There are more in-depth maintenance tasks that skilled technicians can also handle if that is preferred.
