Air Conditioning Preventive Maintenance [Checklist]

Your air conditioner is one of your home’s key pieces of equipment and if you want to ensure it is in tip-top condition then you need to ensure it is maintained regularly. If you want to keep your utility bills down, your temperature right, and your family happy – then you can use this handy preventative maintenance checklist that will tide you over between technician visits. It will also help prevent major issues from developing.

Here is a look at the most common components of your air conditioning that let you down:

The Thermostat

If your thermostat is malfunctioning it will display the wrong temperature. What you are left with is a system that starts up rapidly, but turns off too soon. It isn’t just uncomfortable for the temperature of your home, it can also cause damage to internal fans as well as the compressor.

The Air Filter

This should always be your second stop – if your filter is dirty it puts additional strain on your unit, forcing it to work much harder than it should need to. Worse still, a dirty filter can’t adequately remove irritants and allergens from your indoor air. HVAC filters should be changed once a quarter, and if you are incredibly affected by allergies then you will want to do so more often.

The Condensate Line

It’s within this drainage line where mold can build and if you leave it untreated it can cause leakages that are both a health hazard and depending on its positioning, an electrical danger.

The Wiring

It’s fairly common for wiring problems to lead to overheating – additionally, short circuits can be a fire hazard. You can easily ensure wires are tightly secured and well-insulated.

The Coils & Condenser

Condenser coils are prone to grime and dirt build up and within those coils, more dust can accumulate. This will seriously slow down how effective your air conditioner functions and sap more energy than your system would use normally. You can clean the coils to optimize unit efficiency.

The condenser itself is home the tubing that contains refrigerant. The refrigerant is a chemical that swaps your air between the indoors and out. If the tubing is leaking then you’re losing that chemical. It will increase the cost of cooling your home. Additionally, it can damage the HVAC unit.

There are also general checks you can carry out on the system, which essentially means turning your unit on and determining whether it reaches the correct temperature in the right space of time and shuts off at the appropriate times. Of course, you should always keep your eyes, ears, and nose peeled for leaks, strange noises, and unusual odors.

If you do find an issue with your HVAC unit it’s imperative that you call in the professionals to deal with immediately. It’s going to be cheaper to deal with a small issue than leaving it and allow it to become a much bigger issue. Speak to your technician about how often you should have a professional maintenance check – it’s usually at least once a year. These checks will keep your bills down and your home comfortable.