A few months ago, my air conditioner completely died. I woke up in the middle of the night covered in sweat, and I didn't know what to do. The next day, I called an HVAC expert, and they came out to inspect my system. It turned out that it had failed because of filthy filters and a clogged return duct, which made me sick to my stomach. I had caused the problem, and I needed to learn how to fix things. My HVAC professional taught me a few easy maintenance techniques that I didn't know before, so that I could maintain my new system. Check out this blog to learn more about HVAC yourself.
The performance that a homeowner can get from their air conditioning system is a major factor in determining the comfort of those inside a home as well as the monthly energy costs for the building. In order to avoid making performance compromising mistakes, there are several key guidelines that must be followed with your AC.
Avoid Using Low-Quality Air Filters
The air filters in your system are responsible for removing the dirt and dust that may be circulating in the air. However, homeowners will frequently assume that all air conditioning filters are essentially the same. This assumption can lead to individuals simply opting for the lowest cost air filters that are available. Unfortunately, these filters may not be as effective at removing small particulate matter from the air. While a high-quality hypoallergenic air filter will be slightly more expensive, the improvement in performance can make them a good investment.
Prevent Water From Pooling Near The Exterior Units Drain
When heavy rains move through your area, you might discover that there are pools of water forming near the drain pipe that comes out of your air conditioning system. Homeowners will often assume that this drain is simply for allowing excessive rainwater to flow out of the unit. However, these drains are designed to handle the large amounts of condensation that the air conditioning system may create. Unfortunately, if water is allowed to pool around the opening of the drain, the condensation may be unable to drain out of the air conditioner, which can lead to flooding. For homeowners that have encountered this problem, a gutter can be an effective solution for moving this water away from your exterior air conditioning system.
Remove Plants That Are Growing Too Close To The Unit
The plants that are growing near your air conditioning unit can also be a major threat to the system. Leaves, sticks and other pieces of debris from these plants can easily get sucked into the air conditioning unit. Once inside the system, these materials can clog the moving parts of the system. Sadly, there are not many effective options for preventing this from occurring. In most instances, homeowners will find that simply trimming or having these plants removed will be the most effective solution for this particular problem. The amount of clearance your particular air conditioning system requires can vary depending on its strength. Luckily, the owner's manual that came with the system will be able to provide you with insight into the minimum distance you should have between your exterior unit and any large plants.
For more information and tips, contact a local AC repair company.
Share8 June 2018
