When people think of air conditioning maintenance, they often think of fixing or even replacing worn out parts to keep the system running smoothly. That is certainly a big part of it, but it’s not the only thing you need to do to keep your air conditioner in good shape.
You also should have your air conditioner cleaned at least once a year in order to keep it functioning properly. Why is it so important to have the air conditioner professionally cleaned? Have a look below.
The Refrigerant Line
The refrigerant line is the pipe that carries your system’s refrigerant back and forth between the indoor and outdoor units. This line can get remarkably dirty over the years, and is prone to corrosion as a result. Corrosion in the line can lead to a leak, which will drain the air conditioner of fluid that it requires to operate properly. The lower the refrigerant level drops, the less effective the air conditioner will be. Eventually this can lead to the entire system breaking down, so it’s especially important to keep the line as clean and well-kept as possible.
The Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil is the part of the air conditioner that evaporates refrigerant to siphon heat from the home’s air. The coil has condensate form on it as a byproduct of this process, which can make it quite dirty after a prolonged period of use. The more dust, dirt, and other debris the condensate traps on the coil, the less able to cool the home the coil will become. This can eventually cause the coil to freeze over, which opens the system up to all kinds of other issues. It’s best to make sure that the coil is cleaned on a regular basis, so you don’t have to deal with repair costs for it later.
The Air Filter
This one you can actually do yourself, if you know what you’re doing. Most people don’t even know that they need to have it done, though, so we decided to include it here. The air filter needs to be changed roughly every three months while the system is in-use. The longer it goes without being changed, the more likely it will be to become clogged. A clogged air filter will prevent most of the air in the ducts from making it into the air conditioner. Not only will this prevent the system from properly cooling the home, but it will open it up to further issues like the coil freezing over. If you already change your filter every few months, great! If not, you should have a professional do it for you or at least show you how to do it.