ROUTINE MAINTENANCE
Neglecting maintenance ensures will steady decline in the air conditioning performance while energy use steadily increases. Keeping the system properly maintained will lower energy and repair costs, prevent breakdowns and prolong the life of your unit. Some maintenance jobs should be left to the professionals, but there is much that you, as a homeowner, can do to prolong the life of your units, keeping it running at peak efficiency.
FILTERS
The most important maintenance task that will ensure the efficiency of your unit is to replace or clean its filters. Clogged, dirty filters block airflow and reduce a system’s efficiency significantly. With normal airflow obstructed, air that bypasses the filter may carry dirt directly into the evaporator coil and impair the coil’s heat-absorbing capacity. Filters are located somewhere along the return duct’s length. Common filter locations are in walls, ceilings, furnaces, or in the air conditioner itself.
Some types of filters are reusable; others must be replaced. They are available in a variety of types and efficiencies. Clean or replace your air conditioning system’s filter or filters every month or two during the cooling season. Filters may need more frequent attention if the air conditioner is in constant use, is subjected to dusty conditions, or you have fur-bearing pets in the house. If you use a disposable type filter, it’s always wise to keep several spares inside the house.