Like every other machine, ACs need regular care and maintenance. And then some more because it’s one of the appliances which has a huge duty of keeping you and your family cool (literally) in the scorching summer heat.
Preventive maintenance and checks will not only keep your AC keep performing at optimized levels but also save you a lot of energy (and saving energy directly relates to saving money unless you have a hug solar panel or a hydro powered generator installed in your backyard.)
There are things you can do on your own to maintain the AC, however, you should also get your AC professionally checked as part of a regular checkup at least once a year……ideally before the onset of summer. As for the things that you can do at home, here’s a list of 7 super easy things to do to keep your AC work like a charm.
Clean the Air Filters
Why? Well, the way AC works is it sucks or rather circulates the air in your room and throws it outside and in return, throws compressed & cooled breeze inside. So during that cycle, the filters are the line of defense of the cooling coils against the filthy, dusty, months of debris worth of uncleaned room of yours. So technically, if you keep your room clean, you’ll need to less of cleaning of the AC filters. The dirtier or dustier your room is, the more you need to clean the filters. So, AC has its way of serving justice and disciplining you there.
Cover up the Outer Compressor Unit When Not in Prolonged Use
During off-seasons, it is a good practice to cover up your outer unit containing the compressor to protect it from dust, debris, unwanted precipitation etc. In case of a window AC, it will be the back-end of the AC. Covering also protects it from birds and their droppings and other stuff like that which could harm your inner working parts.
Drain the AC
ACs usually suck the moisture from your room and drains it through the drain pipe that goes out from the main/ indoor unit to outside your room. If you see a continuous drip from your drain pipe, it means your AC is not clogged and doing its job well. If the drain pipe isn’t draining water, it means there is a blockage in the drain somewhere in the AC. Soon it is going to be filled up and leak from elsewhere (since the water is unable to find its way out through the drain pipe). Make sure to drain your AC dry during off-season to avoid any bacteria or germs growing in the water due to prolonged stagnation.
Check the Fins and Clean Them with a Brush If Necessary:
Do Not Poke them with Metallic Objects:
Once your remove the front air filters (the ones we asked you to keep clean in the beginning of this post) you are met with this vertical metal fins running throughout the length of your AC. Sometimes, some of the (smaller) dust particles escape the air filters and get clogged into your metallic fins. These fins are a part of the condenser and evaporator unit. Keep them clean as well because the purpose of the air filters that are placed before them is to keep these fins cleaned in the first place.
Once your remove the front air filters (the ones we asked you to keep clean in the beginning of this post) you are met with this vertical metal fins running throughout the length of your AC. Sometimes, some of the (smaller) dust particles escape the air filters and get clogged into your metallic fins. These fins are a part of the condenser and evaporator unit. Keep them clean as well because the purpose of the air filters that are placed before them is to keep these fins cleaned in the first place.
