Air conditioning is one of the most heavily relied upon utilities in the United States. In fact, according to The Atlantic, 87% of all American households use heating and cooling units to keep their homes comfortable and their families healthy throughout the year. Unfortunately, as you well know, the constant wear and tear eventually leads you to seek out heating and cooling repair services, and that, just like everything else in this world, costs you money.
However, did you know that by performing regular maintenance on your air conditioning unit you could put off costly home air conditioning repair? While there are some things you should never attempt yourself, by following these tips, you can safely keep your air conditioning unit in tip-top shape, without having to call a home air conditioning service.
Three Maintenance Tips for Avoiding Heating and Cooling Repair
- Change out the Filters
One of the best things you can do to improve the efficiency and durability of your air conditioner, according to Energy.gov, is change out your air filters monthly. When the filters become dirty, they start to block airflow, reducing the quality of air in your home and making your AC unit work harder to get the job done. Changing out the filter on a regular basis can help you avoid both issues.
- Make Sure the Coils Stay Clean
The coils in your air conditioner are key to the unit being able to compress and cool air safely and efficiently. Just like your air filters, these coils will attract dust and other detritus, leading to both a safety hazard and a less efficient unit. According to DIY Network, you can clean the coils at home, keeping the heating and cooling repairman at bay that much longer.
First, be sure you unplug your unit before cleaning it — unless, of course, you like the idea of being electrocuted. Next, spray the coils off with a lawn hose before applying a store-bought AC unit cleaner to the coils. After allowing the cleaning liquid to sit on the coils for an hour, spray them off with the hose. That’s all there is to it.
- Replace Your Coolant Lines
You aren’t going to feel any cool air coming out of your unit if the coolant lines are damaged. As HowStuffWorks suggests, replacing damaged coolant lines is as simple as opening the machine and following the installation instructions on the coolant line package. Note: replacing the coolant lines is quite easy, but you should never try to recharge the cooling gas Freon without professional help.
Do you work with a heating and cooling service? What other tips can you give homeowners about better maintaining their air conditioning units? Share your tips with us in the comments below! Learn more at this link.