Air Conditioning Preventative Maintenance Steps

Simple, painless steps can be taken to prevent problems with air conditioning units. The preventative maintenance needed to keep units in good working order doesn't take much time and it isn't too costly. Usually, just a screwdriver is needed to remove the shell of a unit. Removing the shell will uncover internal parts of a unit that occasionally require attention. Before trying to remove the shell of a unit, check and see what kind of screws are used to hold the shell in place, then, obtain the corresponding screwdriver.

For in-house units, after the shell is removed, check for leaks in the hoses that connect to the unit. Condensation should always travel through tubes and remain within the unit. Leaks can usually be traced to loose hose ends. To tighten a loose hose end just use a simple zip tie. If no leaks exist, proceed to check the filter. If the filter holds a brownish color and appears to be dirty, replacement of the filter is necessary.

Check the style of the filter and, if you aren't sure of the style, take the old filter with you when you buy a new filter. Filters can be purchased at any home improvement store for a relatively low price. A low-cost filter can make an enormous difference in the quality of air that circulates in your home. Frequently changing a unit's filter will keep it in good working condition.

For units placed on the outside of a house, preventative maintenance usually starts inside of the house where the filter is located. Filters are usually located within a metal housing in a home's basement. Again, check the cleanliness of the filter. If it appears to have captured a lot of dirt, change it. Not much more can be done for preventative maintenance for these units. Just make sure that no unnecessary moisture has breached the housing where the filter is.

Window units may be the easiest units to maintain because of their small size. Before installing a window unit, make sure the end of the unit that lies on the outside part of the window won't be susceptible to disturbance. This part of the unit is where the coils are and the coils are very sensitive. This is the first preventative maintenance step that should be taken. Then, check to see if there is a filter. Filters within window units are usually thin and can simply be hand-cleaned by rinsing away dirt with water. Placement and filter cleanliness are vital for optimal performance.

Preventative maintenance is a simple, yet effective way to keep a unit in good condition. It prolongs the life of a unit and helps maintain a good quality of air indoors. Preventative maintenance helps a unit do its sole job to the best of its ability: keep cold air in and warm air at bay.