Tips On How To Take Care of Your Air Conditioner

The performance of your air conditioning system depends on the steps you take to maintain it. There are different types of air conditioning systems-central, wall, and portable window air conditioner. Air conditioner repair and maintenance depends on the type of machine. When your air conditioner stops working efficiently, that is an obvious sign that it needs to be repaired.

These are some reminders for homeowners with air conditioners.

1. Know how this particular machine works. Even if you don't have plans to become a technician, you should, at least, get to know the parts. Read the manual!

2. Generally, you are required to turn it off after an extended span of time of use.

3. You will notice after a long time that the air conditioner no longer works as efficiently as it used to. Sometimes, this can be remedied by simple cleaning. At other times, you will have to call a repair professional.

4. Invest in yearly professional maintenance of your unit.

While air conditioning obviously will not be useful during the winter, it is necessary during summer. It is frustrating when you turn on your air conditioner on a hot summer day to find out that it does not work. You would be sweating already before you realize that you should have had it checked before. What should you do?

1. If the air conditioner fails to run, check its plug. See if it is plugged into the electrical outlet properly. Loose fitting outlets could be the problem.

2. See if the outlet's voltage output is same as the voltage needs of the appliance.

3. Try to plug the unit into another outlet. See if it starts working. If not, plug another appliance into the outlet to see if there is electricity running. If that appliance works, your air conditioner probably has internal defects that need to be checked.

4. Worn power cords can also be the cause of failure of a device. Replace a worn power cord with a new one, but make sure it's compatible with your unit. If you are unsure, a certified professional should install a new power cord.

What if the air conditioner does not cool your room sufficiently?

1. HVAC systems can lose their efficiency after some time. When this happens, check the settings. Somebody might have turned the knob to "fan" only. Change it and set it to your desired level.

2. If setting the air conditioner to a "high cool" level does not provide the appropriate cooling results, check the room for open windows or doors. Cool air from inside could be leaking out, causing inefficient cooling.

3. Check if the filter is clogged. Dirt could clog the filters. This, too, results in ineffective cooling.

4. For built-in wall versions of this particular appliance, see if the external part is blocked, hampering airflow.

5. Check if the condenser coils are dirty. Air conditioner repair professionals can dismantle the unit to see if the coils are dirty and frosted.

6. If you hear a humming noise while the air conditioning unit operates, it could be a broken fan motor, which should be replaced.

There are maintenance tasks that you can do without the need of professional repairmen. These include cleaning the filters or making sure that the external part of the unit is not blocked. On the other hand, there are other tasks that only a professional should do, such as handling the refrigerant in the unit.