Regardless of the style of your central A/C unit, you should do its regular maintenance if you want to improve its energy efficiency and the impact of cooling in your home or office. An A/C unit draws a lot of power to keep running. Thus, the energy savings are also higher when this unit receives proper maintenance. A simple filter cleaning can improve the energy efficiency by around 15 percent. Is that not whopping? If you feel it is, then read on to know some more tips to maintain your central A/C unit.
Clean the filter of your A/C unit
Most of the filters in air-conditioning units can be cleaned and reused. Cleaning a filter can help you improve the energy efficiency of your air conditioner, as well as eliminate the need of replacing the filter every season. It is also a simple and quick task to clean your A/C unit’s filter. In a central unit, you would usually find this filter installed in the furnace or main compartment. You can find and pull it out easily. Now, you may take a cleaning solution and rag to wipe it down properly. After this, let the filter dry completely and reinstall it later.
Clean the fan and condenser coils
The condenser coils of your central A/C unit can also go dusty. You may also find some debris on them or find them dented. Since the fan and condenser coils are responsible for proper airflow into the unit, it is important for them to work effectively. Thus, you should maintain these parts by cleaning them up. You would find condenser coils located in the front cover. Simply take out the cover and use a hard brush to give a gentle scrub to the coils.
You will see that some debris falls off while your scrub these coils. After you are done, take a vacuum cleaner and remove this mess. Now, use a fin comb to straighten out the dents in the coils. After the cleaning is over, just put the cover back in its position. You will find that your air-conditioning unit starts supporting a better airflow and makes the unit more efficient in terms of performance. If your fan and condenser coils are located outside your home and have a separate power supply, then ensure to turn it off before you start cleaning these parts.
Condensate the drains
If your A/C unit’s drains are clogged, then it may lead to increased humidity. This happens because clogged drains will not let the unit decrease humidity. When there is extra moisture, it may also fade the color on your walls or carpets. Thus, you should occasionally take care of these drains too. You can pass a hard wire through them in order to unclog them.
Check the sealing
If the unit includes sealing at certain points, then keep inspecting it. Moisture can cause damage to this seal over a period of time. Thus, cool air could leak through damage points. If you find the seals damaged, consider fixing or reapplying them.
Cover during the winter
In the winter, you may not make use of your air-conditioning system. Thus, you should cover the unit so it is protected from the debris and adverse conditions during winter. This will help you when you prepare the unit for reuse in the next season. You may save a lot of energy if you keep an eye on such small issues. Many people often ignore or do not notice these maintenance points, thus leading to an unnecessary spend on higher energy usage.
Summary
To make your central A/C unit energy-efficient, it is critical to take care of it through the regular cleaning of its parts and unclogging its drains.
