Proper air condition maintenance is essential for the device, be it a central cooling system or window unit, to work properly. There are numerous maintenance checks that homeowners can quickly do themselves that do not take much time suggests Heating and Air Fort Wayne. Periodic evaluations by a qualified HVAC person should be done too. Before calling a service technician if your system is not working properly, here are a few things to check from Pancani: •
the thermostat switch is set to the proper position-heating or cooling. • the set-point is below the room temperature. • the furnace is plugged in and the power switch turned on. The air conditioner needs the furnace to circulate the air. • the air-conditioning disconnect or breaker has been turned on. If you know how to check the fuses, see if any are blown. • the furnace filter is clean. (read more...)
Heating and Cooling Fort Wayne Recommends the Following Items Be Checked Change the Air Filters The easiest thing you can do to guarantee your system keeps you cool, is to change the air filters routinely. Changing them every other month for central air conditioning systems is an excellent measure. For those with indoor pets that shed, they will need checked more often. Not only will this help save money on the house's energy usage, it will improve the air quality of the house too. Appropriate Air Flow See to it there is absolutely nothing blocking the flow of air around the outside device. Any plantings, hedges or fencing you may have to conceal your outside device need to be at least 12 to 15 inches away. With window units, don't cover your window unit with drapes or curtains when it's on. A typical home air conditioning unit. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Cleaning the Condenser Coils The condensing coils on an air conditioning unit will get very filthy over time. Like a clogged filter, obstructed fins and coils on the outside unit can trigger your system to work harder and consequently break down. Use a nylon brush or broom and your garden hose to rinse leaves, grass and other particles from the fins. Use the garden hose to delicately spray off the exterior side of the condenser. Rinsing the condenser clears any loosened dirt, debris, or deposits from the components and metal areas. It is most effectively to disconnect power at the condenser prior to cleaning. It is necessary to also clean any dirt or lint accumulation in the bottom of the air conditioner so the condensate water will be picked up by the condensing fan slinger appropriately.
If you have a window device, do this in the Spring, before you install the unit for the season, and again in the fall, prior to putting it away. It is good to regularly examine the cooling coils for frost or ice build up too. Appropriate Cycling of the Cooling System Air conditioners have a cooling system identical to a refrigerator's. It is essential not to turn the unit off then back
on immediately. It is best to wait at least ten mins after shutting the device off to allow the pressure in the refrigeration system to equalize once again. This will certainly prolong the life of your ac unit. Program the Thermostat For a central system, during the hot season set your thermostat to a slightly higher temperature throughout the day, when you leave your home, and a lower temperature level when you get home from work. Today's programmable thermostats can even work by means of WiFi or your smartphone, so you could raise the setting when you leave to run errands, then from another location turn it back down when you are on your way home. This decreases energy costs as well as reduces strain on the system. Shut window units off when you are gone for they use a lot more energy than a central cooling system. Get a Tune-Up The best method to keep your whole-house cooling system trouble free is to have Heating and Air Fort Wayne offer it a tune-up once a year in the Spring. As part of the tune-up, we will examine and clean filters, test the internal mechanisms and charge the unit with refrigerant. Here are a few other ideas from Adams Homes: * It is important to make sure lawn sprinklers are not spraying on the condensing unit. * This is especially important if you have well water. Well water will make the condenser rust faster which is not covered under your warranty. Rinse the outside unit with city water once a month to help maintain it cleanliness. (read more...) Various other Things to Monitor •Examine the cord on your window device for frayed or worn areas. It could have to be replaced. •Use drapes and blinds to shut out the sun from warming spaces so the cooling device does not have to work as much. •If you live near salt water, you will want to shield outdoor units from corrosion with a paste wax. Simply apply and buff it in. •As always, check for air leaks around windows and doors and seal them up! Undoubtedly it does not make good sense for your ac device to work more than it needs too. Heating and Air Fort Wayne hopes these suggestions are useful and will help preserve the life of your air conditioning device, but your money invested on energy consumption as well. Don't hesitate to contact us with any concerns you may have.