Simple Air Conditioner Maintenance Tasks for the Homeowner

You’d be surprised at the amount of efficiency and comfort that a typical home will lose when its central air conditioning system isn’t properly maintained. As with any other mechanical device or appliance, an A/C that’s been neglected will waste energy, perform poorly and break down more often. A lack of regular maintenance might also reduce the useful service life of your A/C system, not to mention nullify the warranty. Following are some air conditioner maintenance steps you can take in tandem with an annual professional A/C tune-up to keep your system running smoothly.

Change the Air Filter 

During the cooling season, most A/C filters should be changed every month or two. Make a routine of checking the filter monthly, and change it when it looks clogged or dirty. Write down the date you install the filter on its frame to keep track of the last time it was changed.

Keep the Air Flowing 

If objects such as furniture, rugs, toys or drapes are covering cooling vents and registers, your A/C can’t maintain the airflow necessary to cool your home. Some homeowners tolerate insufficient cooling for weeks before they realize a toy chest has been moved atop a register.

Keep the Area Around Outdoor Components Clear

Split-system A/Cs have an outside compressor unit that won’t work properly if it doesn’t have a clear flow of air from outside the machine. Clear away yard debris such as grass cuttings, weeds, leaves and sticks from around the outside unit. If you have fencing around the compressor unit, make sure it has at least three feet of clearance on all sides.

Don’t Forget to Schedule Annual Professional Maintenance

A modern A/C is a complex system that requires specialized skills to maintain it properly. While some homeowners might be able to complete tasks such as cleaning A/C coils, if a technician is performing other maintenance tasks, it makes sense to let him handle coil cleaning as well.

For more advice on air conditioner maintenance or to schedule a professional A/C tune-up for your northwest Arkansas home, please contact us at Paschal Heat, Air & Geothermal.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Springdale, Arkansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air conditioner maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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