Home Air Conditioning Tune Up and Maintenance tips:

Regular maintenance of your air conditioner's filters, coils, and fins will keep it operating effectively and efficiently for many years.  A sure fire way to decrease the performance of your air conditioner is neglecting annual maintenance.  Not only will the performance decrease but the energy consumption will steadily increase. Help improve your comfort and the efficiency of your air conditioner by properly maintaining the air conditioner system.

Clean the air conditioner filters

Clean or replace your air conditioning system's filter or filters every month or two during the cooling season.  Routinely cleaning or replacing the filters will improve the efficiency of your air conditioner. Clogged or dirty filters will reduce the efficiency and even block normal airflow. With normal airflow obstructed, air that bypasses the filter may carry dirt directly into the evaporator coil and impair the coil's heat-absorbing capacity. Replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one can lower your air conditioner's energy consumption by 5% to 15%.

Locating your filters.  For central air conditioners the filter is generally located somewhere along the return duct's length. Common locations are in walls, ceilings, furnaces, or in the air conditioner itself. Room air conditioners have a filter mounted in the grill that faces into the room.

Check your evaporator coils every year

The air conditioner's evaporator coil and condenser coil collect dirt over time. A clean filter prevents the evaporator coil from collecting dirt quickly.  However, the evaporator coil will still collect dirt over enough time. This dirt reduces airflow and insulates the coil and significantly reduces its ability to absorb heat. To avoid this problem, check your evaporator coil every year and clean it as necessary.

Outdoor condenser coils can also become very dirty if the outdoor environment is dusty or if there is foliage nearby. You can easily see the condenser coil and notice if dirt is collecting on its fins.  You should minimize dirt and debris near the condenser unit. Your dryer vents, falling leaves, and lawn mower are all potential sources of dirt and debris. Cleaning the area around the coil, removing any debris, and trimming foliage back at least 2 feet (0.6 meters) allow for adequate airflow around the condenser.

Check the coil fins

The aluminum fins on the evaporator and condenser coils can become easily bent and when they are, they block airflow through the coil.  Air conditioning wholesalers sell a tool called a "fin comb" that will comb these fins back into nearly original condition.

Check your drain channels

Clogged drain channels prevent your air conditioner unit from reducing humidity, and the resulting excess moisture may discolor walls or carpet. To help prevent this just pass a stiff wire through the unit's drain channels on an annual basis.

For window mounted air conditioners

Inspect the seal between the air conditioner and the window frame to ensure it makes contact with the unit's metal case. Moisture can damage this seal, allowing cool air to escape from your house.

Call a Professional

When your air conditioner needs more than regular maintenance, call us and ask about our Tune-Up special for $99.95. A well-trained technician will find and fix your air conditioner problems.

Whatever your heating and cooling needs are, On Time Group are A+ BBB rated contractors providing residential and commercial heating and cooling services in Winnipeg. Call On Time Group today at 204 774-1474 for all of your air conditioning needs, or fill out the online form here.