In order for any type of air conditioning to work at its best, it is very important to carry out regular, thorough maintenance of air conditioning systems to prevent them from breaking down when they are most needed.
This article will explain more about air conditioning and what goes into its maintenance.
How do air conditioners work?
First and foremost, it's important to understand how an air conditioner is built. An air conditioner consists of... It has two components : the evaporator (indoor part) and the condenser (outdoor part). The latter is located outside the building, usually in a concrete block, while the evaporator is installed inside the building.
The air conditioning system is integrated with the building's forced air distribution network, meaning that the same system that distributes hot air also feeds the air conditioning system.
When an air conditioning system is running, hot air flows to the condenser through a special duct, and then it's delivered as cool air and distributed throughout the building. You know something is wrong when you notice the air conditioner is running but not cooling the room; this often indicates a problem with the distribution system itself.
If you encounter this problem, you should contact a specialist for inspection. Do not attempt to fix it yourself; contact a professional who will inspect all the components.
How to perform air conditioning maintenance
To prevent air conditioning malfunctions, six checks must be performed . These checks should always be carried out by a qualified technician to ensure your air conditioner operates flawlessly and at full capacity. All these checks must be performed with the evaporator and condenser systems switched off .
- Evaporator cleaning : A thorough cleaning should be performed once a year. The evaporator needs cleaning when the cover has an insulating layer wrapped in aluminum foil on its front, rather than a sealed metal box made of sheet metal.
- Cleaning the capacitor : The capacitor contains a fan that moves across the capacitor coil. Therefore, it is important to clean the coil on the intake side.
- Check the refrigerant : If the inspection shows that the levels of refrigerant gas or Freon are low, this should be increased by a professional air conditioning technician.
- Always keep the area clean : The biggest enemy of air conditioners is rooms with dirt or excessive dust, which can significantly reduce the efficiency of the evaporator coil and clog the entire system. Repairs should be carried out by a professional.
- Replacing the thermostat : The thermostat is located directly behind the control panel and must be tested or replaced by a professional.
- Fan cleaning/repair : The biggest problem with fans is that their blades are faulty or need cleaning. It's usually a case of blade strain if the fan isn't working or is noisy.
These are the points to consider during maintenance if you want to implement it and not be disappointed if it doesn't work. It's not just about changing filters; to get proper air quality, you need to have professional checkups.