Here are 7 air conditioner maintenance tips to stay cool, save money during the hot SC summer
It’s been another stifling, sweaty, hot summer in South Carolina and with more to come, it might be a good time to give your air conditioner a little love.
Sure, summers in the Palmetto State are always brutal and can push air conditioners hard, but there’s no reason to have them work more than they should.
Whether you have central air or a window unit, an air conditioner’s filters, coils and fins require regular maintenance. Neglecting necessary maintenance ensures a steady decline in air conditioning performance and an increase in energy use. And a neglected air conditioner will mean more pain in your pocketbook for costly repairs later.
Here are seven air conditioner maintenance tips to stay cool all season long, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, familyhandyman.com and American Home, Water and Air.
Air Conditioner Filters
Routinely replacing or cleaning filters is one of the most important air conditioner maintenance tasks you can do. Dirty filters can reduce airflow and impair a system’s efficiency. And when airflow is blocked, dirt can be deposited directly into an air conditioner’s evaporator coil, impacting it’s heat-absorbing capacity. Also, replacing old filters can reduce air conditioner energy consumption, helping lower your power bill.
Clean or replace your air conditioning system’s filter every month or two during the cooling season.
Fix Fins
Realign bent or crushed aluminum fins on the outside of your air conditioner with gentle pressure from a dinner knife. These fins help the air conditioner stay cool, which is why you need to ensure they don’t get deformed. Don’t insert the knife more than half an inch in. Also, vacuum the fins with a soft-bristle brush. On many units, you’ll need to unscrew and lift off a metal box to reach them.
Keep Air Conditioners level
A less-obvious tip for air conditioner maintenance is ensuring your unit is constantly level. An uneven air conditioner will continue to sink and eventually tip over. Also, your air conditioner’s condenser pump won’t work properly if it’s not level and you’ll experience premature wear on various components.
Air Conditioner Coils
Eventually an air conditioner’s evaporator coil and condenser will collect dirt no matter how often you clean and replace air filters. Dirt reduces the coil’s ability to absorb heat. To avoid this, check your evaporator coil every year and clean it as necessary.
You should also minimize dirt and debris near the condenser unit. Your dryer vents, falling leaves and lawn mowers are all potential sources of dirt and debris.
Window Seals
For window air conditioners, inspect the seal between the unit and the window frame and make sure it makes contact with the unit’s metal case. Moisture can damage this seal and allow cool air to escape the house.
Unclog the Evaporator Drain
The evaporator drain clears condensation that builds up during the air conditioner process. When it clogs, fluid builds up inside the air conditioner and can cause issues. To check and clean the evaporator drain follow these steps:
- Disconnect your air conditioner’s electricity
- Push a thin, long brush through the drain line, which will often clear any blockage
- Attach a shop vac to one end of the drain line and switch it on
- If you’ve cleared a blockage, empty the drain pan as it will likely be full
- Pour a 50/50 mixture of bleach and water into the drainpipe and wait for a half-hour
- Flush water through the drain pipe and ensure it passes through
Check Vibration pads
Air conditioners have a tendency to start vibrating if their vibration pads are misaligned. These pads sit underneath the air conditioner to prevent them from vibrating against the concrete underneath them. As part of regular maintenance, you should readjust them so they sit in the intended position.
This story was originally published July 21, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
