How To Take Care Of Your Air Conditioning
Technology drives our day to day life these days to make our survival easier and happier. Sometimes we tend to forget the importance of how it actually works as we depend too much upon it. The example of our dependence to one such technology is Air Conditioning.
Proper and scheduled air conditioning maintenance is essential in making sure that your air conditioning unit will be operational as long as possible. A properly maintained air conditioning unit will cost you less in the long run, and you don’t have to go around looking for a new unit.
Air conditioning unit can be divided into two categories, whether you live in US or UK: One which is done by yourself and the other where a skilled repairman is required. Below is a list of ways you can maintain and check the performance of your air conditioning unit without the help of an air conditioner repairman.
A/C Maintenance DIY’s
If you know the basics it will help you maintain your unit running for years whereas maintaining it on your won might be a bit risky. Remembering these few points can help you a lot:
Air Conditioner Filter Maintenance
How many times one needs to maintain the filter rely on the location of the air-conditioned room. Once every three months or once every months is the frequency suggested by few people. The real fact is there is no fixed frequency. In fact there is no fixed frequency. It is actually determined after two or three filter maintenances. Changing the filter for disposable ones, or washing it for electrostatic filters can be meant by maintaining the filters.
Maintaining the Condenser and Evaporator
A common phenomenon with the evaporator and condenser are damaged fins. Remember though, that this problem is easily identified and rectified using a fin comb. Without involving water or cleaning foam, external cleaning of the condenser and evaporator can be done. Fin brush and vacuum cleaner can together do this quite nicely. Using a cleaning foam and water would be the best, but it has to be carried out with the electricity turned off.
Tube Insulation Care
The least problematic area within air conditioning unit is probably this. A good check would be to find damaged parts of the insulation and exposed parts of the vapour return line.
To maintain this one needs: to get a synthetic rubber tube insulation and matching it with the vapor return line size, the damaged insulation has to be removed, than the required length of insulation is cut and its length is covered and lastly securing the insulation by wrapping the ends with a cable tie or with insulating tapes.
Condensation Pan and Drain Care
The most simple air conditioning maintenance one can do is Condensation Pan and Drain care. Ignoring this can create unwanted moss formation, clogging and evaporator unit flooding. Every month following things can be done :
* Checking the water flow from the pan and using warm water mixed with detergent.
* Clogging can be controlled by Cleaning any debris and dust from the drain inlet.
* Clean the condensation pan with detergent and wipe it clean to prevent moss formation. To stop the moss formations clean the condensation pan with detergent and wipe it.
* Use a wet and dry vacuum cleaner at the outlet drain line to pull out dead insects or remaining water within the line.
Simple Damper Maintenance
A damper in an air conditioning system may be operated manually or automatically using an electrical motor, hydraulic system or a pneumatic system. Linkages and Pivot is found in these dampers. Cleaning of these points from dust and debris would prevent seizure of dampers. To prevent a squeaking sound simple spray lubrication may be applied to these points .Also, make sure to wipe off the excess oil. At quarterly intervals this maintenance needs to be done.
Acidity Test
In the refrigerant or lubrication oil this test is used to check for acidity. To avoid the failing of the compressor prematurely from parts erosion and corrosion, this test is very important. Disintegration of the refrigerant into chlorine based, or fluorine based acid is done by acid formation within the system which happens due to excessive temperature rise. insufficient lubrication, or insufficient cooling from the return refrigerant vapour are the normal reasons for excessive temperature rise.Sticking the bulb to the vapour line service valve, and observing the color change of the litmus element can perform the test.
Simple Leak Detection
Refrigerant loss and finally, no cooling or heating threat is created by leaks on air conditioner tubes . By its own one can perform Soap Test, Electronic Leak Detector and UV Light Test as the three common tests. The Electronic Leak Detector is the most widely used method nowadays, with lightweight construction, and accurate pinpointing of the leak position on the tube, or other air conditioner parts. Either part replacement or repair by tube soldering or welding is the treatment of leaks.
Simple Fan/Blower Diagnostic
Turning off the electricity supply is suggested before performing this diagnostic for fans and blowers include spinning these, and listening for any metal rubbing, or rough noise. To spin these feel even if it takes some extra effort. If the lubrication or bearing wear is not proper it is indicated by a “rough” feel. Wiping off the previous grease/oil on the motor shaft and applying new grease/oil can treat these problems. If the problem persists, then bearing replacement may be required.
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