Keeping Your AC In Top Shape During Those Peak Summer Months

Posted on: 11 July 2016

The last thing you want to have happen on a hot summer day is for your air conditioner to fail. Having the system checked out annually by one of your local air conditioning repair companies is a good way to prevent problems from occurring. There are also two maintenance tasks that you can do to keep your home cool and comfortable in the peak of the summer months.

Filter Changes

Keeping a clean air filter in the system doesn't sound like a critical factor, but a dirty air filter can cause a major system shutdown. As the filter becomes clogged, the air conditioner motor must work harder to pull clean air into the system. This causes the motor to overheat and, if it gets too hot, the motor can burn out. The result is an expensive repair bill and a warm house while you're waiting for the AC to be fixed.   You should change the filter every one to three months, depending on how much pollen and other contaminants are in the air where you live. Have several of these inexpensive filters handy and don't hesitate to change it more often. Changing the filter is an easy DIY maintenance task:

  1. Turn off the air conditioner.
  2. Remove the cover over the compartment in which the air filter sits.
  3. Remove the filter and note the direction that the arrow printed on the edge of the filter is pointing.
  4. Wipe any dust and debris from the frame in which the filter sits.
  5. Place the new filter in the frame, orienting the arrow on its edge the same way as the old filter.
  6. Make sure the filter is sitting snug in the frame with no gaps to let air bypass the filter.
  7. Replace the cover over the filter and turn the AC back on.

Compressor Cleaning

The compressor is the component responsible for creating the cool air that is circulated back into your home. It sits in the standalone cabinet outside of your home. The compressor motor is kept cool by special metal fins and a fan to disperse the heat that the motor builds up. If the fins and fan blades are dirty, the compressor motor can overheat and you'll have an AC failure. Cleaning those components is another easy homeowner project.

  1. Turn off the air conditioner.
  2. Remove the screws securing the top on the compressor unit sitting outside.
  3. Pull the top up and off of the unit.
  4. Using a vacuum cleaner and a soft brush, clean off the fan blades and the thin metal fins surrounding the compressor motor.
  5. If any of the fins are bent or flattened, straighten them out. If a large section of the fins are damaged, have an HVAC service come out to straighten or replace the fins.
  6. Replace the top of the compressor unit when finished.
  7. Turn the AC back on and enjoy the cool air in your home again.

Talk to a contractor, like Coastal Home Services, for more help.

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