Why You Need To Clean Your Airconditioning System Regularly

BETTER AIR CONDITIONER EFFICIENCY

Annual service and regular maintenance will improve the efficiency of your A/C as the pressure in it will be lowered. You want to get rid of any accumulation of dust, debris, and mould in your air conditioning unit.

These can cause the air filters to become blocked, which hampers the normal airflow in an air conditioning unit. This forces it to work harder than it should. Another common problem is that dust settles on the evaporator coil. When this happens, it fails to absorb heat properly. This also reduces the efficiency of your unit, which translates into higher electricity bills for you, which is far from preferable.  

LOWER ENERGY BILLS

There’s no getting around it – air conditioners make up a significant portion of your monthly electrical consumption. A dirty air conditioning unit will use even more power because it needs to work harder to maintain the same cooling and airflow levels. If you do not clean your air conditioner annually, you could be wasting about five to ten percent in energy bills. Call in your air conditioning cleaning expert and stop wasting money where you needn’t.

AVOID AIR CONDITIONER REPLACEMENT AND REPAIRS

If you don’t stick to regular maintenance, you could eventually be faced with an aircon that breaks down. A dirty air conditioner is prone to overheating because the evaporator coils cannot dissipate heat properly. Dirt accumulation can also cause ice buildups. Instead, rely on the experts to check your system regularly and ensure they pick up small problems before they become big ones.

IMPROVE INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Dirty air conditioning units can become a hotspot for germs, mould, and bacteria, which you don’t want to expose your family or workforce too. They can take a negative toll on your health. Air conditioning, along with cooling a home, regulates the circulation of clean air inside your house. When you switch on a dirty air conditioning unit, mould spores, fungi, bacteria, and germs are blown throughout. This is linked to asthma attacks, allergic reactions, tiredness, and dry eyes. If you or anyone in your family is suffering from these issues, one of the first things you should look at is the air quality in your home. Another common problem is mould. If your children are suffering from constant sinus or respiratory infections, call in an expert to check if your aircon system is inadvertently exposing them to moulds that can be harmful to their health. 

You should rely on the skills and experience of a trained aircon professional in most cases, but there are a few maintenance tasks you can do on your own.

Evaporator. You will find this above the furnace and inside a metal box called the plenum.

Take out the insulation from the front. Remove the screws holding the plenum down, and you will have reached the evaporator. Look at the underside of the part where dirt and dust typically accumulate. Clean this with a clean damp cloth, and when you are finished, take a look at the tray below the evaporator. Clean this thoroughly and place everything back as you found it. 

Filters. These have the important job of capturing dirt and dust, thus slowing down the buildup on your evaporator coil and condenser coil. Therefore they need to be cleaned regularly. Clogged air filters can compromise your system as they reduce the airflow into the air conditioner. This can cause the system to require more energy as it has to work harder and will also make it less efficient to run.

Other things to consider:

• Where is your aircon situated? If it is near a dirty windowsill, you may consider cleaning that too to prevent more dirt settling on your aircon. If there are leaves or debris around it, clear them.
• Do you have pets or live in a particularly dusty area that would require you to clean your unit more regularly than others?
• What can you do to prevent dust and dirt coming into your home? Leaving windows closed and ensuring that doors and windows are correctly sealed can make a difference.
• Keep your floors and rugs vacuumed. You can’t rely on your aircon to keep your air clean if your house isn’t.