Do-it-yourself (DIY) Central Air Conditioning Maintenance
Cleaning your central air conditioner regularly is the most important thing you can do to keep your central air conditioner in a tip-top, efficient, and effective condition. You may think it requires time and hard work but do not worry; everything is a breeze as long as you learn the DIY central air conditioning maintenance steps. Read on and learn how!
A central air conditioning system is comprised of indoor and outdoor units. The evaporator or the indoor unit is installed in the central duct close to the furnace. It may also be located in the air handler if you have an installed heat pump in your home. The compressor or the outdoor unit sits next to the home allowing for a quieter environment inside. These two units are joined by a pair of copper tubes.
When the air conditioning unit is turned on, the Freon gas or the refrigerant inside the compressor is started off ‘cool’ but is set to ‘hot’ under pressure. The hot refrigerant then travels via a set of air conditioning coils where it starts losing heat and condenses into its liquid phase. The liquid then runs via an expansion valve and finally into the evaporator and when it reaches the evaporator, the liquid evaporates into a cold low-pressure gas and this is what cools the air inside your home. This cycle is repetitive and during this process, your air conditioning unit collects the debris and dusts from the condenser and evaporator coil. With this complex cycle, how do you start your DIY central air conditioning maintenance?
DIY Central Air Conditioning Maintenance Step 1: Start with the central air conditioning outdoor unit.
o Start by turning off the central air conditioners electrical power.
o Drop a little electric motor oil to the lubrication ports of your electric fan.
o Wipe any debris and dust off the fins and check if there are any stains in your compressor pad. If you see some stains, this means that your air conditioner could have some coolant leak and it is better to call for professional service.
o Ideally, the coils are cleaned using an air conditioner cleaner. In this case, make sure you wear eye protection gear and rubber gloves. Spray the AC cleaner on and leave it for a while before rinsing it with water.
DIY Central Air Conditioning Maintenance Step 2: Clean the air conditioning’s indoor evaporator unit.
o When cleaning the indoor unit, make sure you have turned off the entire AC unit’s electrical power.
o If the evaporator coil is reachable, vacuum the fins.
o Check the furnace filter for dirt. If there is dirt and dust, it is time to replace it. It should only cost you around $5.
o Check the AC condensation tube for algae and sludge. If the tube is flexible, you can just easily pull it off and clean at the drain port. However, if your tube is solid plastic, you may need to have the end cut off, get a new cap and adhesive to reseal it.
There you go – the steps to DIY central air conditioning maintenance. Try them and you will definitely have a more efficient and effective central air conditioning system.