Maintenance Guide for Central Air Conditioning

Central Air Conditioning Maintenance Guide

The key to keeping your energy bills down and your central air conditioning working well is routine maintenance throughout the year (yes, even in winter when you may not be using it as much as the rest of the year). So Art Plumbing and AC have put together this handy maintenance guide to help you understand what you need to do and when to keep your central air conditioning in tiptop shape.

Call the professionals
If you need more than just a clean-up job, you should call a professional central air conditioning technician to handle any maintenance on your unit. An ac unit is a complex piece of machinery that needs professional care to service it and make sure that it is inspected and adjusted before each summer. Apart from finding and fixing any possible issues, your ac technician will also ensure that your refrigerant is charged to the correct levels, make sure that your ducts are completely sealed and free from any debris, make sure that air flows freely through the evaporator coils, inspect all electric terminals and controls, oil the motors and other moving parts, and check that your thermostat is working accurately.

Regular clean-ups
The most common reason for central air conditioning problems is a dirty or debris-filled system. Luckily, you can prevent a lot of issues and energy waste by doing regular clean-ups yourself. Every few months you should check on your filters – make sure that they are thoroughly cleaned or replaced if they are completely clogged up with dust and dirt. Next, trim any foliage or branches away from your outside unit. They may not be the nicest looking things outside your home, but it is very important that you don’t let plants get overgrown around it – they need an uninterrupted supply of air to keep your home cool. After that, check that your ducts and drainage system are clean and free from any build-up or blockages. Lastly, check that your evaporator coils are kept clean at least once a year. While having clean filters will significantly slow down the build-up of dust and dirt on your evaporator coils, you should check them at least once a year to make sure that they are able to work effectively and efficiently.

Looking after your central air conditioning
While a professional service and regular cleaning can help your central air conditioning work better, you can actually prolong the life of your unit with proper care. Firstly, make sure that your ac is used properly – this means not constantly switching it on and off as well as checking that your thermostat is working properly and not causing your unit to over-compensate. Also, when your ac is not in use (usually during the winter) cover up your outside unit. This will protect it from the elements as well as keep debris and dirt from clogging it up.

Don’t wait until your central air conditioning breaks down before you think about proper maintenance – rather do these simple things every few months and have a professional service your unit once a year and you will save a lot of money, trouble, and energy. Remember that prevention is better than a cure – call Art Plumbing and AC today to find out what you can do to keep your home cool!