Air conditioning units are a great addition to both businesses and residential buildings, as they help keep temperatures comfortable all year round.
When the hot summer weather rolls around, having a working air conditioning unit is especially important – and it’s great to know that your machine won’t fail when you need it most.
This is where regular maintenance comes in. In this article, we’ll look at the main benefits of regularly servicing your air conditioner, as well as how to maintain it.
1. Helps Avoid Costly Replacements
As they say, prevention is better than cure. Keeping on top of air conditioner maintenance is the best way to stop it from failing unexpectedly later down the line. Annual maintenance means you can get any small problems attended to before they become major issues.
2. Better Energy Efficiency = Cheaper Bills
Without regular maintenance, air conditioners can start working less efficiently. This is because small mechanical issues will make the unit have to work harder. If left unattended, these problems result in the machine using more power to achieve the same level of cooling as before, which will cost you more.
3. Compliance with Legal Guidelines
Certain air conditioning units are required to have regular servicing by law. This depends on how much coolant they contain. If the unit holds 3 kg of coolant or less, you can choose how often to service it. Otherwise:
- Air conditioners with 5 TCO2 of coolant require annual professional servicing
- Air conditioners with 50 TCO2 of coolant require professional servicing every six months
- Air conditioners with 500 TCO2 of coolant require professional servicing every three months
On top of this, air conditioning systems in residential and commercial buildings require a TM44 inspection every five years.
4. More Efficient Cooling
The main reason for having an air conditioner is to stay cool, but a unit’s cooling potential can be dramatically reduced if it isn’t given regular maintenance. Over time, elements of the machine can get worn or clogged, which can lead to less efficient cooling. Staying on top of maintenance will ensure your building stays at the temperature you’re after.
5. Better for Allergy Sufferers
Air conditioning units can harbour allergens and dust particles. If the filters and mechanisms aren’t cleaned, these allergens can cause problems for allergy sufferers or asthmatics. To keep irritation to a minimum, and maintain good air quality, it’s important to keep on top of maintenance.
6. Prevents Odours
Damp and dust can gather and stagnate in air conditioning units, creating a stale smell. This smell can linger in homes if the air conditioner doesn’t receive regular maintenance.
7. Helps the Warranty
Some air conditioning units stipulate that regular professional maintenance is required in order to uphold the warranty. If this is the case, it’s important to stay on top of maintenance so that the warranty remains valid. This will help save money in case the unit needs replacing as a result of a manufacturing fault.
Signs That Your Air Conditioner Needs Servicing
Although an annual service will generally be sufficient to keep most parts of your air conditioner running as it should, there might be a time when additional maintenance is necessary.
These are some tell-tale signs to look out for. If you notice any of them, you should take action to prevent bigger problems later down the line.
- The unit has started making more noise than unusual
- The machine isn’t cooling as efficiently as it did
- The air conditioner is costing more to run than before
How to Maintain Your Air Conditioner
To keep your air conditioner working at its best, follow the steps below:
1. Check the Filter
Cleaning or replacing a dirty filter can greatly increase the efficiency of an air conditioning unit. A dirty filter can force the air conditioner to work harder in order to achieve the same airflow.
Depending on how frequently you are using your air conditioning unit, you may need to attend to the filter every couple of months. Some filters can be cleaned, whilst others need to be replaced.
2. Clean the Coil
Air conditioners are fitted with evaporator coils and condenser coils. These can collect dirt which will reduce the efficiency of the air conditioner and should therefore be kept clean.
The coil fins, which are positioned on the coils, can get bent and require combing back into position using a fin comb.
3. Check the Seals
Air conditioners are sealed where they connect to the wall or windows. These seals can become damaged which can lead to cool air escaping and general inefficiency.
If there are problems with the seal, these should be dealt with as soon as possible.
4. Protect it During Winter
Seeing as you won’t be using your air conditioner during winter, it’s a good idea to protect the machine from the elements and any debris. Covering the outdoor unit can help to protect it from bad weather, reducing potential damage.
5. Hire a Professional
Although there are certain service checks you can do at home, hiring a professional for annual maintenance will help ensure everything stays running smoothly. Bringing in an expert will make sure that any small problems are caught early on, preventing larger bills in the future.
At Cool-Tec, we offer a professional maintenance and repair service for air conditioning units, ensuring that they stay functioning efficiently and that any problems are identified as soon as possible. Whether you’ve noticed a maintenance issue, or would like to organise regular servicing, fill out our contact form or give our expert team a call on 0800 0189 941.
