It’s difficult to imagine modern life without air conditioning. It used to be a luxury in the recent past but it has become a common appliance these days. Like all appliances, it needs a little TLC every now and then to ensure optimum functioning. A well-maintained air conditioner should last you anywhere from 10 to 15 years. However, many people make some mistakes with their air-conditioner and end up paying higher than necessary utility bills. Here is a list of some of the important things you should know about maintaining your air-conditioner unit in order to keep running it at optimum efficiency.
How your aircon works
An air-conditioner works on a simple principle. It sucks in the air from an enclosed space and the heat exchanger inside the air-conditioner sucks out the heat. The cold air is blown back into the enclosed space which lowers the temperature and gives you that feeling of comfort inside the room. However, when the air-conditioner is sucking in the air from an enclosed space, it also picks up dust, allergens and various other types of contaminants. This is why, all the air-conditioners are fitted with filters to catch the dust and dirt particles. Read more on how aircon works.
Not Cleaning Filters Regularly
These filters need to be cleaned or replaced regularly. If these filters are not cleaned, the air-conditioner will have to work much harder in order to suck in the required amount of air and cool it down. It will not only affect the energy efficiency of your air conditioning unit but will also reduce its service life. You will be forced to replace some of the critical components much earlier than expected. This is why it is important for you to ensure that your air-conditioner is always had has clean air filters. If you have a central air-conditioning unit, it is important to ensure that the filters are cleaned at least once a month. While many of these units feature replaceable air filters, you can also invest in washable filters. These filters can be easily washed and put back. As far as cleaning the filter is concerned, just follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer.
Wrong Aircon Location
Another common mistake is the location of the air-conditioner. If you place your air-conditioner at the wrong place, it will have to work much harder in order to exchange the heat and that will show up as higher utility bills. This is why experts recommend installing your air-conditioner in a shady spot. If you have a window unit, it is important to make sure that the gap between the window and the air-conditioner is properly sealed. If it isn’t properly sealed, the cold air will leak out and again, your air-conditioner will have to work harder in order to maintain the desired temperature inside the room. There are many affordable options available today to seal the window properly.
The modern air-conditioners have a number of sensors. These sensors are designed to read the temperature inside the room and deliver efficient performance by switching on and off the air conditioning unit, as and when needed. However, these sensors need to be at the right place in order for them to work. One of the most common mistakes made by people is that they surround the air-conditioning unit with other appliances. All appliances give off heat and when they are placed too close to the sensor in the air-conditioning unit, it will lead to wrong readings and that will naturally cause the air-conditioning unit to switch on and off much more frequently. When the unit switches on and off frequently, it puts unnecessary strain on the components inside and may lead to extensive repairs or costly replacements.
In order to keep your utility bills in check, experts recommend keeping the blinds on the sunny side of the home closed in order to prevent sunlight from entering in and raising the temperature inside. It is also recommended to use your air-conditioner only when necessary. Keep in mind that air-conditioners are heat exchangers and heat exchangers require a lot of energy to function. This is why you should not use air-conditioners unnecessarily.
Schedule Aircon Servicing
One of the key factors that affect the performance of an air-conditioner or for that matter, any other electrical appliance is preventive maintenance. Without regular servicing and maintenance, your air conditioner won’t last as long as it could with proper preventive maintenance and regular servicing. This is why it is recommended to hire the aircon services of a professional to get the air-conditioner cleaned at least once a year. In case you are going to run the air-conditioner for prolonged periods of time, it is better to get it cleaned at least twice a year. It is also recommended to sign up for annual servicing to ensure that your air conditioner keeps running at optimum efficiency for its expected service life.
Overall, an air-conditioner has become a necessity today. Like all electrical appliances, it also needs regular servicing and maintenance to ensure optimum efficiency over its expected service life. Avoid the above-mentioned mistakes to keep enjoying your air-conditioner for many years to come.
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