Two-thirds of American homes have an air conditioning system — but not every homeowner maintains it as they should. A mere 42% of U.S. households with air conditioners have these air conditioners serviced each year.
You often don’t even need a repair company to keep your home’s air conditioning system in good condition — in many cases, you can perform these maintenance tasks on your own.
You might be amazed at how much AC maintenance you can do on your own, without the need for a local air conditioning company’s help. Here are three things you can do to keep your home’s air conditioners in top condition:
Clean the condenser coil
Did you know that condenser coils that aren’t regularly cleaned will experience a stunning 27% loss in heat transfer after 18 months of use? The condenser coil on top of your outdoor air conditioning unit should be cleaned at least once a month, especially during the warmer months when your air conditioner is actually in use. To do this, you can simply use soap and water. However, be sure to disconnect power to the unit before cleaning its condenser coil.
Regularly replace your air filters
If you haven’t been replacing the air filters in your system at least once every six months, it’s time to change this habit. Doing this is probably the easiest AC maintenance task of them all. By regularly installing new, clean filters, your air conditioner will extend the lifespan of your unit significantly, and will allow it to cool your home easier. Replacing a dirty filter with a new one can actually reduce the amount of energy your air conditioner consumers by as much as 15%!
Level your outdoor unit
If you have a central air conditioning system that has an outdoor unit, you should regularly check to see if this unit is sitting on level ground. If the ground beneath your outdoor unit shifts, it will place more strain on its compressor and fan motors, making the need for repairs more frequent and shortening the air conditioning system’s lifespan. If you find that your outdoor unit is sitting on an uneven surface, don’t try to level it yourself — call in a professional at this point.
Have any other questions for us on how to do AC maintenance on your own? Feel free to ask us by leaving a comment below.
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