Tips for air conditioning maintenance

Proper maintenance of the air conditioning guarantees its optimal operation and prolongs the useful life of the equipment, as well as helping to save energy and prevent the accumulation of bad odors and humidity.

Cleaning the filter, cleaning the battery in the outdoor unit and checking the refrigerant gas levels are the three basic pillars of air conditioner maintenance. To these should be added one more, protection in times of prolonged downtime, which implies a review and general cleaning of the equipment at the beginning of each season (before summer if we use the machine in cold mode and before winter if we use cold mode hot).

Air conditioning maintenance: cleaning the indoor unit

Cleaning the indoor unit ensures good maintenance of the air conditioner. The process is quite simple and involves both cleaning the exterior of the split and the filters and drainage of the unit. The objective is to prevent dirt from accumulating inside the machine, hindering its performance, causing higher electricity consumption and causing breakdowns.

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The indoor unit is cleaned with warm soapy water, turning the unit off first and taking care not to damage delicate components such as the coils.

Cleaning the air conditioning filters deserves a separate mention because it is very important. Dust particles accumulate on the filters and, when this occurs in excess, fluff is produced that restricts the air flow causing the device to operate in a forced manner.

The recommendation is to clean the filters once a year or at the beginning of each season. You just have to open the lid of the air conditioning, remove the filters and clean them with a vacuum cleaner or with cold water. Experts advise not to use chemical products (bleaches, disinfectants, scented soaps, etc.) and to let them dry in the air but never in the sun, since they could deform and not fit well when putting them on again.

Regarding the drain, its cleaning and drainage is necessary to avoid the accumulation of dirty water and the appearance of bacteria and bad odors. This review should be done at least once a month.

Air conditioning maintenance: cleaning the outdoor unit

In the outdoor unit there are some of the main components of the air conditioner such as the fan, the compressor or the exchanger. Checking them regularly has two objectives: to prevent the accumulation of dirt and to detect external elements that obstruct the ducts. A visual inspection of the pipes will help you detect these obstructions and plugs.

Optimal air conditioning maintenance also involves checking that the equipment does not leak or leak refrigerant gas. The gas check must always be done by a professional, since its recharge is included in Royal Decree and can only be done by authorized installers. In any case, if you detect that your air conditioner does not cool or cool little, that the copper tubing in the outdoor unit has frozen or that the indoor unit is leaking excessively, it is possible that your air conditioner lacks gas and needs to be done. maintenance.

7 tips to improve the maintenance of your air conditioning

1. Although we can do the basic cleaning of the filters ourselves, it is advisable to have the general air conditioning maintenance carried out by a professional. It will check the coolant levels, the condition of the coils, or the amount of flow from the cooling coils. These three bad items can reduce the efficiency of the unit by up to 40%.

2. Some air conditioners have a device (usually a light) that indicates when the filters should be cleaned depending on where they are located (houses at street level, bedrooms, spaces with carpets, etc.). If your air conditioning has this option, activate it, as it can be useful.

3. When cleaning the air conditioning filters, always consult the user manual and the manufacturer's instructions to be clear about their disassembly and the type of products you can use.

4. To improve the maintenance of the air conditioning and extend its useful life, we must maintain a constant temperature of 24 ° C or 25 ° C. At this temperature comfort is guaranteed and the work, wear and tear of the equipment is less.

5. Check the unit for noise. Today's air conditioners are quite quiet. When they produce noise it can be indicative of operating problems, gas leaks or cracks in the pipes.

6. Take advantage of the sleep function. Some air conditioning systems incorporate a "sleep" function ideal for hours of sleep that maintains the temperature and reduces the work of the equipment. Keeping the fan set in automatic mode, especially when we are not at home, also increases the useful life of the equipment.

7. Fine tuning. In addition to cleaning the indoor and outdoor units, there are other actions such as lubricating and checking engines, checking the diffusers or changing overheated lines related to the use of air conditioning. All these aspects must be taken into account when setting up the equipment.

The periodic checks for the maintenance of the air conditioning must be carried out by an approved technician who checks not only the correct operation of each element, but also that the energy consumption and the pressure is that indicated by the manufacturer.

At Hogan Hot Water and Air, in addition to innovative products, we also offer extensive technical features. Our official after-sales technical service guarantees availability, speed and professionalism in the face of all types of incidents. We also put at your disposal a maintenance service with different modalities to adjust to the needs of each user. If you are interested, contact us.