If you’re a native Aussie or you’ve lived down under for a while, you’ll know how scorching summer in Australia can be. While most of the world is whacking the heating on, you’ll be turning to your air conditioner to save the day!
For this reason, your home air-con system must be working perfectly. You may not realise, but your AC unit should have regular servicing to keep it in tip-top condition.
In this blog, you’ll find lots of useful information and tips about maintaining air conditioners. But first, let’s look at how often they should be serviced.
How often does an air conditioning system need servicing?
Many air conditioning experts recommend you have yours serviced at least once a year. This is especially important if you don’t use it all year round.
If your air conditioner’s been sitting twiddling its thumbs throughout the winter months collecting dust, you can guarantee it’ll need a pre-summer freshen up.
It’s advisable to book your annual service around the same time every year so you know when it was last done.
Another tip is to plan your air conditioning service a couple of months before the hot weather usually makes an appearance. This ensures you’re not left without it during sweltering temperatures.
Signs that your air conditioner needs a service
You want your AC unit to be in full working order, but how do you know if it requires some TLC? These are a few warning signs to look out for:
- Blowing out warm air instead of cool air
- Reduced efficiency and poor airflow
- Leaks
- Unpleasant odours
- Inability to keep moisture levels low
- Will not turn on
- Will not turn off
- Is freezing up
- Making loud buzzing noises
While you may be tempted to perform DIY repairs, it’s best to contact a professional. An air conditioning unit is a complex system and any DIY attempts could end in disaster! Our qualified technicians will have your system up and running again in no time.
How do I service my air conditioner?
Do it yourself
Something many home air conditioning owners ask is whether they should attempt DIY servicing or not? When it comes to actually servicing your air conditioner, always enlist the help of a qualified technician.
However, you can do a bit of basic cleaning and regular maintenance yourself. You can do small tasks such as cleaning or replacing the filter and maintaining the unit’s housing.
These are great ways of keeping your air conditioner in good shape and you may not need to have it professionally serviced as often.
However, deep cleaning the unit may not be easy to do on your own, so it’s always better to contact a professional team!
Hire a professional
If your air conditioner needs more than just routine maintenance, make sure you call an expert technician. A specially trained expert will be able to diagnose the issue with your air conditioner and find a solution.
They should check for things such as:
- The airflow through the evaporator coil
- Any duct leakages in the central systems
- That the thermostat is accurate
- The cooling system and heating system aren’t working simultaneously
- Collect any refrigerant that needs to be taken out of the system, rather than releasing it into the environment, which is illegal.
Remember, your air conditioner is an intricate machine and anything other than general cleaning or maintenance should only be carried out by a professional!
Air conditioner parts that need to be maintained
Filters
The filter is one of the most essential parts of your air conditioner unit. Regular maintenance is essential for it to work effectively and efficiently.
A dirty, clogged filter will block the airflow and prevent the unit from functioning correctly. If the airflow is restricted, any air that passes through the filter may carry grime, dirt and other nasties into the coils and impair them.
Changing the dirty filter with a new, clean one can reduce your home air conditioning unit’s energy usage by up to 15%.
Coils
The evaporator coil and the condenser coil can both accumulate dirt after months of use. Clean filters make sure the evaporator coil doesn’t become dirty too quickly. However, over time the coil will soil anyway.
This build-up of dirt and grime blocks the airflow, meaning the coil won’t be able to absorb the heat. To prevent this problem, give the evaporator coil a clean every year and check it regularly.
Fins
The evaporator and condenser coils have aluminium fins. These fins can be bent easily and in turn, block the airflow through the coils.
You may need to buy a fin comb. These combs will help push the fins back to their (almost) original position.
Drains
It’s a good idea to occasionally poke a stiff wire into your air conditioner’s drains. Blocked drains stop the unit from reducing the humidity levels.
Because of this, you may end up with discoloured carpets or walls because of the excess moisture.
Air conditioner FAQs
What happens if AC is not serviced?
Once you’ve had your air conditioner unit installed, it can be tempting to just leave it to its own devices and not bother servicing it. However, like other technical gadgets, an air-con system also needs regular upkeep.
If you don’t, it could result in costly repair bills or worse, the air conditioner will break down completely. The last thing you want is summer in Australia without a functioning air conditioning system!
Do central air conditioners need to be serviced?
Yes! If you want to have a fully functioning air conditioner and save money on repair bills, servicing your unit is essential.
Dirty air filters, poor energy efficiency and low air quality are just a few things that can happen if it isn’t serviced regularly.
Maintaining yours through the winter will also help to keep it in good condition. Over the cold months, cover your home unit or remove it completely and put it into storage. You can also cover the outdoor unit to protect it from debris and harmful winter weather.
