The importance of timely air conditioning inspections and maintenance cannot be overstated. By setting up a regular maintenance and servicing schedule, you can avoid high energy bills, dangerous F-gas leaks, unpleasant air contamination, costly downtime, and much more. Can you save money by inspecting the air conditioning system yourself? While professional preventive maintenance is strongly recommended, there are some basic inspection and maintenance tasks you can carry out in-house:
Remove Visible Dirt and Debris
Depending on the environment you are using the system in, it may get covered with dirt and debris on a regular basis. This can clog the filters, coils and fans and cause the system to overheat and shut down. To keep it functioning longer, clean the filters and external parts of the unit on a monthly to quarterly basis. Always turn them off before you do.
Test Airflow
The simplest way to check if the airflow is sufficient is to use feel it or you could a piece of string or toilet paper and hold it in front of the vent. If the string or toilet paper goes horizontal, the airflow should be sufficient. The main reasons for decreased airflow is from blocked vents, clogged and dirty filters and dirty and blocked coils.
Monitor Temperature
If you’ve got the correct air conditioning system for the space, it should be able to cool the area relatively quickly. Check that the system is doing its job by measuring the actual temperatures in the workplace or home. If the temperature doesn’t match the numbers displayed on the air conditioning unit, there may be a problem with the system and an engineer visit will be required.
Check For Noisy Operation
When you are inspecting your a/c system, always pay attention to the noise it’s making. If the air conditioner suddenly sounds louder or makes noises you’ve never heard it make before, turn the unit off and call for help. Even if the a/c is working properly, strange sounds could signal problems such as fan motor breakdown, or loose or broken parts in the system.
Find Out More
At ACE Services, we can help you set up a thorough and effective maintenance schedule for your air conditioning system. We offer a wide range of a/c repair services as well. For more information about troubleshooting your a/c system yourself, please download our free e-book, The Commercial Air Conditioning Assessment Checklist.
Image source: Pixabay