Is your air conditioner not cooling the way it used to?
Posted by Guest Blogger on May 23, 2013
Did you know that your air conditioner (a/c) system needs to be cleaned? Just like your car and home, you’re a/c needs cleaning in order to run at maximum efficiency.
There are two parts to you’re a/c system, and both require different cleaning methods. The first part is the condenser unit that sits outside your house. Keeping your condenser clean can be as easy as shutting the power off and then using a garden hose to spray the coils on the outside of the a/c. In addition, keeping vegetation away from the a/c also helps. This is because willow trees and other plants release seedlings that can become stuck between the coils. Furthermore, this will trap dust, preventing sufficient air from efficiently flowing through the coils.
The second part is the e-coil that is inside the furnace. The e-coil is the part of the a/c system that allows for air flow throughout your home and provides the cool air that comes out of your register. The furnace filters that make up the e-coil need to be replaced every 30 days or every six months, depending on the filter type. If the e-coil is dirty or not getting sufficient air flow due to a dirty furnace filter, your system will not run as efficiently as it could.
In general not many people put much thought into their a/c systems except when they dont work, but if you keep things clean it will save you money in the long run and also save on you summer cooling bills as well. If the system is dirty, it will run for longer periods of time and work harder than what’s really needed. This creates wasted energy.
Finally, an overall tip to keep in mind is that it is a wise idea to routinely have your ac and furnace tuned up. This is because there are many animals out there that find a/c’s as a convenient place to rest or build nests inside. Many of these service professionals can clean and test your ac system to make sure it is saving you as much energy as it can. Also a little preventative maintenance can go a long way in eliminating problems later on.