No matter what your local climate may be like, air conditioners are something seen more and more often as the years go by. We take them as part of our homes and rarely think about the possible maintenance involved in their operation. No matter how well we take care of a machine, it will eventually suffer wear and tear and it will break down. If you take care of your air conditioner the right way and by doing regular maintenance, then it will be by your side for a lot longer than usual. Most of the tasks involved are simple and easy to deal with, however from time to time you will need to do some more serious work. The following article will help when you need to get things done.
The first thing that has to be done is to replace the air filter inside the unit you’re using. You can easily buy them in pretty much any supermarket chain that offers home improvement or domestic supplies. There are different makes of AC units, so make sure you get the right size filter for what your needs may be. Measure the dimensions if you’re not sure what you need to work with, remove the old filter and memorize its dimensions for future reference.
The first action that needs to be made is to turn off the power to the AC unit. This will not only protect you from hurting yourself if you’re working on cleaning it, but it will also protect the AC as well. You can turn off the power form the main fuse box by simply flipping the switch that governs the power fed to the unit to be on the safe side.
The next thing you must do is open the blower section of the AC unit, completely vacuum the leaves, debris and anything else that may have found its way inside. You must do your best to lubricate the motor on a regular basis if it needs it, but only using the proper oil for electric motors. Using any other kind will instead damage the unit, making things a whole lot worse before they get better.
If your unit has to combat higher levels of condensation than usual, it may be possible for algae to grow inside its condensation tube. Neglect of that particular maintenance task may lead to clogging and other issues, so check it often enough to be aware of its condition. Make a solution of water and bleach in a 1:16 ratio and pour it through the tube to wipe away any algae growing inside it. You can also scrub them from the inside if you need to by using a pipe cleaner.
Checking the seals and insulation is also something that needs to be done on a regular basis. Make sure you vacuum all vents from dust, cobwebs or anything else that may cover them. Clean the condenser fins inside the unit with a soft brush, but do so carefully as they may bend if you scrub them too hard. Once that is done, simply restore power to the unit after you put it back together and check its status.
A Guest Post from: http://www.endoftenancycleaning.org.uk/after-builders-cleaning/SW8-after-builders-cleaners-south-lambeth.html
