Keeping central air conditioners clean keeps cool air flowing throughout your home and improves indoor air quality. At Johnson & Johnson Heating and Air Conditioning, we provide premium maintenance and repairs for HVAC in Martinsburg, WV. However, there are several ways that homeowners can participate in maintaining an AC for optimal performance.
Make sure to follow the air conditioner maintenance tips below to keep your air conditioning unit in optimal condition.
Get a Programmable Thermostat
With a programmable thermostat, your AC unit will turn on at preset times to lower the temperature while saving you money. Use monitor technology to avoid hovering over the dial. If you aren’t sure what type of programmable thermostat to use, one of our licensed HVAC contractors can suggest the best thermostat to retrofit to your AC. A programmable thermostat can lengthen the service life of your unit and reduce the need for air conditioner maintenance in your home.
Maintaining an AC Includes Changing Your Air Filter
We highly recommend changing your air filters regularly, about once a month. This reduces the accumulation of dust, dirt, and allergens that block airflow and compromise the health of pets and family members. Your air filter works to stop dirt, dander, and dust from penetrating rooms throughout your home. A dirty filter works harder than it should, creating more wear and tear on your cooling system. Fortunately, it’s easy to figure out how to change the air filter and only takes a few minutes.
Keep the Coils Clean
Air conditioner coils include the evaporator coil and condenser coil. Keep the coils clean to help ensure your air conditioner works well throughout the cooling season. Maintaining an AC can help keep your system working well when you need it most. The coils become covered in dirt, which acts as an insulator and prevents the coils from absorbing heat.
You can avoid putting unnecessary strain on your air conditioning unit by cleaning the coils or calling us to clean the unit. Additionally, investing in a fin comb can help you straighten bent fins that hinder airflow.
Check Wiring and Components During Air Conditioning Maintenance
The internal connections in your air conditioner keep it running optimally. To avoid inefficient cooling, you can perform light air conditioning maintenance to check the wiring and components. Start by looking under the hood of your outdoor unit for old wiring, rust, and moisture damage.
Once you open up the air conditioner, check that all electrical connections are tight. If not, you can tighten on your own or call one of our HVAC technicians for a full inspection of your condenser unit and other AC components.
Devoting a few minutes to air conditioner maintenance each year can help extend the life of your air conditioning unit. Ask about the maintenance plans available at Johnson & Johnson Heating and Air Conditioning.
Clean the Outside Unit
When you need air conditioning repair in Frederick, MD, there are things you can do on your own and things that are better left to the professionals. Maintaining an AC includes keeping the outside unit clean. In most homes, the condenser unit remains outside the house to pull in fresh air for your air conditioning unit.
First, shut off power to your outside unit. Then, clear the area around the unit so that it’s free of leaves and other debris that may have accumulated. It’s essential to check the condensate drain to make sure it’s draining properly.
You can use a garden hose to wash off debris and dirt. To avoid damage, put the hose at an angle to the surface of the unit. Power washers can damage the coil fins and components, so it’s best to avoid them.
Johnson & Johnson Heating and Air Conditioning provides comprehensive air conditioning maintenance to keep your unit operating efficiently. Contact us for HVAC services in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and the surrounding communities.
