Spring is the time of year when people inspect their homes for maintenance purposes, including vital fixtures like air conditioners. Keeping one’s air conditioning in tip-top shape is essential to avoid major damages that may require costly repairs. It would also be good to have some troubleshooting know-how so that small problems detected during a routine spring inspection could be immediately addressed.
An article in The Family Handyman details do-it-yourself aircon cleaning steps that homeowners can follow. According to the article, both the indoor and outdoor components should be checked, starting with the latter. The condenser coils and fan motors should be given particular attention:
Outside, your main job is to clean the condenser coil. The fan inside the condenser coil sucks air through the fins, and as a result, pulls dirt and debris with it. Dust, leaves, dead grass and anything else that collects on the fins will block airflow and reduce the unit’s efficiency. Grass clippings thrown by the lawn mower and “cotton” from cottonwood trees and dandelions are particularly bad offenders. You might have to clear the fins weekly or even daily during the spring “cotton” season! Always begin by shutting off the electrical power.
Then proceed with the cleaning. If the fan motor has lubrication ports, apply five drops of special oil for electric motors (not penetrating or all-purpose oil). You can find oil for electric motors at hardware stores. Many fan motors are maintenance-free—they don’t have oil ports (ours doesn’t) and can’t be lubricated.
Periodic inspections are a must in A/C maintenance, and parts have to be kept clean and free of dust and other particles for optimum performance. Likewise, these check-ups help identify small defects and problems so that they could immediately be addressed before they escalate into major issues.
While DIY inspections, cleaning, and troubleshooting can be helpful in preventing any major air conditioning problems, the services of professionals in air conditioning repair in Champlin, MN, such as Liberty Comfort Systems, are still the better option. An aircon system can be very complicated, particularly for someone who does not have the right training and know-how, and amateur repairs could only make matters worse and damage the unit further.
Skilled specialists, particularly those who are North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certified, are more than capable of servicing any air conditioning-related problems and are equipped with the proper gadgets and tools for the job.
Reputable HVAC contractors are well-versed with the latest in air conditioning technology and can be relied on to do excellent air conditioning repair in Andover, MN, regardless of the brand. While regular care for their A/Cs is a must for homeowners, so are scheduled inspections and maintenance by the pros.
Source: Cleaning Air Conditioners in the Spring, Family Handyman
