Preventative maintenance for your household appliances is one of the crucial factors that contribute to the long life of your home equipment.
The same way ordinary wear and tear on your car demands regular maintenance, exposure to the elements and the consistent, workload means your air conditioner needs a bit of TLC from time to time.
Maintenance checks every year help to pinpoint small problems before they develop into larger issues. Something as guiltless as a layer of leaves on your open-air unit can ultimately cause your entire system to fall short. Repairs are much more expensive than an HVAC preventative maintenance check done.
Here is a list of tasks that you can add to your routine to help keep your system in decent shape between your regular maintenance checks.
Change the air filter every 30 days.
No chore is more important to protect your family’s health and safety than regular air filter changes.
Dirty air filters do not clean the air that flows into your home. You will not notice the poor air quality in your home until you replace the air filter. A filthy air filter results in the accumulation of dust around the house, elevated utility bills and respiratory problems.
If the airflow in your home is hampered, you are more likely to find mould behind the walls.
Clean or replace your air filters once a month.
Clear the drain tubes
Condensation accumulates in your air conditioning system and drains out through a set of tubes. When left to settle, the pipes can be a breeding ground for fungus and mould, which can spread throughout and clog your entire drainage system.
Between maintenance checks, inspect the drain monthly. If you find any liquid settling in your drain pan or in the pipe, try to clean out the debris blocking its escape.
To keep filth and muck from growing in the drain pipes, add 1/4 cup bleach mixed with 3/4 cup water directly to your drain line’s access port every three months. If the plug to the access port has a wire coming out of it, be sure to switch your air conditioner’s breaker off before you remove the cap.
The condenser can be a pain
A clogged condenser can be the most common reason for early-summer emergency repair calls to your HVAC technician.
During the fall, winter and spring months your condenser can get clogged with leaves and dirt and other residues. This hampers air circulation and ultimately keeps your air conditioning unit from cooling the house.
Every month, you should inspect your air conditioner’s outdoor unit. Trim any grass, weeds, hedges, or other plants that grow around the unit. Remove leaves or dirt that may be stuck inside. Finish up by switching off your unit and rinsing the outside surface. A garden hose with a spray nozzle will work just fine.
Keep the thermostat running properly
Your HVAC technician should calibrate your thermostat as part of their annual maintenance check, but if it knocks out between routine check-ups, the batteries are easy to replace.
There are thermostats that have flip open battery covers, but usually you would have to gently pull the thermostat or its faceplate off the wall. Turn off the breaker to the thermostat, switch the batteries and put the thermostat back in place.
We recommend you keep doing these simple tasks between your regular air conditioning preventative maintenance checks, the rest is best left up to your local HVAC technician.
If you are looking for an experienced and affordable heating and cooling contractor in Ottawa to handle all your Ottawa HVAC needs, then give us a call to get professional help with your central air conditioner, furnace or fireplace for a complete home comfort experience. We have decades of experience in home heating and cooling and Capital City Heating & Cooling provides all HVAC services including heating & air conditioning installation, repair, service & maintenance in Ottawa and surrounding areas.