The best way to keep your air conditioner in peak condition

With summer in full swing, we turn to our air conditioners for quick relief from the heat. Air conditioners are an essential tool to make your home cool and comfortable during the hot summer months.

A good air conditioning system is a great investment to cope with the often steamy Australian summers. However, if you don’t take care of it, your air conditioner may end up costing you a lot in repairs over the years. The better option is to schedule regular servicing which can reduce repairs and extend the life of your aircon over the long term. In this article, we will walk you through the best ways to keep your aircon in a good condition and what maintenance they require.

Air conditioners regulate temperature and humidity in your home but not many people know that they also help filter airborne particles and improve indoor air quality. However, while doing this the dust and small particles accumulate inside the air conditioner and this buildup needs to be removed at regular intervals to avoid issues. As the dust increases inside the unit, the indoor air quality will deteriorate potentially leading to health issues. The efficiency of the system can also decrease due to the duct since the unit will have to work harder to perform its basic function.

The first thing an expert aircon technician will check out during a service call is the filter, drain line, and coils as these parts of the system can easily get clogged over time. A dirty aircon filter can severely restrict the airflow and impact the cooling ability of your AC unit. A dirty drain line can damage or even ruin some parts of the air conditioner, while a clogged coil may reduce efficiency. The best way to keep on top of all these common problems is by scheduling regular maintenance for your aircon unit.

How often do you need to schedule aircon maintenance?

So, how often do you need to service your air conditioner? The answer to this question depends on many factors - the age of your AC unit, how often it's used, etc. But in general, we recommend scheduling annual maintenance for your air conditioning unit.

Even if your aircon is fairly new and is not causing any issues, we still recommend getting it serviced at least once a year. Furthermore, if you use your aircon during winter for heating as well as through summer, we recommend getting it serviced twice a year. And, if your aircon is being used a lot, scheduling two or more services in a year is advisable.

There are a few maintenance tasks you can do yourself to keep the system running effectively between professional servicing, like cleaning the unit’s louvres and front filter regularly. A filter can be super easy to clean, simply open the cover and remove the filter, clean it following the manufacturer's guidelines, and you are good to go. Make sure the aircon is switched off before carrying out any maintenance.

Keep plants away from the outdoor unit and clean around the unit regularly to ensure dust and garden debris doesn’t get inside the unit. Plus, ensure there’s nothing blocking the airflow to the unit.

What will an air conditioning technician check during the service?

A complete aircon service includes the following:

• Testing of all lines and connections
• Filter clean
• Drain line clear
• Coils clean
• Motor check
• Refrigerant gas level monitoring
• Thermostat
• Airflow

Scheduling regular air conditioner service can help keep your unit in peak condition and save you from costly repairs down the road or peak demand breakdowns. So don't wait - make sure to schedule your service today. Book your aircon service with 1st Call Electrical in Melbourne on 1300 016 671 or complete our online enquiry form.