How To Keep Your Central Air Conditioner From Needing Too Many Repairs
While there will always come a time when an aging air conditioning unit will need a repair or two, there are things you want to do to keep it in the best possible shape until then. By taking good care of your central air conditioner over the years, you will be able to cut down on the number of repairs it will need. Here are some of the things that you will want to do:
Properly Winterize the Unit
It is important to make sure that you are not leaving your central air conditioner connected and exposed to the harsh winter weather. Therefore, once the summer heat is no longer an issue, you will want to turn it off and then disconnect it from the main power supply. After you have done that, you will want to clean it off by removing leaves and other debris that may have accumulated over the summer. If you use a garden hose to spray it off, you will want to allow for the central air unit to thoroughly dry and then cover it. You can use a clean construction tarp or a cover specifically designed for your air conditioner. This process will protect it from becoming damaged throughout the winter.
Keep the Freon Level Full
You will want to do your best to keep the Freon level full during the months you are using it. If you allow the coolant level to get too low, you could experience more problems than just not being able to cool off the house. When there is not enough coolant, the central air unit will try to work harder, which will put more strain on it than there should be. This could lead to repairs that would not have been needed to be dealt with if the coolant level was maintained. If you are not comfortable checking or adding more coolant, you can always ask someone to assist you.
Make Sure the Evaporator Coil Is Clean
The evaporator coil can collect a lot of dirt and debris over time. The more it becomes clogged with various debris, the harder your central air unit will have to work. Therefore, you will want to make sure that you are taking the time to spray off the coil, after making sure that the unit is turned off. Allow it to completely dry and then turn it back on. This is something that may only need to be done once or twice a year.
To learn more, talk to companies like the Cape Fear Air Conditioning & Heating Co., Inc.