Air conditioners are an integral part of any home. They help you to remain comfortable and cool even during the hottest summer days. To make sure that your AC unit is always running at peak performance, you should keep up with regular maintenance. It may be difficult to determine whether you should service your AC unit yourself or call in professional air conditioning service providers.
Reasons Against Servicing Your AC Unit by Yourself
Though taking a look at your AC unit may be tempting, you are advised against servicing your AC unit on your own. This is because servicing an air conditioner requires specialized tools and diagnostics procedures. There are some things you can do yourself in order to keep your air conditioner running smoothly. You shouldn’t service your AC unit on your own to avoid some of the following:
Damaging the System
Without accurate knowledge about the working of the system, you could accidentally mishandle a component causing damage.
Overlooking or Missing Much-needed Repairs
Professional AC service technicians have various manufacturer-specific tools for accurately diagnosing current and potential air conditioning system problems.
Invalidating the Product’s Warranty
If you undertake the servicing yourself and the system fails, you could void your warranty. Once the manufacturer performs an inspection and finds out the repairs were carried out by someone who is not a professional, they may cancel your warranty. You may then have to shoulder very costly repairs.
Risking Your Health and Safety
Inspecting and trying to repair your air conditioner on your own can be dangerous. The unit is filled with electrical components that can cause injury or death if handled incorrectly.
AC Unit Problems You Can Try To Fix Yourself
Here are some things you can do yourself to help keep your AC unit running properly:
Change the Filter Frequently
Is your AC unit generating low airflow, tripping circuit breakers, or causing uneven cooling? The air filter could be clogged. Changing the AC unit’s filter frequently helps to keep dust and debris from clogging up your system. A clogged system eventually causes reduced effectiveness.
Clean the Outside Unit
Many homeowners neglect their air conditioners and let dirt clog the various electrical appliances that make up the system. Carefully clean the fan blades and condenser fins by pulling out any debris inside or around the AC unit. Regular cleaning may help to prevent overheating, underperforming, or breaking down altogether. Remember that the unit is delicate and its components can easily break if not handled gently. Also, check the AC unit’s power is off before commencing the cleaning exercise.
Check and Fix the Evaporator Coil Drain Lines
The evaporator coil is the part of your AC unit responsible for cooling your home. It’s made up of a set of tubes and a fan. The fan blows air across rooms to either heat or cool them. The evaporator drain lines are tubes that carry condensation from the coil to a pan below it. Check these lines regularly for blockages or leaks that could cause mold growth in your home if left unchecked for extended periods.
Clean or Replace the Evaporator Cover
Replace your evaporator cover if it is damaged. A damaged or corroded evaporator will not cool properly but will instead hike operating costs.
Check the Thermostat Controls Settings
The thermostat is a device that communicates to your AC unit when to start or stop cooling or heating. If you spend much of your day outdoors, check that your thermostat is adjusted to a higher temperature for that period of time.
This may help reduce its total working time, thus prolonging its life cycle. You may also pay a lower utility bill. Check whether your thermostat is pre-programmable to match your timetable.
Get Reliable Air Conditioning Service Today
The first step to servicing your AC unit is identifying the problem. If you are unable to do so, consider hiring a professional air conditioning service provider. Working on the unit by yourself could damage the system or cause harm to yourself or others in the process. It’s good to remember that your air conditioning unit is a complex machine and should be serviced by certified specialists. A skilled AC unit technician will identify the problem and know how best to work on it safely.
