A lot of great inventions have taken place throughout the centuries. There have also been some, in the area of home appliances, like the air conditioner. It is due to these inventions that our modern day homes are full of items that have eased our lives to a great extent, but only if we apply proper air conditioner maintenance.
As we all know, these devices are the best alternative when it comes to fighting the heat in summers. Not having an air conditioner in a good functioning condition can make an entire day in the summers miserable. In order to get it working again, you either have to have it repaired, or replace it with a new one.
To make sure you understand the importance of taking care of this appliance, we have jotted down the following points to include in your air conditioner maintenance checklist:
Air Conditioner Maintenance: A Background
The concept of an air conditioner has been around for several hundred years. It is even believed that the concept of an air conditioner was first found by the ancient Egyptians. Therefore, we can easily say that this particular home appliance, as we know it, is an evolution of thousands of years.
Modern air conditioners are made up of three different types, all of which are being used in different parts around the globe. The first one is the window AC which tends to be one of the most powerful ones of all. This is also why hotter regions around the world tend to use window air conditioners. Then there are the splits. Splits are some of the most common types of air conditioners today. The last type is the Portable air conditioning units. They are the least common types of ventless air conditioners today.
Air Conditioner Maintenance Tips
Following are a couple of things about AC unit maintenance that you should know.
Cleaning the Filter
This is one of the most important parts of any air conditioner. Therefore, you should always make sure that the filter you use is clean. This is important because it traps all the dust and impurities from entering the room. If you leave the filter unchecked for a long time, it will get clogged.
Furthermore, air conditioners tend to become faulty with clogged filters. Therefore, to get the most out of it, perform air conditioner maintenance and clean the filter at least once every two weeks.
Gas Leaks
One of the very common problems that people face with an air conditioner is gas leakage. As most modern sets of these home appliances use compressed gas to work, not having regular air conditioner maintenance checks performed may lead to a leakage of gas. Your AC will then completely stop working if this happens.
Intensity of Use
Above all, remember that the air conditioner is a cooling home appliance. It will do its best to keep the room cool. But you can assist it by keeping down the blinds on your windows or closing the curtains in the morning to stop the intense heat of the sun from affecting the temperature of your room.
If you don’t do so, even a slight increase in the temperature of your room will prompt your air conditioner to use more power and work more to balance it accordingly. This in turn can affect the life of your air conditioner. Therefore, in order to keep it functioning at optimum levels, make sure it does not have to work intensively.
Air conditioners are easily among the most common home appliances all over the world. The comfort they offer, especially in hotter seasons, is beyond words. You also have a variety of shapes, sizes and even colors to choose from when buying air conditioners today.
Repair Frequency
This is easily one of the best determinants of the fact that you need to replace your air conditioner with a new one. If this home appliance has broken down or stopped working a couple of times in a short period of time, don’t have it repaired to test it one more time. Discard it, and go for a new one.
Not only will you save money on continuous air conditioner maintenance, but also, the result of the new air conditioner will be fairly better than the old one, making your summers a lot better. However, to make sure the new piece keeps working fine, it is recommended that you run it through periodic checks over time.
Inconsistent Temperature
Another major sign that you need to do some air conditioner maintenance is that it fails to keep the temperature of the room consistent. Often times, people tend to opt for repairs in this case. This issue usually tends to come back around. If this happens at most twice, it is time to go get a new air conditioner.
Exceeding Energy Bills
Sometimes your air conditioner might not show signs of a problem with cooling, but it will affect the electricity bill. If your electricity bill has been exceeding the normal or usual limit, and you are not able to figure out the reason, there is a fair chance it is due to this home appliance.
Conclusion: The Lifespan of an Air Conditioner
The life of an air conditioner ranges from around 9-15 years. Unless perform proper AC maintenance throughout its life, you will not be able to make it to the end without a bunch of repairs coming your way. The best way around the problem is to save the money you plan on spending on air conditioner maintenance, and then add to it and buy a new air conditioner.
Even if your air conditioner is working perfectly fine by the end of its life, it is wise to start searching for a new one since it is bound to break down anytime soon. Air conditioners are available in the market in a number of different prices and sizes. You can opt for the one that matches your needs perfectly.
