AC and heat pumps Maintenance

Regular AC maintenance and cleaning can save you hundreds of dollars yearly.

After some time of operation and exposure to elements, dirt and debris will clog the AC filters, coils and blower. Similarly the refrigerant charge and the airflow rate should be tunned up for AC energy savings.

Note:
The Air Conditioners and the Air Heat pumps technologies - and maintenance - are basically the same. The maintenance measures listed here are valid both to AC and heat pumps units.

Air Conditioner Filters

Replacing or cleaning filters is the most important air conditioner maintenance task. Keeping the filters clean will provide energy savings of 10% or more. See: Room and Central AC Filters.

AC Coils

Cleaning filters is important, but with time the indoor evaporator coil will also collect dirt, reducing air flow and blocking the normal airflow. To avoid it, the evaporator coil should be checked every year, and cleaned if significantly dirt.

Outdoor condenser coils can also become very dirty, namely when the outdoor environment is dusty or with foliage nearby. You should check the condenser coil to see if there is dirt on its fins.

Also remove all the possible sources of dirt and debris near the air conditioner condenser: falling leaves, lawn mower, dryer vents... Clean the area around and near the coil. Remove debris and foliage near the condenser, to allow adequate airflow.

See, for details: AC Coils Cleaning

AC Blower Cleaning

See: AC Blower

Professional vs. do-it-yourself job

Room air conditioner cleaning is a do-it-yourself task, if you are sufficiently motivated to undertake it.

Unless you have some experience and very reasonable skills, central AC coils (mainly indoor coils) and blower cleaning should be carried out by a professional technician. Central AC cleaning service may cost you $150-$300, but it may save you many times that value in AC savings…

See:
AC Coils Cleaning
AC Blower
Window air conditioner maintenance