Today, our
city got blasted by a massive snowstorm. Cars were getting stuck, visibility
was poor, and people were slipping and sliding all over the quickly-forming icy
roads and sidewalks. At a time like this, the last thing anyone wants to think
about is their AC unit. Why would you think about something that’s meant to
keep you cold, right?
Even during
the frigid winter season, it’s a good idea to think about the coming spring and
summer seasons. If your AC unit isn’t properly protected during these cold
months, when summer rolls around, you’ll find yourself sweating and swearing as
your AC unit refuses to work. During the winter, you should make sure your AC
unit is properly protected against snowfall and debris. The best way to go
about doing this is to cover up the outdoor unit with a tarp or some other sort
of protective material. This will protect the unit from the harsh winter
weather and allow it to last longer.
Protecting
your AC unit from the bad weather is only one aspect of properly caring for and
maintaining your unit. The main kind of maintenance includes doing routine
checkups on you AC during those hot summer months to ensure it’s working at
full potential with the highest energy efficiency possible. When it comes down
to maintenance, there are two big things you always want to check: filters and
coils.
Filters are a huge part of your AC
unit, as they’ll filter out dust from the air to make every breath cleaner and
healthier. If your filter is clogged or
dirty, it’ll block the normal airflow and make the air that does come through polluted. Because of this, a dirty and
clogged filter can reduce your system’s efficiency by as much as 15% and may
cause respiratory problems or even asthma attacks to those that are sensitive
to pollution.
When you’re
looking replace your filter (say the filter is too worn to be cleaned), consider
buying reusable filters for your unit. If reusable, you’ll be able to save some
money on buying new filters. If not, your filter will need to be replaced every
month to two months while you’re using the AC.
Another
huge part of maintaining your AC unit is making sure the coils are in good
shape. By this, I mean make sure the coils aren’t covered in dirt. If the coils
become too dirty, they won’t be able to properly absorb heat from the
atmosphere and your home won’t cool down as nicely. Additionally, dirty coils
means you’ll have your AC on longer to try and cool down your home, which means
a higher energy bill and bigger energy waste.
To ensure
your coils stay clean, check on them every month to two months. Since these
coils are found on your AC unit outside, heavy sandstorms, dust storms, and
even windstorms can add debris and dirt to them. If the environment outside is
particularly dusty, take preventive measures to care for your AC unit. If the
unit is near foliage, make sure the plants are trimmed back to allow 2 feet of
space for the AC system.
When you
think it’s time to buy replacement parts, check plumbersstock.com for some
great discounts on the tools and equipment you need:
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