How to do Maintenance for Your Home Air Conditioning

If you leave something cool in a warm environment, it will eventually warm up. There are a number of the laws of physics that go into how your air cooling system lowers the temperature in your house. Lucky for you, you don't have to know what they are to keep your system running correctly.

Clogging is the cause of most problems you will run into with your air conditioning unit. There are a number of areas that this problem can occur, but many times, dirty drain lines are the the source.

Think of the problems that clogged arteries create in a human heart. The dirty drain lines will cause your AC to experience something similar to heart attack. There will be a reduction in cooling capacity and compressors may stop functioning as well.

Drain lines and condensate pans are common to all systems. Your AC will de-humidify the air as well as cool it. The moisture is taken from the inside of the system, through the cooling coil, and into the condensate pan.

The minerals and mildew in that water is what causes the drain lines to clog up. To reduce the effects of this, it is recommended that your system be cleaned quarterly. All you need is a wire brush, commercial coil cleaner and a few minutes every couple of months to eliminate this problem.

There are some preventative measures you can take to reduce the chance of this happening ahead of time. A new filter at the beginning of the season and every month of use after that will help. Make sure your filters have an anti-microbial capacity.

Mold, mildew and algae buildup can be prevented with these types of filters. This will help keep dust down in your house, as well as prevent your family from suffering certain health problems that are associated with poor air quality.

Dust mites and dust-borne pollen will intensify the symptoms of allergy sufferers in your home. Keeping the system clean will go a long way in helping them stay healthy and comfortable.

Even with the best filters, your system can still experience moisture buildup that will cause mold, mildew and algae problems. If this problem is too severe, you may need to contact a professional. A mild disinfectant sprayed into the filter intake should do the trick for smaller jobs, though.

The manufacturer will provide instructions for maintaining the life and efficiency of the motor as well. Usually, a few drops of electric motor oil sprayed into the oil ports once a year is all that is required. Also, take some time to check the blower fan for signs of mold and mildew.

The temperature of your system should be cooler than any other area of the house. Cool air will come out of the duct approximately 15-25 degrees cooler than the air in your house. It will then warm up slightly as it moves away from the unit.

A stem type or electric wire thermometer should be used to check the duct temperature. If the air is not cool enough, check the filters, lines and circuit breakers. If that doesn't work, you should contact a professional. Following these tips will keep your system running smooth and your family comfortable.