One of the Home Appliances that the people of UAE can’t even dream of living without is probably the AC. Everything starts falling apart as soon as an AC stops working. Calling an AC servicing guy is probably the most apt thing you can do in situations like this. But there are many maintenance related issues that you can easily avert by following simple DIY tips and ensure that the AC keeps on performing as desired.
Following are some AC maintenance DIY tips that you can easily follow
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Safety first
Whatever you do with the AC, always ensure that you keep it disconnected from the power supply before proceeding ahead. An Air Conditioner has many moving parts and moreover it is always advisable to work with caution while working around electricity. For ACs with exterior condenser or compressor, make sure to shut off the box near the unit and also turn off the power at the breaker box.
Removal of Waste
Different ACs have different procedures for opening it up so that you can clean the interior. Removing the filter will expose the cooling coils which you can clean with a piece of semi-wet or dry cloth. After removing the filter, you will see screws for opening up the inner cover. The interior can be cleaned with hand itself, or with a wet/dry vacuum.
Caution while cleaning fins
It is highly important that you do not use a pressure washer while cleaning the fins as it will definitely end up damaging the fins. Using a relatively strong stream of a garden hose is advisable to spray at the fins to blast out the dirt and debris that accumulate over time and in turn damages the fins. You can also use fin cleaning sprays that are available in the market for cleaning the fins.
Cleaning the Inside Parts:
Condenser Base:
It is imperative to clean the pad upon which the condenser sits. This is because over time soil settles beneath the condenser and in the pad which makes the condenser to tip. This is a major issue because an unleveled condenser usually is responsible for failing the compressor sooner than expected.
Evaporator Coil:
To clean the evaporator coil, you will have to remove foil duct tape and remove screws to open out the evaporator coil door. To clean the coil, use a soft brush and remove the accumulated dust. You will also need to spray the coil with no-rinse coil cleaner. If the spray drips in the drain pan, you need to clean it with soap, hot water along with a little bleach.
Evaporator Drain:
The AC works with the principle of sucking in the inside air, taking out its humidity, cooling it and recirculating the air back into the room. The absorbed humidity is let out in the form of water through the evaporator drain. Keeping the drain unclogged is an essential part of AC maintenance services. You can vacuum the drain to easily unclog it. Do make sure to remove the paper filter before vacuuming as otherwise it might get damaged.
Blower Filter:
Normally it is required to change the blower filter at least twice a year. But considering the dust factor of places like UAE, it is recommended to change the filter more often. While replacing the filter, make sure to replace it with one with the same airflow rating.
The AC is a more or less an expensive piece of equipment with even higher repairing cost if once broken. It is always advisable to carry out its maintenance, all that you can, from time to time so to ensure that the AC unit keeps on performing year after year. However, do not mistake the fact that these maintenance points are the only maintenance that the AC requires. There can be countless other issues that only a trained person will be able to tend to. Call for an AC maintenance person if you think your AC is not performing, as it should, before it’s too late.
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