Is Routine Air Conditioning Maintenance Really Necessary?

Today, with the availability of air conditioners, spending your summers more comfortably has become much easier; you can just kick back and relax on the couch, play a game of scrabble or simply enjoy a movie or a football match with your family and friends. To make sure that there is no full stop when it comes to your comfort, the regular servicing of the air conditioner is a must.

Air conditioners are well-engineered products which require specialized skills & knowledge for installation as well as maintenance. In fact, as a standard practice, the installation process needs to foresee accessibility for maintenance & service of the air conditioners.

Many a time, people tend to buy higher efficiency (star rating) air conditioner. However, they skip on getting their air conditioners serviced thinking that the system is working completely fine. As a result, its efficiency starts to drop after a period of time and becomes all too evident. Hence, overlooking the maintenance of air conditioning systems can lead to numerous issues like ineffective cooling, higher energy consumption, and health hazards, to name a few.

Here are the possibilities you are staring at if your air conditioners are not maintained regularly: -

  • Dirty coils which can lead to accumulation of molds and mildew, resulting in poor indoor air quality which is a health risk.
  • Dirty filters that don’t perform their function of filtering out the pollens, allergens, and other airborne particles that enter your house, making you more prone to falling sick.
  • Blocked condenser - This will prevent the heat transfer thus raising the condenser temperature.
  • Other issues - These may include slow functioning thermostat, power malfunction, and leaks.

Preventive maintenance is better than reactive maintenance when it comes to air conditioners – it saves you a lot of hassle and repair expenses in the long run. Irrespective of the type of air conditioning system you have, whether a window or split AC, servicing them regularly is extremely necessary.

Regular AC Maintenance - Things to Look For

There are a few aspects that you need to consider while getting the air conditioners serviced. It is always advisable to schedule the maintenance of air conditioning systems once during the start of summers and if you are using an AC that heats as well, schedule one more check for the winter. The maintenance checks will include the following -

Entire unit clean-up: For this, you can go for AC maintenance services, where an expert will help you to make sure that all the internal parts are clean, undamaged, and functioning properly. It is said that if your air conditioning units are not maintained properly, the unit can lose up to 5-25% of its efficiency.

Cleaning of air filters: Air filters in ACs are responsible for filtering out pollen or other air pollutants that enter your home hence cleaning them regularly is essential. Having a dirty or clogged air filter also leads to utilisation of more energy. This is a very simple task and you can clean the air filters yourself too. But, make sure to the guide and safety manual for the same.

Inspect the air ducts: It is said that air ducts are similar to bloodstreams as they help in supplying fresh air around the house. Though ducts don’t require maintenance, it is always good to get them checked at least once a year to make sure that there are no dust build-ups in the duct, which ultimately allows for better operation.

Other maintenance checks include -

  • Inspecting all the system components
  • Wear and tear of the air conditioner
  • Look out for the minor adjustments or repairs
  • Make sure that the condenser coils are cleaned
  • Check out for the functioning of the thermostat.
  • Inspect for the refrigerant levels.
  • Make sure to look for the blower belt, motor and other moving parts.
  • Check the electrical wiring & their connections.

At times, depending on the type of air conditioning system you have, like split AC, servicing requirements may vary. But, these are the core points that you must get checked without fail.

Why Schedule Maintenance of Air Conditioning Systems is Important

Routine maintenance of your air conditioners can prove to be highly beneficial. It translates to peak efficacy, reduced electricity bills, and is much more cost-effective than paying for breakdown repairs. Above all, regular maintenance ensures a longer lifespan for your air conditioners.

Other benefits of AC maintenance include: -

Higher Energy Efficiency: Having a properly functioning air conditioner means that less energy is used to get the desired temperature out, making it more energy-efficient. This, in turn, contributes to making the environment cleaner and greener.

Better Air Quality: Since all the dirt, molds, and pollutants accumulated in the air filter and coil will be removed, your home interiors will have better and cleaner air quality through air conditioning which will have a positive impact on your overall health and well-being.

Nowadays, AC maintenance services are incredibly easy to avail. So keep your AC(s) well-maintained and your comfort ensured at all times.

21 December 2020