Believe it or not summer and warm weather will eventually reach the UK after our long very cold winter and before you know it air conditioning units will be humming into action in offices and shops all over the country. If it’s your job to look after air conditioning units at work now is the perfect time to get all your routine maintenance sorted before the demands of users cause tempers to get overheated.
The filters, coils and fins of your air conditioner’s units all need annual maintenance for it to function efficiently. If you don’t carry out regular maintenance what happens is that there’s a steady decline in the air conditioning performance of the units and that means your energy use will steadily increase.
Air conditioner filters and coils
Your most important maintenance task is to regularly replace or clean each air conditioning unit’s filters. Dirty and clogged-up filters block the normal airflow through the unit and reduce the system’s efficiency significantly. Replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a nice new clean one can lower the air conditioner’s energy consumption by between 5% and 15% – and that means lower bills!
Your air conditioner’s evaporator coil and condenser coil also collect dirt over their months and years of service. A clean filter will prevent the evaporator coil from soiling too quickly, but over time, the evaporator coil still collects dirt. This dirt reduces airflow and insulates the coil, reducing its ability to absorb heat. To avoid this problem, check your evaporator coil every year and clean it when it needs it.
Air conditioning problems
When there are problems and your air conditioner needs more than regular maintenance you need to hire a professional. A well-trained air conditioning technician will find and fix any problems in your air conditioning system.
The technician should:
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Check for the correct amount of refrigerant
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Oil motors and check belts for tightness and wear
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Test for any refrigerant leaks using a leak detector
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Capture any refrigerant that must be evacuated from the system, instead of illegally releasing it to the atmosphere
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Check for and seal duct leakage in central systems
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Measure the airflow through the evaporator coil
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Inspect the electric terminals, clean and tighten the connections, and apply a non-conductive coating if necessary
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Check the accuracy of your thermostat.
We have years of experience of keeping air conditioning systems running efficiently and effectively. Give us a call and we can come and ensure you’re well prepared for the start of the summer season!