For many homeowners, air conditioner maintenance can seem daunting, but it doesn’t need to be. While most air conditioner maintenance is best left to the professionals, there are a handful of things you can take care of yourself, but more importantly, there are a few things you should never do.
Air Conditioner Don’ts
Patch Refrigerant Leaks
It should go without saying because HVAC refrigerant is known to be harmful if handled improperly, but one piece of air conditioner maintenance you should never attempt to complete is patching refrigerant leaks. You could end up doing serious harm to yourself or others if you come in contact with the refrigerant and it requires more than duct tape to fix a leak, so it’s better to leave it to the professionals.
Open Up Your Unit
If you ever find yourself going to complete your routine maintenance with a screwdriver in hand, stop. It’s never a good idea for anyone who isn’t licensed to attempt to open up their cooling system and clean it or complete repairs.
Attempt DIY Repairs
There may be instructional videos for how to complete air conditioner repairs or maintenance online, but that doesn’t mean that it’s a good idea to follow them. We strongly recommend that if you aren’t a licensed technician, consider leaving the repairs to the pros.
Air Conditioner Do’s
Change Filter
One of the most important and easy air conditioner maintenance tasks that any homeowner can complete is changing their furnace filter regularly. You should change your filter at least every 90 days, but in some cases, if you have lots of pets or people living in your home, you may need to change it more frequently.
Visual Inspection
Even if you don’t have extensive air conditioner knowledge, you can easily complete a visual inspection if you know what to look for. First, make sure that there is at least two to three feet of open space around your unit and clear away any foliage or debris in that space. Secondly, it’s a good idea to check that your unit is sitting level once a year because if it’s not, it could lead to a malfunction.
Annual Maintenance
Although you can’t complete your annual air conditioner maintenance yourself, you can call a licensed HVAC technician to complete it for you. Booking your annual maintenance early will ensure that your warranty remains valid and your system runs efficiently.
Does your air conditioner need professional maintenance?
The licensed technicians at Delta can help!
The team of HVAC experts at Delta have been proudly serving the Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, and Guelph regions heating and cooling needs since the 1950s. We are committed to providing our clients with cost-effective solutions and high-quality equipment.
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