9 Air Conditioner Maintenance Tips to Increase Your AC’s Lifespan

As global temperature rises, so does the use of air conditioners. Summers in most areas is unbearable without the cool breeze of ACs. Air Conditioners are designed and built to last at least five to ten years, provided that various brands have their unique compressor and service warranty.

However, without proper care and maintenance, this lifespan can drop significantly. They can malfunction and become faulty as well. The number of accidents that occur due to faulty air conditioners is notable. Air conditioner explosions, water leakage, and short circuits are a few of the effects of a poorly maintained AC.

Maintenance keeps the insides clean and running and allows the compressor to work at full performance. And in this article, we will talk about some very useful AC maintenance tips you can do at home.

But before we take a look at these maintenance tips, we need to understand how ACs malfunction so that we can prevent them firsthand.

Reasons behind Air Conditioner Malfunctioning

Like most other machinery, air conditions start to malfunction over time and must be maintained periodically. Some major reasons behind the malfunction of ACs include the following-

• Dust can settle in the vents and fans and internally damage the AC if it is kept uncleaned and unused for months.
• Using the AC daily for 10-14 hours non-stop can cause overheating problems.
• If the evaporator cells do not come in contact with warm air, they will stop functioning and not produce cold airflow.
• Ducts carry the cold air from the AC to your room. If there are holes in the duct, it will prevent proper airflow.
• Having irregular low voltage can damage your AC. Any fluctuation in voltage can cause permanent damage to the compressor.

Maintenance and Care Tips for Air Conditioners

Apart from the regular screwdrivers and pliers, you would need a vacuum pump or blower to clean the duct and vents, a gauge manifold for measuring refrigerant pressure, a temp thermometer, a tube cutter, and a few other tools.

However, if you are not experienced, then it’s best to call professional AC servicing companies for help. You won’t need a repair every often, but once in six months will keep your AC running for a long time.

And for all the DIY-ers, here are some of the most effective tips.

Regularly Replace the Filter

Over time, your air conditioner will slowly accumulate dust, and the cold air might cause moss and other organisms to nest inside the AC. This will clog up the filter, causing the air from the AC to be polluted and harmful.

To ensure the air quality remains good and fresh, you must routinely change the filter. Generally, it is advised that you change your filter every two months. If it is not possible to replace your AC filter every two months, you can replace them within three months but no more. The longer you extend, the worse the air quality will get.

Use a Ceiling Fan Along with an AC

This is not a maintenance tip but a tip that will help extend the life of your air conditioner. We all know that cold air is heavier than warm air. So the air from your air conditioner will compile on the floor and slowly cover the room.

It will take a long time to equally cool the room, putting a lot of strain on the air conditioner as it needs to pump out more cool air.

However, if you use a ceiling fan and an air conditioner, the fan will help circulate the air equally throughout the room and make it cool faster.

You will notice that you will not need to keep your AC turned on for long if you use a ceiling fan. This reduces the stress on your AC and hence electricity consumption.

Keep All Doors and Windows Locked

Similar to the previous point, this tip is not about maintenance but about how to take care of your AC. If the air from your room leaks outside, the room will practically not be at the right temperature, resulting in the AC continuously trying to cool down the room.

This extra stress can cause technical harm to the air conditioner. So it would help if you locked all the doors and windows so the air could stay inside. This will help cool down the room faster and will ensure your AC lasts a long period without any problem.

Clean The Outdoor Unit

The outdoor unit (compressor/condenser) is a vital part of the air conditioning system. It helps regulate the air and increases air conditioner efficiency. The more fluently air passes through the outdoor unit. The more effectively the air conditioner will function.

So, properly cleaning the outdoor unit should be in your best interest. Otherwise, air will not pass through the condenser; thus, you will not get proper airflow out of the air conditioner inside your room.

If there are obstacles, such as boxes or plant pots in front of the outdoor unit, remove them.

Use a Voltage Stabilizer

As mentioned before, a fluctuation in the voltage can damage the AC. Air conditioners are delicate electronic devices and require a steady flow of electricity. If the airflow is too high, the AC will pump out more air than it should, causing the circuit to burn or causing severe damage.

On the other hand, if the voltage is too low, then the AC will not be gaining the right amount of electricity and will not be able to cool down the room efficiently, causing more stress as it tries to cool the room down forcefully. So a voltage stabilizer could be of great help, especially if you live in a problematic area.

Get a Programmable Thermostat

It isn’t easy to properly manage your air conditioning unit without a thermostat. Yes, you can manually control the air conditioner with a remote controller. But often, that will lead to your air conditioner pumping out more cool air before you notice it.

So to make sure that the air conditioner is pumping out the air in the right amount and then shutting down when the room reaches the desired temperature, you must have a programmable thermostat.

This will not only save the efficiency of the air conditioner but also save power and reduce your electric bill.

Regularly Check the Insulator

The insulator is the part of the AC that checks the thermal efficiency of the copper piping around the HVAC system. The copper piping transfers refrigerant between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit.

So if there are any problems with the insulators, there will be nothing monitoring the flow of the refrigerants.

Just like the filters, it is also important that you check the insulators of your air conditioner every three months. If you see any sign of damage, usually caused by pests, insects, or harsh weather, contact an experienced electrician and get it fixed.

Clean the AC Drain

While using your AC, you will sometimes notice that the air coming out of the AC smells peculiar. The air conditioner might even have a bad odor, which can ruin the room’s environment. This is probably because there are molds in the AC drain.

Molds can occur on the AC drain as they are prone to water getting stuck. This clogged-up water causes mold to start inside the drain pipe, which is the source of the bad smell. So if you want the air to not only cool the room but also smell like clean air, then you must clean the AC drain pipe regularly.

Get an Electrician for Routine Checks

It should be common for you not to know every single part and component of the air conditioner. So, if you try to do the maintenance yourself, you will surely break something or damage some part beyond repair, or you can electrify yourself. You may have wanted to save some money by trying to repair it yourself, but now it will cost you more because you broke it or caused harm to yourself.

So, contact an electrician and let them check your air conditioner for the greater good. If they are well experienced, they can tell you the problem in just one look, and you can take the next action. Therefore, try not to be a hero and ask for help when you cannot figure something out.

Things You Should Not Do

Just as there are some things you must follow for proper maintenance, there are things you must avoid at all costs if you want your AC to last a long time. They are-

• Keeping your AC turned on when you are not at home
• Not covering it when left unused for a long time
• Using it when the AC is making unexpected noise

Final Thoughts

Air conditioners must be properly maintained if you do not want any unnecessary accidents. Reports of air conditioner explosions are not that uncommon nowadays.

So if your AC is not behaving as it should, it is due for AC maintenance. We hope this article has given you some ideas on keeping your AC in good condition and making it last a long time.