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Regular Air Conditioning Maintenance
02/08/12
Neglecting necessary maintenance ensures
a steady decline in air conditioning performance while energy
use steadily increases.
Keeping your system properly maintained will lower energy
and repair costs, prevent breakdowns and prolong the life
of your equipment. Some maintenance jobs should be left to
the professionals, but there is much that you, as a homeowner,
can do to prolong the life of your equipment, keeping it running
at peak efficiency.
Air Conditioner Filters
The most important maintenance task that will ensure the
efficiency of your air conditioner is to routinely replace
or clean its filters. Clogged, dirty filters block normal
airflow and reduce a system's efficiency significantly. With
normal airflow obstructed, air that bypasses the filter may
carry dirt directly into the evaporator coil and impair the
coil's heat-absorbing capacity. Filters are located somewhere
along the return duct's length. Common filter locations are
in walls, ceilings, furnaces, or in the air conditioner itself.
Some types of filters are reusable; others must be replaced.
They are available in a variety of types and efficiencies.
Clean or replace your air conditioning system's filter or
filters every month or two during the cooling season. Filters
may need more frequent attention if the air conditioner is
in constant use, is subjected to dusty conditions, or you
have fur-bearing pets in the house. If you use a disposable
type filter, it's always wise to keep several spares inside
the house.
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