There are steps that most homeowners take with their air conditioning systems to maintain their HVAC throughout the year. Most of these steps will prevent your system from having minor issues, but there are additional steps you can take that will help reduce costly repairs down the road. Here are a few of those air conditioning maintenance steps and how they can help reduce issues that lead to costly repairs and even replacement of your HVAC system:

Cleaning Coils

You may think to check and change the filter to your air conditioning unit, but cleaning the coils may not occur to you. The coils on the air conditioning unit can get covered in dust and other debris. This dust can cause the coils to freeze and the motor in the air conditioning unit to work overtime. Causing this much strain on the motor can cause the motor to burn out in the unit. This will likely mean a replacement motor is necessary. Keep in mind, if the coils go unchecked for too long, you may also be looking at damage to the coils themselves and even the fan belt from the strain on the motor.

Cleaning Drainage Areas

Most air conditioning units have some form of drainage pipe. This drainage is to help remove the condensed water from the evaporator coils. The water is usually taken through a pipe and out of the home. The problem is, the pipe can become clogged with dust or debris. This buildup can cause the unit to back up with condensed water which can cause leaking issues and damage to the floor around the unit. If the floor around the unit is damaged from water that did not drain properly, the unit can become unsettled, and experience rusting that may lead to costly repairs. The drain can be cleaned easily with small tablets that are placed near the drain to break down the debris that could clog the drain.

Cleaning the Outdoor Unit

If you have a central air conditioning unit, you likely have an outdoor portion of your system. This outdoor unit can have several issues that can be avoided with easy maintenance tasks. For example, weeds and organic debris can grow around and get into the unit. This can cause the blades to stop working or the motor to overheat. By simple cleaning around the area, making sure the vents are clear and making sure the filters are clear you can help reduce issues with the outdoor unit.

Ideally, you should be performing air conditioning maintenance on a routine basis. However, life can be chaotic, and you may forget. If this is the case, consider contacting your HVAC or air conditioning maintenance professional and set-up a yearly maintenance service package. Most HVAC companies offer this and include routine visits for maintenance and seasonal cleaning.

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