Air Conditioning Maintenance

An air conditioner’s filters, coils, fins, drains and electrical system all require regular maintenance for the unit to function effectively and efficiently throughout its years of service.

Neglecting necessary maintenance ensures a steady decline in air conditioning performance while energy use steadily increases.

From our own experience there is no doubt that air conditioning units that have been professionally maintained on a regular basis far outlast systems that have been neglected.

We are servicing systems today that we installed over 10 years ago, and they are still running as well as the day they were installed. On the other hand we get called out to systems that are only 2 or 3 years old that have been neglected and are breaking down.

Before and after pictures of an air conditioning condensing unit after a maintenance and deep clean. Notice how badly fouled the coil is in the bottom left image. The build up of matted on dirt was so bad that no air whatsoever could pass over the coil, rendering the unit completely ineffective.
Before and after pictures of an air conditioning condensing unit after a maintenance and deep clean. Notice how badly fouled the coil is in the bottom left image. The build up of matted on dirt was so bad that no air whatsoever could pass over the coil, rendering the unit completely ineffective.

Air Conditioning Filters

Deep cleaning evaporator coils
Deep cleaning evaporator coils.

One of the simplest and most important maintenance tasks 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. Replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one can lower your air conditioner’s energy consumption by 5% to 15%.

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.

Air Conditioning Coils

Air conditioning cassette system being deep cleaned
The air con unit is stripped down to allow unhindered access to the evaporator coil.

The air conditioner’s indoor evaporator coil and condenser coil collect dirt over their months and years of service. A clean filter prevents the evaporator coil from soiling quickly.

In time however, the evaporator coil will still collect dirt. This dirt reduces airflow and insulates the coil, reducing its ability to absorb heat. To avoid this problem, the evaporator coil should be professionally deep cleaned at least once a year.

A potentially dangerous build up of bacteria on an air conditioning evaporator coil that had not been professionally maintained.
A potentially dangerous build up of bacteria on an air conditioning evaporator coil that had not been professionally maintained. Sadly, this was found in a well known supermarket butchery department.
Skeleton of a rodent found inside an air conditioning cassette system
The skeletal remains of rodent; Another worrying find inside an air conditioning unit that had never been serviced.

Outdoor condenser coils become very dirty much quicker than the indoor evaporator coils due to their location. If the outdoor environment is particularly dirty, dusty or if there is a lot of plant foliage nearby, condenser coils can become fouled within a couple of months.

You can easily see the condenser coil and notice if dirt is collecting on its fins. The condenser coil should be inspected regularly and any loose debris carefully brushed off.

Similarly to the evaporator coil, it should professionally cleaned with high pressure nitrogen and specialist coil cleaning fluids at least once a year.

Dirty air con condenser coils
An outdoor condensing unit coil on a farm that gets dirty very quickly.

Condensate drains

An air conditioning unit leaking water.
Leaking water: a tell-tale sign of impending issues.

Clogged drain channels and pumps prevent a unit from reducing humidity, and cause water leaks. Water leaks are probably the most common and easily avoidable fault of an air con unit. A proper air conditioning maintenance routine will vastly reduce the chance of leaking air con units.

Electrical Connections

Air conditioning unit electrical connections & pcb board
The electrical connections & pcb boards inside an indoor air con unit.

Over a period of time the electrical connections on your air conditioning unit can loosen. This can lead to greater risk of electrocution and the potential of fire.

As part of the air conditioning maintenance a professional engineer will check and tighten all connections, as well as visually inspect the electrical components and electronic boards for any signs of damage.

Tell-Tale Signs

There are several ways to identify that your air conditioner service is overdue:

  • The unit isn’t cooling or warming as well as it used to.
  • The airflow isn’t as powerful as it used to be.
  • The unit has an unpleasant smell when running.
  • The unit is noisier than normal.
  • The unit has developed a rattle.
  • There are signs of a water leak.

These are the signs that the unit is starting to fail; and it’s time to get it professionally serviced asap to prevent a more serious and costly breakdown.

Legal Obligations

If you have several air conditioners on your site (12kW or more total rated output) you probably fall in to a category where you are legally obliged to have your air conditioning system inspected. This is called a TM44 inspection and you can read more about it here.

Landlords, building owners and a businesses responsible person will also need to be compliant of the F-Gas regulations. These obligations come in to force for a system with just 3kg or more of refrigerant. A system is the total of all the air conditioning units in the building, not just 1 single unit. One sizeable air conditioner alone will hold more than 3kg of refrigerant and 3 or 4 of the smallest ones will also trigger your compliance with the F-Gas regulations of regular air conditioning maintenance, leak testing inspections and supporting documentation.

Hiring a Professional

The installation of your air conditioning system is a major investment. To prolong the life and efficiency of your air conditioner it needs regular maintenance by a professional service technician. A well-trained technician will find and fix many minor problems that will prevent future failure and costly repairs.

Here at Torr we can take care of your maintenance and ensure you are legally compliant with the TM44 & F-Gas regulations.

Contact us now for a free no obligation quote:

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