Central Air Conditioner Installation, once done will need constant maintenance. But it could prove costly and if not done right, could send all your money down the drain. Well, luckily we know and understand the predicament and have brought you this article which will explain how to DIY service your AC if there is no serious problem with it
Are You Facing Problems After Getting A Central Air Conditioner Installation
Are you having problems with your central air conditioner? Qualified Carrier Company in Pakistan usually can handle repairs of conditioning systems. But, there are some simple repairs and maintenance that you can do yourself.
For example, your conditioning system doesn’t cool, what do you do? There are times wherein conditioning systems don’t cool because it needs cleaning. First, you need to turn off the power to the unit: unplug it from the main electrical system. Then rake leaves and debris away from the outdoor condenser.
Next, remove any protective grille or cover from the condenser and use a soft brush to clean dirt and debris from the fins and then vacuum the dirt and debris with a brush attachment, making sure that you don’t damage the fins of your central air conditioner. After that, unscrew and lift the top grille off the unit and if the fan is attached to the grille, make sure that you don’t pull any wires loose.
How about the inside unit?
Well you will have to hose down the fins making sure that you protect the wiring and motor with plastic sheeting. Then, if needed, lubricate the motor making sure that you don’t over lubricate.
Then, reassemble the unit and test it. Making sure that one of the pipes that connects to the condenser is warm and the other is cool. If this is not the case, you will need to call a central air conditioner technician. While cleaning your system, make sure that you avoid straining the compressor by waiting at least five minutes before turning if off at the thermostat and turning it back on.
Well, how about if the air conditioner doesn’t turn on automatically? In this case, you have to make sure that the thermostat is set to cool and below the current temperature. The conditioning system should be on a 240-volt circuit, so check your main electrical panel and any secondary circuit panels as there might be a tripped breaker of blown fuse.
Then make sure that the furnace power switch is turned on. Also, the outdoor condensers’ power switch should not been shut off as well as the 240 volt disconnect, which is next to the compressor, is also not shut off. Next, turn off the power to the central air conditioner and then check the thermostat. To do this, you need to remove the thermostat’s cover and unscrew the wire from the Y terminal and then you can turn the power back on.
So how do you check it?
Hold the wire by its insulation and touch the bare end to the R terminal. You have to hold it there for about two minutes and wait if the compressor kicks on, if it does, then the thermostat is faulty. In this case, you will need to call a technician and replace the thermostat. But, if the compressor of your central air conditioner doesn’t go on, you need to turn the power back off and call a technician.
Central air conditioners are a lot more difficult to maintain than smaller units. The difficulty comes with the fact that it is larger and has more parts to take care of. If you are tasked with maintaining one, then there are certain things that you need to know about it.
Central Air Conditioners
The main thing that you should know about central air conditioners is that they have two main components: the condenser and the evaporator. The condenser is normally placed on the outside of a house and on a concrete platform. The evaporator is placed in the inside of the structure, just above the surface.
In most cases a central air conditioner is connected to the forced air system of a structure. That means it also utilizes the same ducts used for distributing heat. A common problem is when the air conditioner is actually working but the distribution system is defective.
Professional Maintenance and Care
The evaporator and the condenser are normally closed and sealed, which means that there are no user serviceable parts in it. Most of the maintenance and care that should be done on a central air conditioner system should be done by professionals. There are some simple tasks though that you can do on your own without having to call in an expert to do it.
Cleaning of the Evaporator
One of the more simple tasks that you can perform is the cleaning of the evaporator. If it is easily accessible then it is something that you can completely do on your own. If not, then you better think twice about doing anything.
- You can clean the underside of the evaporator with a brush.
- You can slide it out a little if you have difficulty in reaching the far end.
- You just have to be careful when you are sliding it out so that do not bend any pipes.
- You should also clean the tray on the bottom of the evaporator.
- You have to make sure that moisture does not collect there.
- You can place some bleach on the pan to prevent the growth of fungus.
Condenser cleaning
Condensers are usually installed outdoors, so care must be taken to avoid collecting dust, leaves, and other debris that can affect unit performance unless they are cleaned regularly. You also need to mow the grass that may grow around the evaporator.
Commercially available coil cleaners are available for capacitor maintenance. These ready-made cleaners are available at the supply store. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using these chemicals.
These are just a few of the things you need to know about central air conditioner installation and maintenance. These ideas can help you save a lot of money when it comes to making sure your air conditioner is working properly.