How to Maintain Your Air Conditioning Units

Abdul Akhtar

Abdul Akhtar

Air conditioning units need regular maintenance to make sure they perform to their full potential.

It prevents breakdowns, maximises energy efficiency and keeps everything working as it’s supposed to.

If you don’t have regular maintenance, it’s common to face blocked filters, water leaks and inconsistent temperatures.

It’s vital you take out a maintenance contract with a professional engineer but there are also simple things you can do yourself to prevent you running into problems.

Check and Clean Your Air Conditioning Filters

You should check and clean your air conditioning filters regularly to make sure the airways are clear and blockage free.

Restricted air flow kills your system’s efficiency, giving you higher energy consumption and electricity bills. The air conditioning has to work harder to keep your building at the right temperature.

Dirty filters also cause lower air temperatures within the unit, which can result in ice formation, water leaks and potentially compressor failures.

Dirty filters are the reason for the vast majority of call-outs, even though cleaning them is a straightforward task. If you’re unsure how to remove your filters and clean them, we’re happy to talk you through it.

An air conditioning engineer will clean the filters during each maintenance visit anyway, so you may never need to touch them. It’s only in dirty environments, such as kitchens, when they might need cleaning more regularly.

Cleaning your filters also keeps your building free from airborne spores, which aid the spread of allergies and viruses. It’s therefore one of the most important ways you can maintain a healthy environment, especially if your colleagues complain about SBS or similar ailments.

Unblock Your Air Conditioning Units

Maintain Your Air Conditioning Indoor UnitKeeping your units free from blockages is vital for making sure your system runs efficiently.

Obstructions prevent air conditioning units from releasing hot or cold air, depending on whether you’re in cooling or heating mode. Air is forced straight back into the units, causing them to short cycle. They then have to work extremely hard to keep your room at the right temperature.

Blocked units are costly to run and consume considerable amounts of energy. They can also cause your system to ice up and leak water, in the same way as dirty filters.

When it comes to outdoor units, the most common debris we find includes leaves and plastic bags. It’s best to check your outdoor units every so often, just to make sure nothing is blocking the airflow. We’ve seen furniture and even machinery stacked in from of the fans, so make sure everyone in your workplace is aware of the potential problems.

Indoor air conditioning units are often blocked by things like furniture and pop-up banners. It’s important you don’t obstruct your units when arranging your office, particularly if you’re putting up temporary displays or storing high level boxes and files.

Take Out a Planned Preventative Maintenance Contract

The most valuable step you can take to protect your air conditioning is taking out a planned preventative maintenance contract.

Routine maintenance prevents expensive call-outs, breakdowns and avoidable repairs, so you don’t need to worry about unnecessary bills or unplanned downtime.

It also protects and extends your warranty, should you ever need to make a claim. If you have a maintenance contract with B-DACS, we can offer up to 7 year warranties, depending on the manufacturer.

If certain parts aren’t checked regularly by a professional engineer, you run the risk of destructive faults, like overspills and pump failures. Apart from being costly to repair, they can cause damage to walls, ceilings and floors.

We can work with you to develop a maintenance schedule that meets your needs. If you plan in advance, we can arrange to come out when it’s convenient to you. If you need more frequent filter cleans, we can do that separately for you at regular intervals.

If you have any questions or want us to survey your equipment, get in touch on 0141 773 3355.

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