Whether you are in a commercial building or a residential home, your air conditioner needs to be properly maintained to perform at the highest level of efficiency. Much of the required cleaning and tune-up work is performed during preventive maintenance visits. However, routinely performing the tasks that do not require technical expertise is always a good idea -especially since the most intense heat (and the greatest tax on your air conditioner) generally occurs between preventive maintenance visits.

Here are a few tips on how to care for your commercial or residential air conditioner between visits:

Keep an eye on your condensing unit

Condensing units are generally located outside your home or building. This leaves them open to dirt, leaves, and various other types of debris that can clog airflow and reduce efficiency. Given the extremely delicate nature of the fins inside your condensing unit, a full cleaning is best left to a trusted professional. However, keeping the condensing unit out of harm’s way can be extremely beneficial. This means keeping it free of buildup such as weeds, grass or tree branches as much as possible.

Evaluate your filter needs

All of our maintenance plans include changing filters. How often we do this depends on the type of space and how it’s used. For example, a restaurant that has cooks sending smoke and grease into the air will need AC filter changes more often than building owners in other industries. Similarly, a homeowner with 3 dogs may need their filters to be changed more often than a family without pets. If your situation changes, or you think something may be clogging your filter faster than expected, you should notify a heating & cooling professional to ensure that your needs are met at the next maintenance visit.

Clean your evaporator

If you choose to operate your business or home without a maintenance plan, it is important to at least clean your evaporator a couple of times a year. A basic cleaning of the underside of the evaporator can be done with a brush with stiff bristles. The tray under it can be cleaned with a damp cloth. Please keep in mind that these are only basic methods of caring for your system, and that you should have it inspected by a qualified professional each year to ensure safety and efficiency.

If you have questions about your system, or would like to hear more about preventive maintenance plans and how they can help you save money with your system, please call ControlAir at 781-286-0930!