There are many kinds of air conditioners on the market but here are the most common parts you need to be aware of in order to maintain them properly.
Outdoors
Condenser filters: These are the main radiators for the AC system and their job is to expel the heat removed from the property. They often get caked in sand and must be cleaned regularly. “To complete this thoroughly, the technician should use a power sprayer rather than just the pressure from a domestic tap to ensure these filters are fully cleaned,” says Colin Thomas, Business Partner, Jim Will Fix It Services. Compressors: These are the main engines of the system responsible for circulating the coolant. The technician should check both electrical and mechanical conditions to ward off future failures. Capacitors: These act as the starter motor for the compressor. If your AC fails suddenly, a failed capacitor is often the culprit. Filter dryers: The gas must be kept both clean and dry to be effective and the filter dryers do this job. The technician should check that these are not blocked and are operating correctly. Gas pressures: The correct gas pressure is critical to the effective cooling of your system and hence must be monitored closely. Wiring:Because all of the wiring and electrical components are exposed to harsh elements, general checks of all wiring should be included each time the unit is serviced.
Indoors
Evaporator air filters: These should be cleaned to maximise airflow through the unit and disinfected to ensure any bacteria present is killed off. Fan motors: Noisy fan motors are easy to fix. The technician should check noise and realign the fan motor, check the fan blowers are not damaged and also tighten the mounts. Evaporator waste: The number one cause of AC leakage is blockage caused by dirt build-up from the evaporator. Evaporator trays: The tray is there to catch the water produced as a result of air being cooled and hence tends to get gunky with dirt and grease carried in the air. As a bare minimum, these trays should be disinfected and ideally removed and power washed regularly. In-room air vents: Air vents in each room should be cleaned during every service. Most vents have removable filaments to make this easier and more thorough. Temperature check: This is the final check to carry out to ensure that the whole system is working properly. Laser temperature gauges can read the temperature of the air coming out of the vents to 0.1 of a degree and for an average split AC, the reading should be between 15 and 17 degrees Celsius.
