Importance Of Cleaning Your HVAC Unit
A central air conditioning and heating system must be properly maintained in order for it to operate at peak efficiency. This is particularly true in the Las Vegas area where extreme heat can cause an overworked, under-maintained, system to break down. When the unit fails completely, repair or replacement costs are far higher than what is charged for periodic HVAC system maintenance.
The importance of cleaning your HVAC unit is often underestimated. It can lead to decreased performance and efficiency which will end up costing more money over time. What’s even more important is the health aspect and quality of air in your living space.
An air conditioning unit keeps the air in your home comfortable. You rely on it to keep your family happy and healthy. You also deploy it to make your guests as comfortable as possible during hot summer months. Thus, you should consider regular maintenance checks on your HVAC unit to help it reach its full effectiveness. If you have not cleaned your system out in years, then there is probably a good deal of dirt and debris inside.
Importance Of Keeping The HVAC Unit Clean
Air conditioner systems move large quantities of air throughout the home or office. This air is recirculated, meaning that it is reused by the system. A fan operates above or below a handler unit that contains evaporator coils. As refrigerant moves through the evaporator, the draw from the fan brings room air through the handler. This chilled air passes through the ducts and out through the room registers.
If the ducts become clogged with dust and grit, air movement is slowed. This can lead to poor air movement in and around the evaporator as well, the result is frozen coils. The system will become overworked because the refrigerant cannot circulate back to the condenser unit. The air will not cool properly, and this is a nightmare that no Las Vegas resident wants.
Cleaning The Evaporator Coils
Even with the proper replacement of disposable filters, the evaporator coils will eventually become clogged. In indoor environments where pet hair is shed or where dust buildup is common, the air that escapes around the filters will trap residues of grit and hair against the coils themselves. The coils sweat a little each time the unit is in cool mode. This results in a soggy, matted mass that prevents the air from flowing through the coils and cooling properly.
Professional cleaning of the coils should be done twice a year. With regular maintenance, it’s easier to keep the coils free of dirt buildup. As a result, your HVAC unit can maintain much more efficient air transport. Additionally, cleaning your evaporator coils prevent moist air laden with bacteria from entering the duct network. Failure to keep the ducts free of bacteria can result in dangerous diseases being spread throughout the home or office. The recent outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in New York City was caused primarily because of bacteria buildup in air conditioning ducts.
Condenser Unit Cleaning And Maintenance
The outdoor condenser unit has a large fan that cools both the condenser and the fan motor. Sometimes the motor can fail because it becomes clogged with grit, the contactor points become rusted, or the capacitor unit fails. Periodic maintenance on these units is critical in order to avoid condenser failure during periods of extreme heat. If the condenser becomes overheated, it will shut itself off. In effect, the air will no longer be cooled by the refrigerant. To avoid having to recharge the refrigerant and replace the condenser motor, have this system inspected and cleaned at least once per year.
For complete HVAC service, maintenance procedures, and repair work, call on the experts at The Cooling Company. Serving the entire Las Vegas area, The Cooling Company performs professional cleaning service on evaporator coils and air handlers, condenser motors and fans, and indoor duct networks.
Cleaning Your Filters
Fixing problems in your HVAC system is necessary to ensure the comfort of your home and keep your family happy. Some people decide to spend more money on a better unit than they would on services. Over time, this can become quite costly. To avoid this, you should spend an hour every week cleaning your vents and louvers. It may seem like a small thing, but the difference it makes can be huge in terms of comfort and safety. Having clean air filters also helps to reduce your energy costs. If your air filters are dirty or clogged, this can be costing you anywhere from 5% to 15% in extra costs on your energy bills.
Removing debris and dirt from your home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system can also have health benefits. A clean unit can reduce the risk of illness while cutting down on your energy consumption. When the temperature starts to drop, you might see things like condensation building up on windowsills and porches. This moisture can lead to mold. So it’s vital that your home is adequately sealed and insulated.
Keeping the AC Drain Pan Clean
The AC drain pan is the receptacle for any liquid that flows from your central air conditioner during the summer. The best thing to do is to empty this pan whenever you have a chance. You’ll save yourself from having to call a plumber in the summer, a common occurrence when leaves start to fall and the humidity rises.
Drain pans are important for having clean homes. Your drain pans house the plumbing and wiring for your home. In addition, they keep toxic gases and moisture out of your home. In the winter months, this can be an important problem since condensation can build up on the pan and reduce its ability to conduct electricity. This can cause a lot of problems if you have open windows or if you let pets or children play in the yard during that time. Then in the summer, the drain pan catches any excess water that gets removed from your indoor air.
Despite popular opinion, cleaning your AC drain pan does not have to be a difficult task. If you notice that it is dirty, you only need some warm water, soap, and bleach. You can use a solution of half bleach and half water and pour this down your drain to clear any blockages. Then, to maintain it going forward, you can use drain pan tablets to keep it clear of any algae that could start growing there.
The result of cleaning the central AC drain pan will manifest itself in terms of both performance and energy cost savings. If you do not clean your central AC drain pan, your unit will accumulate hair, dust and other debris over time which lead to clogging of your unit as well as reduced efficiency of cooling system.
You can also remove hair or other debris from the central AC drain pan using one of these tools:
- A vacuum cleaner nozzle with an attachment that allows you to reach inside the unit for cleaning purposes.
- A central AC drain cap cleaner (also known as “central defroster duct cleaning tool”) which can be purchased at most hardwares.
Keeping Your Ducts Clean
Most people are unaware of the impact that air duct cleaning can have on their property. A healthy indoor environment will help to keep your building structurally sound as the seasons change. Duct cleaning is a must for all homeowners and businesses that have them. However, you should know the different types of duct cleaning so that you can choose the best option for you and your business. Generally, you want to clean the interior and exterior of your home’s structure using certified household cleaning products. This will protect you against mildew and fungus growth on the walls and ceiling. Cleaning is also the perfect way to get rid of pet hair and other debris that can block sunlight and cause eye irritation.
Duct cleaning is a unit of work that requires specific skills and knowledge. These skilled workers must be trained in the method, equipment, and chemicals involved with properly cleaning the space. This is one job that should be performed by a professional contractor who will make sure the job is done right the first time. The importance of properly cleaning dirty air ducts cannot be understated. This is especially true if you live in an area where mold or mildew grows rapidly. Ensuring that your air ducts are clean goes a long way in maintaining good indoor air quality. According to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association, if your ducts are not clean, then you are circulating various contaminants throughout your home or office several times per day.
Cleaning The Furnace
There’s a lot to cleaning a furnace, especially if you have one that is located in an old house. It’s not just about removing the dust and spiders that have made their home in the cracks and crevices of the steel. You’ll also need to check all the hoses for leaks and replace any that are corroded from the heat generated by the furnace. Furnaces, especially older ones, can have a lot of nooks and crannies where dirt can build up. This further leads to indoor air quality problems.
Furnaces start at around $500 to $700, with the top models reaching over $1000. All of this assumes that you are going to keep them clean. There are several ways you can spend your spare time cleaning your home’s heating and cooling systems. Using the right cleaning product can save you both time and money. The general lifespan of a furnace is about 15 years. However, you need to be doing regular tune-ups and maintenance to keep it in good working condition throughout this time.
Conclusion
All of this said, at the end of the day you should never leave your HVAC system untended and neglected. Much like a car, you need to tend to your HVAC unit every once in a while so that it runs smoothly and efficiently. If you fail to clean your unit as needed then you could experience reduced airflow within your home and other more serious issues could arise.
Your HVAC unit needs to be properly maintained if it’s going to continue to work efficiently. Once you’ve gotten into the habit of regular maintenance, you may be surprised at how much dirt you find in there! From a preventative maintenance standpoint, it’s important to not only clean your unit but also change your filters regularly. If you do these two things, you should see an improvement in the way your home is heated or cooled.
It’s about time you scheduled that professional HVAC inspection, right? Contact TCC for 24/7 HVAC service and support.
