In essence, an air conditioner moves heat from your home’s interior to the comparatively warm outside air by using electricity. When these cooling devices first gained popularity, their capacity was determined by measuring the volume of ice that melted in a certain length of time. This gave rise to the term “ton,” which is still used colloquially for air conditioning. A ton is defined as 12,000 British Thermal Units (BTU) of cooling per hour. A/C units are designed to accommodate a specific household load and possess a specific quantity of refrigerant, often known as a charge. Additionally, a specific volume of airflow passes through the coils. Your house will be cool and dry thanks to the careful balancing act of all these parts.
Fire Risks
It’s critical to think about the effects of skipping an essential air conditioner repair. The National Fire Protection Association reports that 7,400 house structure fires occurred in 2010 alone and that air conditioners, fans, and similar equipment can be a major cause of home fires. In addition to $207 million in direct property damage, air conditioner fires resulted in 249 civilian injuries and 29 civilian deaths that year. Insulation on wires or cables caught fire in one-third of fire-related events. June, July, and August are the most common months for these mishaps; therefore, early spring is the ideal time to make investments in air conditioning repair.
Health Issues
Health issues are another reason that affects air conditioner repair, in addition to fires. A few simple precautions can prevent your air conditioner from harming your health. It is advised that you have your air ducts cleaned if you see any obvious mold growth or dust accumulation. During the summer, when the air conditioning unit is continually running and causes dampness, this is typically the best period for mold growth to occur. The mold can grow to the point where it affects your breathing if it is allowed to remain dormant during the winter. It’s critical to check on the quality of your air conditioner if you’ve just remodeled your house, particularly if you removed asbestos or lead-based paint.
Ducts Leakage
If you just renovated your home, especially if you removed lead-based paint or asbestos from the walls, you must inspect the quality of your air conditioner. Because debris might become stuck in your ducting, perform periodic maintenance like cleaning the filter to ensure that airflow is running as efficiently as possible. A dirty filter invites allergens, insecticides, and outside irritants into your home. One clever way to reduce the cost of your air conditioner is to make sure window units are sufficiently sealed to keep out warm air from the outside.
Clean the Coils
Though there is a spray you can acquire that cleans them for you, these thin bits of metal cannot be cleaned by direct touch. It’s important to keep an eye out for dust buildup around the coils since they aid in the production of condensation for cooling.
Investing in a New Appliance
When purchasing a new air conditioner, if air conditioner repair isn’t working for you, keep your home’s environment in mind. It’s a good idea to examine the Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) to see how well the system performs in your climate if you live in a hot, dry one. You need a new air conditioning installation if, even after repairing the old one, it is not working.
Final Words
For the duration of the unit’s years of operation, routine maintenance is necessary for the filters, coils, and fins of an air conditioner. Ignoring required maintenance guarantees a continuous decrease in air conditioning efficiency and a continuous rise in energy consumption.
