Indoor air conditioners are usually tough, high-quality products, but even the best HVAC systems can get worn down over time. Here are four major threats to the health of your indoor air conditioning system, and what you can do to prevent them:
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1. Human Error
Make sure you’re operating your air conditioner correctly. If your heating and air conditioning systems are turned on, make sure the windows and doors of your home are closed to keep air from escaping. For indoor air conditioners that service a single room, try to isolate the room or a nearby group of rooms so the air doesn’t escape.
Heating and air conditioning contractors may also cause problems if they install your system incorrectly. Poor installation can cause HVAC systems to develop leaky ducts, which reduce airflow. Make sure the HVAC technician you hire to install and maintain your system knows what he’s doing.
2. Refrigerant Leaks
If you find that your air conditioner is low on refrigerant, it may be an installation issue, or it may leak. If there’s a leak, adding more refrigerant won’t solve the problem. You need to call a professional to patch the leak and get refrigerant levels back to the manufacturer’s specifications.
3. Insufficient Maintenance
With the right maintenance, a brand new HVAC unit can last an average of 12-15 years, but without maintenance, its performance will drop. Air conditioning coils and filters will become dirty, which can cause compressors and fans to fail before they should. Make sure your indoor air conditioning system is regularly maintained.
4. Sensor Issues
Most indoor air conditioners adjust the air temperature based on data from the thermostat sensor just behind the control panel. If something happens to the sensor, it can cause unusual temperature fluctuations or erratic air filtration. Check to make sure that the sensor is near the evaporative coil but not touching it. If you need to, you can gently bend the wire to fix it’s position.
Professional HVAC contractors check for many of these factors during inspections. Make sure your system is inspected regularly to keep it performing at its best. More like this blog.