Air Conditioning Contractor Service Guide: Checks for Dirty Filters and Ducts

Maintaining an air conditioning system is crucial for its efficiency and longevity. This guide, with a focus on the air conditioning contractor aims to look at the main points on the vital task of keeping filters and ducts clean, a common challenge for any air conditioning contractor. Aimed at both professionals and DIY enthusiasts, this resource provides step-by-step instructions and expert tips.

Maintaining your AC can extend its life; however, even the most reliable units inevitably wear down over time.

Professional service technicians will inspect several components to make sure your unit is operating optimally, such as its thermostat, ductwork, and other parts.


Air Conditioning Service Guide: Maintaining Clean Filters and Ducts

The guide includes practical advice on identifying, cleaning, and replacing air conditioning filters and ducts. It also covers the significance of regular maintenance for optimal system performance and indoor air quality. Readers will gain insights into troubleshooting common issues related to dirty filters and ducts, often encountered by air conditioning contractors.

Whether you are a seasoned air conditioning contractor or a homeowner looking to understand your system better, this guide offers valuable information to ensure your air conditioning unit runs smoothly and efficiently.

Check the filter.

Filters serve as the initial line of defence when air enters an AC unit, helping keep it free from dust, pet dander, and fibres that could enter other components and require maintenance issues to resolve. Over time, however, this filter may become clogged up with debris, which restricts its airflow into the unit, causing it to work harder to cool the house.

Air filters should be checked at least monthly and changed when they become visibly dirty, depending on their type and environment. Check with your manufacturer’s recommendations as to when this should take place; maintaining clean or replacing filters helps the home system run efficiently while decreasing energy usage.

Importantly, manufacturers’ recommendations regarding HVAC maintenance must always be strictly observed since they are derived from rigorous research. As various HVAC systems are constructed for use in different climates and environments, the maintenance periods listed by them will differ according to equipment types and brands.

When your air conditioner works too hard to cool your home, its evaporator coil can become covered in dust that insulates and coats it, leading to reduced airflow through your system and potentially leading to an overheated compressor that eventually stops working altogether.

Clean air filters can help prevent such problems from arising by not only allowing normal airflow through the system but also by maintaining the good condition of the evaporator coil, thus prolonging its lifespan and optimising the performance of the air conditioning unit. Furthermore, clean filters may reduce health concerns as they help limit the circulation of impurities such as mould spores throughout your home environment.

Clean the evaporator coil.

Evaporator coils are where refrigerant absorbs heat from passing air, cooling it off while at the same time increasing the efficiency of heat transfer. Housed within aluminium fins and regularly cleaned to ensure optimal performance, dirty coils can lead to insufficient cooling, leading to higher utility bills over time. Furthermore, dust accumulation on an evaporator coil acts as an insulator, impeding efficient heat transfer.

Failing to regularly clean coils can result in the buildup of mould, mildew, and other harmful microorganisms that contaminate indoor air quality and make allergy and asthma sufferers uncomfortable. Regular commercial cleaner use can remove debris while improving airflow through coils, reducing maintenance costs.

One of the primary indicators that your evaporator coil requires cleaning is decreased airflow through its vents. As air passes over a dirty coil, it picks up dust and other particles, which then travel through ductwork into your space, leading to foul odours and reduced indoor air quality.

An improperly functioning evaporator coil can create an environment in which humidity removal becomes increasingly challenging due to moisture being drawn into its coils by condensation processes and collected as condensation drops, leading to blocked fins that prevent heat transfer. Furthermore, excess moisture provides an ideal breeding ground for mould and mildew growth, potentially polluting indoor air quality while also blocking up ductwork and creating serious health risks.

If the evaporator coil becomes severely clogged, it could harm the compressor. The compressor pumps refrigerant throughout your AC system to regulate temperature and perform other important functions; over time, a dirty coil could cause its compressor to overheat and fail prematurely, resulting in costly repairs or even replacement expenses.

Hiring a professional for coil cleaning is the surest way to guarantee it gets done correctly. HVAC specialists have been trained in using appropriate tools and techniques to efficiently cleanse an evaporator coil without harming its delicate aluminum fins. HVAC professionals utilise different tools like brushes and chemical cleaners that specialise in eliminating stubborn dirt accumulation from an evaporator coil; additionally, they have special devices designed specifically to straighten bent fins using special devices designed specifically for this task.

Check the condensate drain line.

Air conditioner drain lines are one of the most integral parts of an AC system, helping keep your home comfortable by eliminating excess moisture that could otherwise lead to mould growth and water damage in other areas of your home. Regular checks and maintenance inspections should ensure that it remains functional.

If your drain line becomes blocked, all of the moisture removed by your air conditioning from the indoor air may accumulate in your drain pan and cause various issues in your home, from mildewy smells to water damage and more serious complications like corrosion on air handlers and evaporator coils.

Air conditioner drain lines are typically constructed of PVC or ABS, two highly durable materials that can withstand even the harshest of outdoor conditions. To increase their lifespan and ensure they last as long as possible, regular inspections for wear and tear as well as flushing, cleaning, and securing should take place to make sure they do not become loose over time or usage. An inline filter can help block particles entering your lines and causing blockages.

After the summer has come to an end, it is crucial that you inspect your drain line regularly if any issues arise, especially if clogs develop. Failure to do so could cause major problems for your system.

There are a few telltale signs that indicate your drain line could be blocked, including standing water in the indoor air handler’s drain pan and non-functioning air conditioner units accompanied by damp or moldy conditions near them.

To inspect your drain line, turn off power to your indoor air handler and locate its access point—usually a PVC cap that can be removed using standard tools—then locate its entrance. After opening up this access point, flush your drain line using hot water or vinegar by pouring it down its pipe until its flow ceases and it returns to its normal dripping pattern.

Check the ductwork.

Home ductwork serves as the conduit through which air conditioning and heating units transport conditioned air around the home. Unfortunately, it’s often taken for granted as less attention is paid to this component; if not maintained regularly, it could result in efficiency loss and discomfort issues in your home.

Doing a duct pressure test regularly with your air conditioning service provider is an important way to maintain its condition and make sure it runs efficiently in your home. A technician will use a fan to force air into the ductwork, creating pressure levels. Finally, they’ll look out for leaks by looking out for places where smoke or fog escapes through cracks in the system.

Leakage from leaky ducts is responsible for an estimated 30% of energy losses in your home. Proper sealing of your ductwork can prevent this waste and help keep energy bills under control.

Air ducts play an essential role in trapping airborne pollutants and allergens, making regular professional inspection and cleaning essential. Clogged ducts become ideal environments for bacteria and mould growth that could compromise indoor air quality as well as cause health concerns for members of your household. A professional cleaning will remove odour-trapping debris from the ductwork for a fresh, clean scent.

Your ductwork may also cause hot or cold spots in your home if it is missized for the size of your house, has leaks, or requires minor adjustments. Though minor adjustments might help, replacing old ducts altogether might be best to ensure all parts of your house receive air at an even temperature and eliminate uncomfortable hot or cold spots altogether. New ducts also enable more convenient features like programmable thermostats and zoning systems to heat or cool specific zones according to occupancy and preferences.