How To Tell If My AC System Needs To Be Cleaned
You want to keep your air conditioner working effectively so that when the heat sets in you can keep your cool. What many people fail to realize is they need to clean their air conditioning system and they need to keep a consistent schedule. Cleaning your system is critical to keeping it working effectively throughout the hottest parts of the year. Keep an eye open for these signs you need to have your system cleaned.
1. No or Low Airflow Through Your System
When you have a hard time feeling the air flowing out of your registers, you know that something is wrong. There are a few reasons why there may not be good airflow through your system. The most obvious one is a clogged air filter. Next, you might consider a buildup on your heat exchanger, evaporator coil or even your circulating fan. Check your filters first, and try change changing them. If that does not resolve your airflow issue, schedule a system cleaning.
2. Dust Collecting Around Your Registers
If you see a lot of dust around the edges of your registers or you have to clean them frequently, this is a sure sign your system needs to be cleaned. Specifically, you’ll want to have your ducts inspected.
As your system circulates air, it picks up contaminants from within your residence and moves them out through the filter. When the filter is too full, they commonly settle at the edges of your registers and can also be deposited anywhere else in your system, but the most common areas are on the circulating fan or in the ducts themselves.
3. Smell of Mold or Mildew When Your System Is Running
Your AC system is a perfect place for mold and mildew to grow, especially when the humidity stays above 50%. The conditions in an air conditioner are dark and moist, making it an ideal breeding ground for both mold and mildew.
This is why cleaning internal components like the evaporator coil and circulating fan is important. It is also why cleaning your ducts regularly matters so much. If you run your system and notice this smell, you need to have both your internal equipment and ducts inspected. Doing so will ensure you are not circulating spores, which can aggravate allergies and cause worse health problems.
4. Your System’s Cycles Are Long and Frequent
Your system is designed to run for a specified cycle length. When components are clogged and they cannot pass air through the system effectively, the blockage causes the system to run longer. This increases your operational cost as well as the wear and tear on your equipment.
It can be difficult to detect unless you are really paying attention. You are more likely to notice an increase in your utility bill. If you see this or it seems as though your system is running more than normal, be sure to schedule a cleaning.
5. The Air Is Not As Cool As It Should Be
Air that is not as cool as it ought to be is one of the most common complaints presented to AC professionals. It can be caused by a number of things, but one of those is restricted airflow through the system. A possible source of major restriction is vegetation around the outside condenser unit.
When vegetation prevents free airflow, it keeps the refrigerant from properly transferring heat from inside the house to the outdoors. This will keep the air coming out of your registers from being as cool as it should be.
How Cleaning Your AC Will Help Solve These Problems
Cleaning your air conditioning system eliminates these airflow restrictions. It also helps to improve the air quality in your home, so you’ll be healthier and more comfortable.
System cleaning is usually part of a routine maintenance visit. Among other maintenance tasks performed during this sort of tune-up, you can expect your technician to clean the circulating fan, inspect and clean the evaporator coil, clean the exterior unit, including the condenser coils and replace your air filter.
Most standard maintenance visits do not include cleaning your ductwork. This will be a separate service that should be organized at least every two or three years. For best results, you should schedule maintenance twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring.
BELOMAN has been serving Belleville, IL, and the surrounding area for more than 60 years. Our team of NATE-certified professionals provides a full range of heating and cooling installations, repair and maintenance, including indoor air quality improvement. Besides that, you can turn to us for all your pest solutions, sheet metal fabrication and a full range of plumbing services. Call us today to schedule your AC system maintenance and cleaning or to discuss any of our other options.
