Hot summer days are the time when not just you but also air conditioners can become overheated.
And that is the last thing you would want to happen when you are already sweating. But, it happens a lot more times than you might think.
Losing the air conditioning in your home could make you irritable and your day miserable. However, all of this can be avoided easily if you know how to prevent your air conditioners from overheating, especially on the hot summer days when it has been put to work for several hours at a stretch.
Your air conditioning system can overheat for several reasons. Here are a few simple things you can do to keep your air conditioners cool just like you want it to keep you cool and comfortable.
Change the air filter
This may sound basic. But, believe me, this is one of the easiest yet the most ignored ways to keep your air conditioners from overheating.
Dirty or clogged air filters can block the airflow. Changing or cleaning the filters once in a while will reduce the pressure on your air conditioner and prevent it from overheating.
Check the airflow
Restricted airflow around the condensing unit is the common cause of overheating.
Your air conditioner can only operate perfectly when it has a certain amount of airflow. Adequate space around the condensing unit can help to maintain the airflow in and around your air conditioner allowing it to cool down automatically at frequent intervals.
Make sure there is at least 1 to 2 metres of space around the condensing unit to let air circulate freely.
You should also check the space around the outside of the condensing unit to make sure there is nothing blocking the airflow. If you find plants growing near it, remove them so that the air can flow freely. This is more likely to happen in the early days of spring.
There can be leaves getting piled up around the unit. After storms, there might be debris blown up and stuck against it.
Maintaining the area around the condensing unit will help improve the airflow through your air conditioner and allow it to run smoothly.
Program the thermostat
The thermostat controls how hard your air conditioner is working. Avoid setting the thermostat to a temperature lower than what you need.
Also, there will be times when you may not need the room to be as cool such as during the early morning hours when the weather is not too hot. You can give your air conditioner a break during these hours of the day by installing a programmable thermostat.
This will allow your air conditioner to run less often, thus preventing overheating and reducing wear and tear.
DON'T FORGET ANNUAL INSPECTIONS
Have your air conditioner inspected by an expert once or twice a year. You should have one of these inspections before the summer.
This way, you will be sure that the air conditioner is ready to function efficiently, even during the hot summer months when you need it the most.
During an air conditioner inspection, a certified expert will be checking all the individual components of the unit to ensure everything is working perfectly.
Here are three main areas that they will be looking at:
- Fan blades: Fan blades tend to collect a lot of dirt and debris and hence, need to be cleaned well so that they can keep turning smoothly. Your expert technician will clean and lubricate the blades to prevent friction and wear and tear.
- Condenser Coils: Dirty condenser coils can make your air conditioner work harder, causing it to overheat.
Hence, condenser coils need to be cleaned regularly. This helps to maintain a cooler temperature inside the air conditioner, and filter the dirt, dust, and other particles that might be floating in the outside air.
- Refrigerant: Over time, the internal components of the air conditioners can become worn, causing the refrigerant to leak. The lack of refrigerant can accelerate the wear and tear of your air conditioner.
The expert technician can add refrigerant to your system during routine inspection to keep it from overheating.
There are some things you can do on your own to keep your air conditioners from overheating. And there are some things you have to trust an expert professional with.
Routine maintenance, diligence on your part, and having it serviced and inspected by an expert on a yearly basis are the best ways to keep your air conditioners from overheating.
You can contact our technicians at Coles Refrigeration and Air Conditioning for all of your cooling and heating needs. Call us now or fill the contact form below and someone from our team will get in touch with you to help you with the issue of overheating of your air conditioners.
