It's clear that homeowners should have a licensed professional HVAC technician perform regular maintenance, inspections, and cleaning of the entire HVAC system at least once a year. A general rule of thumb is to clean or replace filters once a month during the season of use. If you only run the air conditioner once in a while, you may be able to do it every other month, but it's best to get in the habit of doing it on the first day of every month. In most cases, you can get away with cleaning your coils once a year with a seasonal adjustment.
However, you should consider where your unit is located. If you're in a big city with heavy air pollution, you might want your coils cleaned twice a year. In addition, if the equipment is old or running most of the day, frequent tune-ups will keep the system working better. Checking condenser coils every two months and using a brush to gently clean debris can be an easy way to keep the system running between each set-up.
Repairing your air conditioner can be costly, so keeping your system clean all year round can save you a lot of money in the long run. Another part of your air conditioner that will need cleaning are the evaporator coils and condenser coils. While your air filter will reduce dirt and grime that builds up on these coils, over time dirt will build up on these coils. Dirt buildup will reduce airflow and insulate the coil.
When the coil is insulated, its ability to absorb heat decreases, reducing the efficiency of your air conditioner. These coils need to be cleaned every year, but getting into the air conditioning unit can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. As such, this is a task best left to professionals. Other parts of the air conditioning unit will also need cleaning, such as condensate drains and coil fins.
The average duct system should be cleaned every two to five years. If your system is properly maintained and filters are changed twice a year, you can increase the time between professional cleanings. If your system has never been cleaned and has been active on your property for more than three years, it is likely due to a cleaning. Even a single station can accumulate enough dust and debris in your system to make it less efficient than it was when it was first installed.
Heating and air conditioning equipment, regardless of its type, should be inspected, cleaned and repaired at least once a year. The best case scenario is to have the heating system checked in the fall and the air conditioning in the spring. Oil-fueled equipment should definitely be cleaned and repaired annually; at the beginning of each heating season. To keep the evaporator coils clean, it is important to check the air filter at least once a month and replace it as needed.
A dirty air filter can allow dust and debris to accumulate on the evaporator instead of the air cleaner, and it can also reduce airflow in the system, leading to other problems. To keep the condenser coils clean, keep a two-foot area around the condenser unit clean of vegetation and debris, such as garbage, tall grass, plants, and protruding trees or shrubs. Remove large debris as it falls into the condenser coils and, when mowing the lawn, be sure to discharge the clippings away from the condenser. When the coils are dirty, the system is not as efficient.
Therefore, it's a good idea to clean them once a year. Coil cleaning is a fairly easy task to do yourself. However, you'll want to take some safety precautions, and if you're uncomfortable with work, you should hire a professional. Most HVAC companies will indicate a specific frequency or schedule for cleaning the ducts, but regular HVAC cleaning is not necessary to maintain the health and air quality of the home.
A common statement by some HVAC companies is that a home's HVAC ducts should be cleaned at least once every three to five years to ensure that hair, dust, and debris don't affect the air quality in the home and cause health problems. Mold and mildew can negatively affect your health, so if there is visible mold growth inside the HVAC system, then it's time to call an HVAC company to have the vents cleaned before mold and mold spores spread to the rest of the house. HVAC duct cleaning doesn't take as much time as, for example, replacing the entire system, but you'll still want to set aside time during a season when you probably don't need your system, so there's plenty of time for the duct cleaning company to fully clean your ducts before you need to use on HVAC. .
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