Air conditioning units are usually built pretty sturdily and because of this many people have a tendency to think that they will run forever with no maintenance. Unfortunately, as with anything that contains moving parts, this is not the case. In practice, your aircon unit should have regular servicing in order to run at peak efficiency.
An aircon unit that is serviced regularly will result in lower electricity bills and give better cooling. If the unit is not maintained, then it may well start to suffer problems resulting in expensive repair or replacement costs. It is also possible for the air to become contaminated which can be dangerous to health. People with asthma or other respiratory diseases are particularly vulnerable.
In general servicing will be sufficient if it is carried out once a year. However, in Singapore where the weather is hot aircon units may be running all year, so more regular maintenance would be recommended. Furthermore, as Singapore is an island, air conditioners in many areas near the sea will be affected by the salt in the air which in turn will have a corrosive effect on moving parts.
Obviously the unit should be kept free of weeds which can grow at an alarming rate. Ants can also be a problem, but with regular checking once a month these minor inconveniences can be dealt with. The vents should receive a routine clean and the air filters should be changed as well. Only ever use top quality air filters.
So, despite the fact that you look after your unit, how do you know if it may need a chemical wash?
Things to look out for are any leaks from the unit, although this can be caused by a number of factors, a noticeable reduction in the cooling, and especially any bad or foul odors. In these cases an aircon chemical wash is to be recommended.
Aircon chemical cleaning is certainly not something you should undertake yourself. While the chemicals themselves are certified harmless when used correctly, it is also the case that if you start to dismantle the unit you could do all sorts of damage and finish up with an expensive repair job. An aircon chemical wash should only be undertaken by a qualified engineer.
The engineer will basically strip down the whole unit into all its’ component parts and clean everything with a chemical reagent, including the condenser, the evaporator coils and the filters. The chemicals will dissolve and remove dirt and accumulated deposits of salt and so on. In addition, the drain pipes will be cleaned with the same chemicals. At the same time, the engineer will check the thermostats and the controls and top up the coolant level where needed.
After an aircon chemical wash your unit will be reassembled and will once again run like new. Everything will work at peak efficiency, you will notice greatly improved cooling, any bad odors will have gone and your electricity bills will also reduce.
So if you notice any signs that your unit is not working properly, be sure to have it checked by a qualified technician.
