Boost Your AC’s Lifespan With These AC Maintenance Tips

Cypress AC Maintenance Tips for Homeowners

Air conditioners require annual maintenance by a professional technician; homeowners hear this often enough. Some homeowners go above and beyond regular maintenance, completing do-it-yourself maintenance tasks that do not require special tools or training. Matter of fact, here are a few do-it-yourself projects that most homeowners can do to care for their air conditioner system.

Cypress AC Maintenance Tip 1: Changing Air Filters

The air filter is more important than most homeowners realize. The filter is positioned to clean all the indoor air multiple times with each heating or cooling cycle. It collects dust, dander, pollen, and other airborne contaminants, but the collection eventually coats the entire surface of the filter. When the filter clogs, it creates large problems for the entire system.

• Cooling performance. Warm air from the home passes over a network of tubes with cold refrigerant gas, that is how an air conditioner works. A clogged filter reduces airflow through the evaporator chamber, restricting the cooling performance of the air conditioner.
• System stress. Letting an air conditioner perform poorly for long periods will also shorten the number of serviceable years available.

Diligent homeowners will purchase a year’s supply of air filters, schedule calendar reminders, and change the filter quarterly.

Cypress AC Maintenance Tip 2: Observe Ductwork

A source of airborne contamination that is extremely hard to resolve is the collection of dust in ducts. Both supply and return air ducts are enclosed behind walls. The edges of the ducts are sharp, and most vents end with a 90-degree bend, so information can be hard to come by. When a homeowner does observe excess dust, it is time to call a professional duct cleaning service, since this is a serious source of contamination.

Cypress AC Maintenance Tip 3: Condenser Unit Care

The outdoor air conditioner component is called the condenser. While it looks solid, it is a hollow cabinet made of tubes covered in fins. The purpose of the condenser is to release heat from inside the home outside. A large fan in the center draws massive amounts of air through the network. The tubes and fins dissipate the heat into the atmosphere. The condenser also acts like a filter, trapping sticky pollen, dust, dirt, grass clippings, and anything else that gets close enough to be attracted by the fan. Leaving the collection of debris on the condenser is equivalent to not changing the air filter, so homeowners can wash away these contaminants.

• For safety reasons, trip the circuit breaker that feeds the air conditioner.
• With a screwdriver, remove the screws that hold the condenser cover in place.
• With a garden hose, wash the sides of the condenser until the water runs clean at the bottom.
• Return the covers and secure them with the machine screws.
• Reset the circuit breaker and wait a few minutes for the next cooling cycle. The first indication that a cooling cycle has begun is usually when the condenser fan starts to turn.

Do not use a power washer to clean the condenser coil, since the high pressure can damage the fins and tubes.

Cypress AC Maintenance Tip 4: Changing Thermostat Batteries

While the air conditioner and furnace use 220-volt power, the thermostat is battery-powered. Like other battery-powered devices, such as smoke and CO detectors, the batteries need to be changed annually. Be sure to turn the thermostat to the OFF position before servicing it. The cover will come off with a gentle pull, revealing the battery or batteries. Replace the old batteries with a fresh set, replace the cover carefully, and turn the thermostat to the ON position.

Without the proper training and tools, AC maintenance tasks beyond those mentioned should be completed by a professional technician.

Essential Cypress AC Maintenance Guide

While these tips empower you to handle basic upkeep, remember that some Cypress AC maintenance and all repairs require the expertise of a professional. For those more complex tasks or when you have questions beyond what you can tackle yourself, don’t hesitate to reach out to our trusted Cypress AC maintenance team.

With our four decades of experience as a Cypress AC maintenance contractor, AirPro Houston provides you with the skill and expertise to assist with your AC Maintenance Cypress questions.
We have several financing options available with great options. Up to 72-month terms with approved credit. Call us today at 281-880-8805 and let us partner with you for all of your North Houston AC repair and maintenance needs.