Has your electricity bill skyrocketed without explanation? Is your AC failing to cool your home despite running at full capacity? It might be time to give your AC the maintenance it deserves.
Most homeowners consider air conditioner maintenance only when faced with a complete shutdown. By the time they wake up to their AC’s needs, moisture may have turned into mold, and refrigerant leaks might’ve led to compressor motor failure.
Don’t be one of those people who wait for disaster to strike before prioritizing their AC’s health. Major AC breakdowns usually start with minor malfunctions that could’ve been nipped in the bud with a routine check.
Apart from scheduling regular appointments with an aircon technician, there are a few things you can do at home to keep your AC in peak condition and maximize its cooling power. Here’s a list of five quick AC maintenance tips and energy-saving hacks to ensure you stay cool all summer without burning a hole in your pocket.
1. Clean or Replace Filters (5 Minutes)
Air conditioners absorb dust particles and debris from surroundings, improving air quality. This dust is then blocked by filters placed right behind the front grill (room-facing). These filters prevent dust from reaching the system and causing damage to the main parts. Over time, filters can get covered in dirt and need to be replaced or cleaned.
Unclean filters lead to excessive strain on the AC, block airflow, and reduce cooling performance, often resulting in extensive damage to the motor and higher electricity bills. Moreover, the trapped dust is sent back into the atmosphere, reducing air quality.
How To Clean Air Conditioning Filters
- If you have disposable filters, replace them every 2-3 months (set a reminder on your phone!).
- If you have reusable filters, rinse them under running water and let them air dry before reinstalling. It barely takes 5-10 minutes and can be done once a month. Pet owners and people living in areas with high traffic are recommended to clean their filters more frequently.
2. Keep the Outdoor Unit Clean (10 Minutes)
We’ve often witnessed birds building nests on neglected outdoor units while the homeowners are completely unaware. The outdoor unit of your air conditioning or condenser is exposed to dust, leaves, and debris. When these external elements settle on the condenser coil, they block efficient heat dissipation. In other words, it’s a one-way to decreased cooling performance, potential component damage, and increased electricity bills.
What does it take to stop this from happening? A simple 10-minute sweep of the outdoor unit. Yes, a weekly sweep is all that it takes. So, could you pick up a broom and get at it already? Better yet, you could also get a barrier (for example, a mesh screen) over the unit to protect it from debris.
3. Check Your Thermostat Settings (2 Minutes)
A thermostat is responsible for reading the room temperature and adjusting the AC temperature accordingly. A flaw in the thermostat can cause undercooling or overcooling, potentially triggering severe damage to the motor and lifespan of your system.
If your AC does not give the desired cooling, starts and stops, or fails to start quickly, it might be time to stop neglecting your thermostat. Something as simple as a low battery, faulty wiring, or inappropriate programming can be why your thermostat fails. A routine 2-minute check can prevent major problems with the AC.
How To Maintain AC Thermostat
- Keep it clean.
- Replace batteries on time.
- Avoid frequent changes to the settings.
- Place it away from direct sunlight or drafts.
- Set temperatures for different times of the day.
- Schedule heating and cooling.
- If possible, connect it to your phone.
4. Clean the Drain Line (10 minutes at max)
In an AC, the condenser coil condenses moisture from the air. The water is collected in a pan and flushed out of the system through the drain line. Just like an average pipe, an AC drain line can get clogged. Trapped water inside the AC may seem like a teeny-tiny problem. But it can quickly escalate into a health hazard. No, we’re not kidding.
Stagnant water is the perfect breeding ground for fungus, mold, and mildew. You might know a little about how those things love to spread and cover everything in sight. Before you know it, a musty odor can fill your home, potentially causing airborne diseases and allergies.
Prevention is easy. Simply keep the moisture from overstaying its welcome by unclogging the drain line and frequently cleaning the evaporator and condenser coils.
5. Professional Maintenance
The easiest way to maintain an AC is to hire professionals to do it for you! Scheduling a yearly maintenance service can keep your AC in top shape and prevent soaring electricity bills.
At Fixlaa, our aircon technicians handle everything for you—from cleaning and inspecting all components to lubricating motors, checking refrigerant levels, and programming the thermostat. They’re trained to spot and fix small issues before they turn into costly repairs. We focus on extending the lifespan of your AC and are committed to your comfort and wellness.
- Our silver ion technology disinfects the unit, preventing bacteria and mold buildup up to 99.9%.
- High-pressure water jets & dense cleaning foam remove dirt, grease, and stains for optimal performance.
- We use advanced cleaning techniques to eliminate bad odors, ensuring fresh, clean air.
Stay Cool Without the Hassle
With Singapore’s rising temperatures, it’d be a bummer to have a dead AC on your hands on a scorching, hot day. Home air conditioning maintenance has to be a priority, not an afterthought. Don’t wait for a system breakdown to take action. If you’re looking for easy AC maintenance, Fixlaa has got you covered.
Contact us today to schedule your next service and enjoy uninterrupted cooling. And if you love low-effort AC care, stay tuned to our blog for more quick and easy maintenance tips.
