Having your office’s air conditioner/heat pump fully serviced professionally is expensive, but necessary at least once a year. However, there are some simple maintenance tasks that you can carry out yourself in between full services to help keep your unit running economically and efficiently over the winter months.
Clean the condenser fan
Switch off the unit at the mains. Now clean the condenser fan, which will probably be covered in dust. The best way to do this is by using a soft brush to flick the debris away, and then vacuum up the dislodged dust using the brush attachment on a vacuum cleaner hose.
Lubricate the motor
Now take out the screws from the unit’s cover grill and remove it. Take out the large setscrew that holds the condenser fan in place and detach it so that you can get to the oil ports behind. Lubricate the motor with a suitable light oil that you’ll find in good DIY stores.
Clean the condenser coils
Now you need to clean the condenser coils. Take off the coil guard and then spray the coils using a garden hose under low pressure. Use a fin comb to clean the fins and straighten them out if they’re bent. Mop up any residual water using paper towels.
Service the air filters
Clean filters are essential if you are to circulate clean air around your offices. If you neglect this task, fungi and bacteria can form inside the filter to be circulated when you turn the unit on, potentially leading to an allergy and sickness problem among your employees. Unscrew and remove the filter casing. Take the filter out and wash it with a solution of washing-up liquid and water. Dry the filter completely using paper towels and reattach it to the unit.
If the unit has a foam filter, it’s a good idea to replace it with an electrostatic mesh filter. These last longer, are more efficient and are easier to clean.
Clean the air ducts
Vacuum the air ducts to get rid of dust, cobwebs and other debris.
Finally, check all fuses, power breakers, and the thermostat to make sure that the connections are all secure and properly in place.
Although it’s a good idea to have your air conditioning/heat pump unit fully serviced annually by a professional, you can keep things running smoothly by carrying out the routine maintenance tasks listed above, before the cold weather arrives.
For more information and advice on maintaining your air con unit, contact us today.
