As a resident in a tropical country like Ghana, an air conditioner can be one of the most desired devices indoors. This is because it gets hot almost all year round. That being said, an air conditioner however can be one of the most expensive device investments you ever make; this is why it is important to take measures to maintain it over a long period of time. 

Luckily, there are many ways to maintain your air conditioner that are both cheap and easy to do. Even if you have no knowledge about air conditioner hardware, the following are simple measures you can take to maintain your air conditioning system at home: 

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Check the Condensate Drain

The condensate drain is a system that draws converted water produced by the evaporator in your air conditioner that transforms refrigerant (popularly called “gas” in Ghana) from liquid to gas. Over a long period of usage, muck and algae develop in the drain pan and eventually block the drain line. This will require you to unclog whatever is impeding the flow to get a much efficiently working air conditioning unit.

Some modern air conditioners are equipped with smart sensors that alert you when your drain pan is full but many do not. If your AC happens to be part of the latter group, then this should help out.

How to check and clean your condensate drain:                       Video by Nick Nicoloudis on YouTube

Clean or Change Air Filters Regularly

Switching out your air filters at least every three months with new ones or cleaning them religiously can be one of the best decisions or actions you take to keep your air conditioning unit working for a longer life shelf. Fortunately, it is one of the simplest ways to maintain your air conditioner.

The air filter is simply the unit that sifts dirt, mold spores, pet dander, and dust mites from circulating through your house. However, it only works properly when it’s clean. Not only does it burden the air conditioner to work inefficiently when it’s filthy, but it can lead to foul air quality in your living space.

How to clean your air filter:                       Video by Joe Cools Air Conditioning on YouTube

Check on Fins

Two types of fins exist in every air conditioner: the condenser fin and the evaporator fin. They both perform similar jobs by letting air to-and-fro the air conditioner. In time, they tend to bend causing insufficient airflow. So you would have to check regularly to ensure they are in good shape. If they happen to be in bad condition, you can easily fix them by buying new ones or call in a professional to take a look.

How to clean fins:
Video by RoyTecTips on YouTube

Keep the Coils Clean

Remember the refrigerant we spoke about under condensate drain? Coils aid it to absorb heat and then cool your room in return. Overtime, it gets covered by dirt which affects its ability to efficiently cool your room because the amount of heat they absorb is lessened. 

This in-turn puts a strain on your air conditioning unit to work harder to cool your space. Simply make sure to clean the coils regularly to avert needless pressure on your air conditioning unit.

How to clean air conditioner coils:                       Video by Simple Green on YouTube

Call in an Expert

Even if you can easily get all that is mentioned above done, we advise that you schedule an expert at least once or twice a year to check all these to make sure your air conditioning unit is running in the best form. This helps avoid impromptu break downs and promotes efficient working state of the unit for a long time. 

READ ALSO: Easy Ways to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

Payment for regular professional servicing of your air conditioner can be expensive, but with these easy DIY measures to maintain it over a long period, you get to spend little-to-no money, and you are assured of its efficient working state for the long haul.