An air conditioning system will be one of the appliances in the home that can require the most maintenance in order to keep it working correctly. In particular, there are some maintenance steps that can have a big impact on the system's performance.

Invest in Coil Cleaning Solution

The coils of the air conditioning system can become extremely dirty over time. This dirt can actually impair the performance of the system by insulating these coils. This will prevent them from radiating the heat that was absorbed from the air that is being cooled, which can lower the overall effectiveness of the system. In fact, it can be possible for the air conditioning unit to completely lose the ability to cool air as a result of this dirt.

There are coil cleaning solutions that you can purchase that will be able to dissolve this dirt from the coils without a need for you to attempt to scrub them. Generally, you will be able to spray this cleaning solution onto the coils, let it rest for several minutes, and then rinse it off.

Use a Vacuum to Clean the Vents

The vents of the air conditioning unit will also need to be cleaned regularly to stop them from becoming clogged with debris. Unfortunately, leaves and other materials can easily be knocked into the unit when trying to remove this debris from the vents. One way to help avoid this can be to use a vacuum for this work. The force of the vacuum will be enough to help pull these materials outward, which can reduce the risk of them falling into the system.

While it may seem like a brush attachment will be ideal for this, the bristles can actually knock material into the unit as well. Rather, you may want to use an attachment that will provide for the maximum suction.

Hire an AC Maintenance Service Each Year

Basic cleaning of the system will help tor educe the risk of damage occurring, but there are limits to the overall effects that it can provide. For example, cleaning the coils and vents will do nothing to address the internal wear and tear that the mechanical components will experience. To address these issues, you will need to hire a professional air conditioning maintenance contractor to service the unit. They will be able to inspect the mechanical components to determine whether they are in good condition, and they will also be able to easily replace any that have started to reach the end of their lifespan. Ideally, these service visits should occur during the early spring or very late winter. This is so that the unit has been serviced before you start using it in the spring.

For more information about air conditioning maintenance, contact a local HVAC company like Nathan's Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.