That's right, with some really basic air conditioner maintenance you will save money. This guide will help you to take care of your ducted split system air conditioner. There are several benefits to having a properly maintained system.First, a properly maintained system will last longer because it does not have to work as hard. A new system will cost thousands of dollars. Next, a properly maintained unit will run more efficiently which will save you money every day. In a clean unit, the refrigerant pressures and temperatures are typically lower. This means that the compressor does not require as much power to pump the refrigerant therefore your electric bill is lower.The third benefit is that your home will be more comfortable. A unit that is not properly maintained cannot remove the humidity from the home's air as effectively. This usually leads to a clammy sticky feeling in the home as well as higher electric bills.Lastly, is the fact that a properly maintained unit is less likely to breakdown.

This saves money on repair parts and service calls. Most heating and air conditioning companies as well as many utility companies offer service contracts. They can cost from $200-$500 depending on the type and the company. With a little help, you can perform the necessary maintenance (and keep that money)!Many times homeowners spend that money every year out of fear that the unit will require repair. After a few years, you have actually spent enough to buy a new system. The main thing that must be done is cleaning or replacing your air filter. The filter is usually located in one of the following places:1. In a grille in your wall or ceiling.2. In a slot on the side, bottom, or top of your furnace.3. Inside the blower compartment of your furnace or air handler. It is just a matter of removing it and replacing it with another of the same size. You should do this at least every 3 months but it is better to check it on a monthly basis.The next step in air conditioner maintenance is to check the electrical wiring and components.

You should begin by . This can be done at the service disconnect outside or at the main breaker panel.how to clean mold from ac unitThen, you can remove the access panel on the condensing unit and look for signs of electrical system overheating. top portable air conditioning unitsThings to look for include blackened wires and melted insulation on wires. ac and heater window unitYou should check all connections to ensure they are tight.If you have an electrical test meter, you should also check the capacitors in the unit. You can refer to our capacitor testing guide for a procedure.You should also look for signs of pitting on the contactor and replace it if excessive pitting is noticed.You should also examine the fan blade on the condenser fan.

Look for small cracks and replace it if you see cracking. In some older units, the fan motor bearings may require oiling.The next step in air conditioner maintenance is to wash out the outside unit. Over time dirt, leaves, grass clippings, etc. build up on the outside of the unit. The result of this is lower system capacity. You will most likely see the effects of it on your electric bill.Cleaning the unit is a simple matter. Then use a garden hose and gently wash out the debris. Start at the top, holding the nozzle of the hose at about a 45 degree angle to the unit. Work your way down and around the unit, flushing the debris out as you go. The next step in air conditioner maintenance is to check your thermostat. If it is an older mechanical type, you need to ensure that it is perfectly level. Then, you should run the system through a normal cooling cycle. You should complete your air conditioner maintenance by checking the temperature drop across the unit. You can do this by measuring the return air temperature (temperature of air entering the air handler) and the supply air temperature (temperature of air leaving the air handler).

Subtract the supply air temperature from the return air temperature to find the observed temperature drop. This value should be around 15 degrees for a high efficiency unit and about 18-20 degrees for an old (less than 10 SEER) unit.This link will send you to our guide for maintaining your ductless mini split unit. You can also use our window ac maintenance guide if you have a window or through the wall air conditioner.Heat Loss through Building Elements due to Transmission Heat loss through common building elements due to transmission, R-values and U-values - imperial and SI units The heat transmission through a building wall or similar construction can be expressed as: Ht = U A dt          (1) where Ht = heat loss (Btu/hr, W) U = overall heat transfer coefficient, "U-value" (Btu/hr ft2 oF, W/m2K) A = wall area (ft2, m2) dt = temperature difference (oF, K) The overall heat transfer coefficient - the U-value - describes how well a building element conducts heat or the rate of transfer of heat (in watts or Btu/hr) through one unit area (m2

or ft2) of a structure divided by the difference in temperature across the structure. Online Heat Loss Calculator U-value (Btu/hr ft2 oF, W/m2K) Wall Area (ft2, m2) Temperature Difference (oF, oC, K) Common Heat Transfer Coefficients of some common Building Elements Building ElementHeat-Transfer CoefficientU-value (Btu/hr ft2 oF)(W/m2K) Doors Single sheet - metal 1.2 6.8 1 inch - wood 0.65 3.7 2 inches - wood 0.45 2.6 Roofing Corrugated metal - uninsulated 1.5 8.5 1 inch wood - uninsulated 0.5 2.8 2 inches wood - un-insulated 0.3 1.7 1 inch wood - 1 inch insulation 0.2 1.1 2 inch wood - 1 inch insulation 0.15 0.9 2 inches - concrete slab 0.3 1.7 2 inches - concrete slab - 1 inch insulation 0.15 0.9 Windows Vertical single glazed window in metal frame 5.8 Vertical single glazed window in wooden frame 4.7 Vertical double glazed window, distance between glasses 30 - 60 mm 2.8 Vertical triple glazed window, distance between glasses 30 - 60 mm 1.85 Vertical sealed double glazed window, distance between glasses 20 mm 3.0 Vertical sealed triple glazed window, distance between glasses 20 mm 1.9 Vertical sealed double glazed window with "Low-E" coatings 0.32 1.8 Vertical double glazed window with "Low-E" coatings and heavy gas filling 0.27 1.5 Vertical double glazed window with 3 plastic films ("Low-E" coated) and heavy gas filling 0.06 0.35 Horizontal single glass 1.4 7.9 Walls 6 inches (150 mm) - poured concrete 80 lb/ft3 0.7 3.9 10 inches (250 mm) - brick 0.36 2.0

U and R-values U-value (or U-factor) is a measure of the rate of heat loss or gain through a construction of materials. The lower the U-factor, the greater the material's resistance to heat flow and the better is the insulating value. U-value is the inverse of R-value. The U-value of a construction consisting of several layers can be expressed as U = 1 / ∑ R         (2) where U = heat transfer coefficient (Btu/hr ft2 oF, W/m2K) R = "R-value" - the resistance to heat flow in each layer (hr ft2 oF/Btu, m2K/W) The R-value of the single layer can be expressed as: R = 1 / C = lt / K         (3) where C = layer conductance (Btu/hr ft2 oF, W/m2K) K = layer conductivity (Btu in/hr ft2 oF, W/mK) lt = thickness of layer (inches, m) Note! - in addition to resistance in each construction layer - there is a resistance from the inner and outer surface to the surroundings. If you want to add the surface resistance to the U calculator below - use one - 1- for thickness - lt - and the surface resistance for the conductivity - K. Online U value Calculator This calculator can be  used to calculate the overall U-value for a construction with four layers.

Add the thickness - lt -  and the layer conductivity - K - for each layer. For fewer than four layers, replace the thickness of one or more layers with zero. 1. lt (in, m) K (Btu in/hr ft2 oF, W/mK) 2. lt (in, m) K (Btu in/hr ft2 oF, W/mK) 3. lt (in, m) K (Btu in/hr ft2 oF, W/mK) 4. lt (in, m) K (Btu in/hr ft2 oF, W/mK) Example - U value Concrete Wall A concrete wall with thickness 0.25 (m) and conductivity 1.7 (W/mK) is used for the default values in the calculator above. The inside and outside surface resistance is estimated to 5.8 (m2 K/W). The U value can be calculated as U = 1 / (1 / (5.8 m2K/W) + (0.25 m) / (1.7 W/mK))     = 3.13 W/m2K R-values of Some Common Building Materials MaterialResistanceR-value  (hr ft2 oF/Btu)(m2K/W) Wood bevel siding  1/2" x 8", lapped 0.81 0.14 Wood bevel siding  3/4" x 10", lapped 1.05 0.18 Stucco (per inch) 0.20 0.035 Building paper 0.06 0.01 Plywood 1/4" 0.31 0.05 Plywood 3/8" 0.47 0.08 Plywood 1/2" 0.62 0.11 Hardboard 1/4" 0.18 0.03 Softboard, pine or similar 3/4" 0.94 0.17 Softboard, pine or similar 1 1/2" 1.89 0.33 Softboard, pine or similar 2 1/2" 3.12 0.55 Gypsum board 1/2" 0.45 0.08 Gypsum board 5/8" 0.56 0.1 Fiberglass 2" 7 1.2 Fiberglass 6" 19 3.3 Common brick per inch 0.20 0.04 R-values of Some Common Wall Constructions MaterialResistanceR-value (hr ft2 oF/Btu)(m2K/W) 2 x 4 stud wall