Why Should You Have Your Air Conditioner Serviced?

Why Should You Have Your Air Conditioner Serviced?

Having your air conditioner serviced before the hot weather hits is smart for two reasons. Not only does it mean that you will be prepared for when the temperature starts to rise, but it also means that you will beat the rush of people trying to get theirs serviced during summer.

What Is Done During A Service?

During a scheduled routine service, a Green Efficient Living technician will complete a number of checks on the outdoor unit and indoor unit to ensure its compliance and that it is operating as it should.

The first thing that our technicians do will ask you whether or not your system is functioning properly. Have you heard any noises lately? Has it been playing up or not running as it normally would? Etc.

The return air will be then taken out and checked over, during which time our technicians run your system to inspect the outdoor unit. They will get the pressure readings, check electrical voltages and currents and ensure that there is no debris on the rear coilers of the unit.

After the service of the outdoor unit, they will then get into your roof to inspect that all electrical terminals are still tight, that the ductwork does not have any imperfections such as rips and that the main condensate drain isn’t blocked. During this time they will also inspect all zones by turning them on and off to ensure that they are all opening and closing as they should.

An example of dirty air conditioner filters covered in dust
Our technicians attended a service call for a faulty air conditioner and upon further inspection, the issue was simply dirty filters.

Can You Service Your Own Air Conditioner?

There are basic maintenance jobs that you can do yourself as the homeowner, such as cleaning the filters and ensuring that the outdoor unit stays unrestricted (see our post on that here). But when it comes to a complete annual service of your unit before using it again, this MUST be left entirely to the professionals. The smallest of attempts at servicing your own air conditioner can lead to serious unit damage or even electrocution!

Why Should You Have Your Air Conditioner Serviced?

The easiest way to understand exactly why you need to regularly service your air conditioner is for the same reason that you regularly service your car. You do not drive your car unserviced until it breaks down beyond repair and you are forced to buy a new one. Instead, you service it regularly to AVOID any serious breakdowns – an air conditioner is much the same.

There are many reasons why having your air conditioner professionally serviced is important:

1. It improves energy efficiency and saves you money on your electricity bills

Without periodic maintenance, your air conditioner will find it hard to run in prime condition. When this happens, it has to work a lot harder and consume more energy which in turn costs you more on your electricity bills! Avoid paying more by having a professional complete a service on your air conditioner to ensure that it is running as efficiently as possible.

2. It improves air quality

When your air conditioner isn’t working efficiently, it cannot properly filter the air is distributed into your home. An air conditioner that is running in perfect conditioner successfully filters out pollutants, pollen, dust and allergens, meaning the air that you and your family are breathing is cleaner and safer.

3. It extends your unit’s lifespan

Regular servicing and maintenance will extend the lifespan of your unit for all of the reasons mentioned above. It faults are left undetected, they can cause serious issues for your system in the future. These issues may result in costly repairs or even a unit replacement! However, by servicing it regularly you are increasing your system’s lifespan and keeping it running in perfect working order for many more years to come.

The professionals at Green Efficient Living recommend having your unit serviced annually, even if it is not showing any signs of faults or issues. To book your annual service, call us today on (08) 8297 3422.

Note: Green Efficient Living is currently holding their annual Pre-Summer Service Sale! Take advantage of our discounted prices and have your unit serviced before the hot weather is here!

Winter Is Here

If you live in Adelaide, you would surely understand just how drastically the temperature can change between summer and winter. One moment you are sitting in a puddle of your own sweat and within a matter of weeks, you are sitting in that same spot, with four layers of clothing on, clutching your coffee close to you.

Well, in case you haven’t noticed, winter is here and we think that it is time that you understand how to best care for and use your reverse cycle air conditioner during the colder weather to maximise your energy efficiency and save on your bills (you will thank us later).

Hitachi Wall Split Reverse Cycle Air ConditionerWhat Is Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning?

The name suggests it all. A reverse cycle air conditioner is one that can both cool your home in summer and keep you warm during winter.

A refrigerant is passed through an external coil, absorbing heat from the outside air. This refrigerant is then pumped through a compressor, into a fan coil unit inside the home, which then releases warm air into your room. When in heating mode, the unit works in the opposite or reverse way to when it is cooling.

Note: It absolutely does not have to be warm outside for this process to be successful. Reverse cycle air conditioners can perform this function in even the lowest of temperatures.

Benefits Of Reverse Cycle Air Conditioners

The first and in our opinion, the greatest benefit of reverse cycle air conditioners is that they are extremely efficient when it comes to their energy use and their cost over time. Most portable heaters or gas heaters may be cheaper to buy outright, but their energy usage is much higher than that of a reverse cycle system and therefore will cost you much more over time to run.

Another benefit is when purchasing a reverse cycle air conditioner, you are purchasing two systems in one and avoiding having to purchase both a cooling system and a heating system, thereby saving you money.

Reverse cycle air conditioners also help to purify the air during operation by trapping airborne particles. Some systems may also rid the air of odours and remove bacteria and viruses, which is especially handy in the homes of allergy sufferers and people with asthma.

Wall Split Air Conditioning Unit
Wall Split unit installed by Green Efficient Living

How To Prepare Your System For Winter

If you do already have a reverse cycle system installed in your home, there are a few things that you can do before the cold weather really sets in.

Clean Your Filters 

We have already written a blog on the importance of making sure that your filters are clean (read here), but we can’t stress enough just how damaging blocked filters can be. Blocked or dirty filters are often the first issue that we look for when on a service call, due to the fact that…

Adjust Your Thermostat 

Most people think that turning their heater up to 26 degrees in winter will warm the room up faster and keep them warmer for longer. All this will do is result in your system working harder and your energy bills increasing. During winter, have your system set to 18-22 degrees. Your room will still warm up just as fast and you will still feel just as warm, you just won’t be paying the extra on your energy bills or shortening the life of your system. It has been estimated that increasing the temperature on your air conditioner by just one degree can increase your costs by a large ten per cent!

Have It Serviced 

One very important point to remember is to have your system professionally serviced before a long summer or winter of using it. When a technician services your system, they make sure that everything is working as it should be and that your system is still providing the most energy efficient service that it can for your needs.

Conclusion

Using your reverse cycle air conditioner is no different in winter than it is in summer. Just remember to keep the temperature down, you will still stay warm, and to make sure your filters are clean. If you haven’t had your system serviced yet, Green Efficient Living have a special offer for you! You can have your Ducted Reverse Cycle system serviced from a low $200 ex GST, or a High Wall Split from $170 ex GST. Our offer ends VERY soon, so give us a call today to make sure that your system isn’t costing you more than it should this winter!

 

Is Your Air Conditioner Faulty Or Are Your Filters Blocked?

An example of dirty air conditioner filters covered in dust

Is Your Air Conditioner Faulty or Are Your Filters Blocked?

Here at Green Efficient Living, we receive many phone calls a week from worried customers believing that their air conditioners are faulty. However, after visiting the site to service the system and inspect the issue, we can see that the underlying cause is often dirty filters.

Air conditioner filters are not only important at maintaining your air quality and comfort, but being another crucial part of the system, they also assist in ensuring that your entire system is running as smoothly as possible. It is therefore important to make sure that you remember to inspect your filters before summer and to monitor them throughout the time your system is being used.

IMG_2535
An example of neglected air conditioning filters in a GEL customer’s home.

Why Is It So Important To Keep Your Filters Clean?

When air conditioner filters become blocked, they cannot only cause health issues, but they can also result in symptoms that can imitate a faulty or broken air conditioner. From experience, customers whos filters are blocked, often jump to conclusions and believe that their air conditioner is faulty. There are three main symptoms of blocked air filters that may resemble a faulty system.

1. Air Quality

The purpose of your air conditioner’s filters is basic. They filter out the dust, debris and bacteria from the air and circulate clean, high-quality air back into your home. When your filters become blocked, they cannot filter out the nasty particles as easily and they end up getting fed back into your home’s air supply. This means that the air that you are breathing is not as clean as it should be which can lead to health issues and make it difficult for allergy sufferers

2. Performance

When your filters are blocked it causes your system to overwork as it tries harder to filter out the mess of contaminants caught within it. This overworking of your system can quickly deteriorate your system’s level of performance and health.

3. Energy Efficiency

As mentioned, when your filters are blocked your system has to work harder just to achieve the same level of performance. This means that it is consuming more energy and becoming a lot more costly to run.

At Green Efficient Living, we believe that cleaning or replacing your air conditioner’s filters is one of the most important tasks is maintaining the longevity of your system’s health. Blocked filters can reduce a system’s efficiency significantly and replacing or cleaning them can lower your system’s energy consumption anywhere from 5% to 15%.

Homes that rely on their air conditioner’s regularly should clean or replace their filters every 3-5 months. If you only use it throughout the warmer months, then cleaning or replacing them at the same time that you have your pre-summer service done is a good idea.

How To Tell If Your Filters Need Replacing

Aside from calling out a technician, there are ways to tell if your system’s filters are blocked.

1. Smell

The first is that you may notice that there is a dusty smell, or dust particles coming from the vents in your unit. If this is the case, it could mean that there is a big build up of debris in your filters and it is time for a clean!

2. Higher-than-normal Energy Bills

If you’ve noticed that you haven’t been using your system any differently than normal, but your energy bills are slightly higher, this may also be a sign that your system is consuming more energy because its filters are clogged.

3. Unusual System Activity

If you are noticing that your unit is starting to play up, or it is not running as it should, don’t jump to conclusions. Follow the instructions and check your filters first. You may be surprised to find just how blocked they could be!

A general rule of thumb is if you cannot remember the last time that you cleaned or replaced your filters, then now is the time to do it!

IMG_0989
Another example of just how much dust can build up on your filters.

How To Care For Your Filters

Some air conditioners come with reusable, cleanable filters, whereas others may have replaceable ones. You should have received a user manual when your system was installed that outlines in detail exactly how to care for your filters.

If your unit is one with replaceable filters, this job is generally fairly easy. Filters can be bought through your installer, or through a company such as Ductair.

If your unit has reusable filters, then following the user manual will ensure that your filters get cleaned and replaced in the correct way. Generally vacuuming the dust off of them or hosing them down with warm water is the safest way to clean them. Be aware that they are fragile so take caution. Always let them dry before reinstalling them, and never use the system without reinstalling them first. Reusable filters don’t last forever though, so be sure to replace it every 2-3 years or so. When having a service performed by a technician on your system, they should be able to inform you of whether or not your filters need replacing.

If you are experiencing issues with your air conditioner, try taking a look at your filters before calling out a technicians. If you aren’t confident with this task, Green Efficient Living service technicians are always more than happy to help! We have a dedicated service team on the road each day, so no mater what issue you are experiencing, we can help. Call today on (08) 8297 3422.