Sunday, May 15, 2011

Maintaining your home air conditioner

A split-system home air conditioner provides heating and cooling all year round, is unobtrusive within your home, and works quietly for minimum interruption to your home life. But after awhile, you may notice your air conditioner growing louder, working less efficiently, or taking longer to heat and cool your room. If this is the case, it's time to give your air conditioner a good clean!

Without regular cleaning and maintenance, an air conditioner can become clogged with sludge and particles from the air, leaving less space for the fresh, clean air to travel through into your home. Regular cleaning of your air conditioner keeps it working at optimum efficiency, as well as prolonging its lifespan.

Here's how to clean your home air conditioner:

Before you do any cleaning, ensure power is off on all home air conditioner units.

On the inside unit, you will need to wipe down all the surfaces with a warm, damp cloth (you can use a mild detergent too, as long as it isn't abrasive. You don't want to ruin the plastic). Inspect the coil on the indoor unit, if it needs cleaning, use a brush or damp cloth to remove dirt. Be careful when cleaning not to bend any of the fins. You can use a comb to straighten them again.

Remove the filters and use a vacuum to clean out the dust and debris. You can also wipe the filter down with warm water to remove any dust.

If the outdoor unit is dirty, remove it from the wall or window and rest it on a clean, hard surface. Clean the filters out and make sure any electric elements are switched off or covered with plastic before beginning to clean the coils.

Use a spray detergent or coil cleaner on the coils – wait for several minutes before washing and wiping off with a little water. Dry the air conditioner in the sun before replacing it in the proper position.

The frequency with which you need to clean your home air conditioner depends on the amount of time you regularly use it – but, for proper maintenance, it should be cleaned once a month and the filter cleared out once a fortnight during heavy use.

Proper cleaning and maintenance of your home air conditioner will prolong its life and keep it working efficiently all year long.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Looking after your air conditioning system

A small amount of maintenance ensures the long term high performance of you air conditioning system. Regular air conditioning maintenance prevents break downs and ensures your system performs at maximum proficiency.

When you buy a new air con system your provider will outline the maintenance requirements of your specific system. You can perform most air conditioning maintenance tasks by yourself, but some systems require serviced maintenance by a qualified professional to comply with OSH guidelines.

To conduct your own air conditioning maintenance, perform these tasks:

• Shut off the power to your unit before performing any air conditioning maintenance
• Change or clean the furnace filter at least once a month. You may need to change it more often in summer as more particles circulate.
• Check the condensate tube drains freely and there are no leaks in the hose connections.
• Spray the outside compressor with water and wipe away any dust.
• Clean the ducts every few years.
• Check furniture, drapes and plants are standing away from the system.

In addition to these air conditioning maintenance tasks, have your system checked annually by a qualified technician.

It can be easy to neglect air conditioning maintenance, but an improperly maintained system could be causing long-term health problems for your family, as well as emitting sound levels loud enough to cause permanent hearing loss.

With proper air conditioning maintenance, your unit will continue to heat or cool your home for over 15 years. Air conditioning maintenance ensures your system remains cost effective, energy efficient and safe.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

The benefits of an underfloor heating system

Underfloor heating might seem like an unnecessary luxury, but it's one of the most efficient, cost effective and environmentally-friendly ways to heat your home.

As opposed to fireplaces, radiators and other heating systems, underfloor heating uses heat conduction to regulate air temperature. Underfloor heating heats evenly over the whole house. By maximising energy output when cooling or heating, underfloor heating systems create a more energy efficient home and reduce your power costs.

If you're building or renovating a property, the cost of installing underfloor heating is low compared to other heating systems. Once the system is installed, it needs little maintenance, and properly installed underfloor heating lasts for the life of a building.

As the entire heating system sits beneath the floor, it creates more space in your home for furniture and artworks. Unlike fireplaces, which can be messy, and radiators, which can be an eyesore, underfloor heating is invisible, allowing you the freedom to decorate your space.

Underfloor heating
drastically reduces dust and particles and improve the air quality, resulting in a cleaner, healthier home. Family members suffering from asthma, allergies, respiratory and sinus problems, fatigue and headaches will notice an instant improvement in their condition.

With no naked flame or exposed part, underfloor heating is completely safe to use with children and pets.

If you're looking for a cost-effective, unobtrusive and comfortable way to heat your home, underfloor heating could be the solution. Hire a professional to assess your home and install your underfloor heating. An improperly-installed system can leak and damage your home, so always trust a qualified underfloor heating expert.