For any system to function effectively, regular maintenance and proper care should be considered. More thorough checks should be done on the system by a professional qualified technician at least twice a year. This can help improve and sustain the efficiency of the systems. However, while waiting for the technicians to come and do the scheduled maintenance, there are day-to-day maintenance practices that you can do yourself at home to ensure the smooth operation of the systems. In this guide on residential HVAC system maintenance in kenya, we’ll take you through these HVAC maintenance practices you should adopt. Before we look into these maintenance practices, let’s start by first discussing the common problem that HVAC systems experience. By identifying these problems you can prevent excessive wear and damage.
Common problems in HVAC systems in kenya
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Noise
If the system is producing a squealing or whining irritating sound, that may indicate that there is a problem with the motor, unusual sounds may also be caused by mechanical problems
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Drainage
A problematic malfunctioning condenser will cause water to condense inside and potentially cause damage, the only way to stop this problem is by replacing the condenser.
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Uneven heating and cooling
If your system is heating or cooling your home unevenly, it might be caused by a blocked or leaking duct. This problem can be solved by cleaning your HVAC unit.
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Electrical malfunction
With time, electrical wires or terminals can wear out causing compressors to stop working, therefore, causing a malfunction, to solve this problem you need to replace the worn-out electrical components, this should be done by a technician.
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Refrigerant leak
Your ac unit cannot function properly without enough refrigerant. when there is a leak in the refrigerant lines or low coolant, the ac will be blowing warm air instead of cool air.
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Long-running time
The HVAC system might take a really long time to start, to troubleshoot this problem you need to restart the whole entire system
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Dirt
both indoor and outdoor units can get dirt either from dust or other things, clean the outdoor units with a hose and the indoor ones with a vacuum cleaner.
Best residential HVAC system maintenance practices in Kenya
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Clean out clogs
To clean out clogs from your AC unit, mix bleach with water and pour it down the condenser drain, this will help remove algae and mold buildups in the drain.
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Change air filters
You need to check for dirt on the filters at least once a month, if it is dirty clean or replace the air filters immediately.
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Check the refrigerant lines
As discussed above, the AC unit can not function properly without enough coolant, you need to regularly check the lines that carry the refrigerant at least on a monthly basis.
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Inspect the entire unit
Once in a while inspect the whole HVAC unit to check for any hazards or damages that need repair.
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Ensure the unit is level
– Avoid obstructing the inlet vents of the HVAC unit blocking the airflow, also ensure that the unit is level. tilted units may not work properly and can cause undue stress on components.
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Check the fan blades
From time to time, you also need to check the fan blades when in motion or stationary to check for any signs of problems.
Takeaway
HVAC preventive maintenance is essential for obvious reasons when regular maintenance and repairs of the system are not regularly done then that might lead to the entire HVAC system needing to be replaced which is more costly, it is, therefore, imperative to adopt these regular maintenance practices to avoid costly replacement.
