It works best when there’s about 24 inches of clear space in all directions, so get rid of nearby shrubs, tall grass, leaves, and hanging branches. Putting them in direct sunlight reduces their efficiency by as much as 10 percent.” -Richard Trethewey, TOH Plumbing and Heating ExpertĪ central AC system’s air compressor and condenser are usually located outside the house, close to your foundation. Pro2Pro Tip: “Install condensers or window units on the north or east side of your house, or build a screen to shield them from the sun. For ductwork, use foil tape to seal small gaps and duct mastic for larger ones for window AC units, stuff foam between the device and the window frame, taping as needed.
If the smoke blows around, you’ve got leakage. Find leaks using the old “smoke trick.”įor window units, light a stick of incense and hold it where the unit and the window frame meet for central AC, hold the stick near duct connections. Fix AC Leaksĭucts can lose up to 30 percent of airflow through leaks, and window AC units are notoriously tough to seal properly. Look for the filter’s minimum efficiency reporting value, or MERV, which ranges from 1 to 12 for home AC units the higher the number, the better filtration it provides (and the more energy needed to pull air through it, so balance air-quality concerns with energy costs). Change Your Filtersĭirty filters kill your AC’s efficiency, so install a new one every month during the cooling season for central and window units (or clean them if you’ve got the washable type). We asked This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey to share his air conditioner maintenance tips for central air and window units.
What Maintenance Does an Air Conditioner Need? Luckily, AC maintenance includes many tasks you can tackle on your own. Like any mechanical system, air conditioners needs a little care to run smoothly.