Does your home have central air conditioning that works with forced air that travels through ductwork? If so, this is a system that you do not want to just ignore. There is some important maintenance that you need to do over the years to keep that cool air flowing.

Change The Air Filter

One of the easiest things that you can do is change the filter within the air handler. This filter is what helps block all the dirt and debris from entering the ductwork and traveling through your home. As the air filter gets dirty, the air becomes harder to push through the filter and the HVAC system becomes less efficient. Swapping the air filter as directed will go a long way toward prolonging the life of your air conditioner and reducing energy bills.

Clean The Condenser 

The outdoor unit of your air conditioner is known as the condenser, and it has the job of dissipating the heat from the refrigerant that travels through the system. The coils of the air conditioner can become dirty over time, which causes a problem with airflow from the fan that is spinning. It can cause the air conditioner to unnecessarily overheat if it is left alone, which is not good. Make sure that you clean out the condenser every year so that air flows freely from it.

Verify Refrigerant Levels

Your air conditioner's refrigerant system is completely closed, so there is no need to refill or add more refrigerant to it under normal conditions. That's why you should be very concerned if the refrigerant levels are lower than what they should be. It means that there is a leak somewhere within the system that needs to be fixed because low refrigerant will lead to warm air.

Clean The Drain

Your air conditioner has a drain where water leaves the system within your home. This can sometimes be a simple pan that travels to a nearby drain or a pump with a tube that moves the water to a nearby utility sink. You'll want to make sure that the drain is clear since it is possible for debris to get stuck and cause the water to build up. If this happens, you'll have a mess with water on the floor, and the air conditioner may stop working as well. 

Reach out to an HVAC company near you for more information about air conditioning maintenance.