How to Maintain Your Air Conditioning System Effectively

spadmin| August 18, 2025| 0 Comments

Let’s be real: nobody wants to sweat through a heatwave just because their AC decided to throw a tantrum. If you like your home feeling like a cool oasis—and, honestly, who doesn’t—keeping your air conditioning system in shape is non-negotiable. Skip the upkeep, and you’ll probably end up with sky-high electricity bills, a grumpy AC, and maybe even a repair bill that’ll make your wallet cry. Regular maintenance isn’t just good for comfort; it’s about protecting something you already dropped a decent chunk of change on.

Why Bother With Maintenance of your Air Conditioning System?

Think of it this way: you wouldn’t drive your car for years without changing the oil, right? Same idea here. If you actually look after your AC, you’ll get:

  • Lower energy bills. A clean, happy AC doesn’t have to work as hard, so it won’t guzzle power like a thirsty camel.
  • Longer life. Want to avoid shelling out big bucks for a new unit? Just take care of the one you’ve got.
  • Cleaner air. Dust, pollen, all that gunk? Regular cleaning means you aren’t breathing it in all summer.
  • Fewer breakdowns. Tiny problems can blow up into major disasters if you ignore them. Catch stuff early and save yourself the headache.
  • Even cooling. No more melting in one room while freezing in another.

Air Conditioning System DIY: Stuff You Can Actually Do Yourself

Not everything requires a pro. There’s a bunch of straightforward stuff you can tackle on your own—no engineering degree required.

1. Swap Out or Clean Your Filters

Seriously, this one’s huge. A filthy filter chokes your system, so it has to work harder (and you pay for it). Find the filter (usually near the air handler or behind a vent), pull it out, and either toss it or wash it, depending on the type. Check it every month when it’s hot out. Got pets or live somewhere dusty? Might need to do it more often.

2. Clean Up the Outdoor Condenser

That big metal box outside? It gets clogged with leaves, dirt, and whatever else floats by. First, cut the power—no zaps, please. Clear out the area around it (aim for a two-foot buffer). Give the fins a gentle rinse from the inside out using a garden hose—not a power washer, unless you want to destroy it.

3. Peek at the Coils and Drain Line

The indoor coils pick up grime too, which can mess with cooling. A soft brush or a spray-on coil cleaner works, but honestly? If you’re not sure, leave it to the pros. As for the drain line (the bit that gets rid of water), poke through it with a wire or suck out clogs with a wet/dry vac. Water puddles around your unit? That’s your cue.

4. Hunt Down Leaks in Ducts and Windows

Cold air escapes through cracks and gaps, which is just…wasteful. Check your ducts for holes and patch them up with foil tape or mastic. If you’re rocking a window unit, make sure the seal with the frame isn’t letting air escape.

Air Conditioning System Professional – When to Call the Pros

Sure, you can do a lot. Some stuff is best left to a real technician. Book a professional tune-up for your air conditioning system at least once a year.

Here’s what they’ll handle:

  • Deep cleaning (inside and out)
  • Checking refrigerant levels (and fixing any leaks)
  • Inspecting electrical bits so nothing sparks or fizzles
  • Lubricating moving parts so the system doesn’t grind itself to death
  • Making sure your thermostat isn’t lying to you

Bottom line? Mix some regular DIY care with at least a once-a-year visit from a pro, and your AC will keep you chill (literally and figuratively). Trust me, your future, non-sweaty self will thank you.

Spinel Dynamics is a HVAC company that deal with design, supply, installations, and maintenance of air conditioning systems in Kenya. We don’t just install an air conditioning system and leave, we ensure it runs smoothly, all the time, without any hitch.

Why Spinel? We are commitment to transparency & honesty. We offer unmatched expertise & certified professionals, customized solutions, exceptional customer service, and long-term reliability and support. 

Feel free to contact us in any case.