Over fifteen years of servicing HVAC units in the Greater Philadelphia area, EMCO Tech Heating & Cooling contractors has learned to expect the predictable summertime calls. Too often, air conditioners malfunction in the middle of the first heatwave, and homeowners frantically call our offices looking for a quick fix! We service all homes quickly and efficiently, yet inevitably many homeowners will spend some time in a hot home, waiting for service.
Fortunately, you do not need to wait for a problem. You can optimize your air conditioning system or ductless mini-splits now (before the summer’s first heatwave). Homeowners can avoid Most air conditioner problems with regular AC tune-up and maintenance cleaning.
Ductless Mini-Splits and Central Air Conditioning: Why You Need Seasonal Cleaning
While many homeowners understand the value of routine maintenance for air conditioning units and ductless mini-splits, few understand the importance of regular cleaning. Most people do not spend too much time thinking about air conditioning units. Most air conditioners work reliably enough during the warm months, and because homeowners cannot see the unit’s inner workings, regular cleaning is often an afterthought.
This neglect often leads to sudden problems—and often at the worst time. Perhaps more insidious than sudden problems, however, is the daily impact of dirty central air conditioning systems and ductless mini-splits, both of which can collect dust, pollen, and mold.
Indoor Air Quality: Is Your Home’s Air Healthy?
According to Philadelphia Air Quality Survey, proportion to the population of Philadelphia, about 300 premature deaths a year would be prevented in the City if we could lower annual levels of particle pollution. Yet, Philly “has a long, long way to go” to clean the outdoor air. Reports like this draw much-needed attention to the negative impacts of air pollution. For Philly natives, “air pollution” means the smog over the William Penn statue. Also, cars lurching on the Schuylkill Expressway, and fumes spewing into the city skyline.
But outdoor air pollution may not be the most harmful pollution for human health. A study by Science of the Total Environment notes that indoor air pollution may be same or even or more of a problem as outdoors. Moreover, the problem may be worse during the summertime when people rely on air conditioning systems to cool indoor air.
So what can we do to clean our indoor environments? The scientists who published the study in Science of the Total Environment suggest installing “environmental sensors” to monitor indoor air quality. But simply monitoring air quality will not clean the air. For many homes, the problem lies in dirty HVAC systems, and during the summer, the prime culprit is dirty air conditioning units or ductless mini splits.
Cooling Performance: Is Your Air Conditioner Working Efficiently?
If you have a central air conditioner, you must change your unit’s filters periodically. To clean the filters on your ductless mini-split, you must remove air filter, manually clean, and dry. Cleaning your filters is perhaps the most critical periodic task for assuring a clean and efficient system. According to US government notes, “Replacing a dirty air filter can lower your air conditioner’s energy consumption by 5-15%.”
However, your system likely also requires a periodic “deep clean” of the condenser fan, evaporator coils, coil fins, and drainage elements. Neglecting this sort of cleaning will guarantee a steady decline in air conditioner performance and indoor air quality. To work efficiently, all of these elements are tightly spaced in air conditioning units. The tight spacing combines with airflow and moisture to create a breeding ground for dirt, debris, and even mold.
Beyond the potential impacts on indoor air quality, over time, this build-up will compromise system performance. Dirty coils, for example, can block airflow, making your system work much harder to achieve the same cooling effect. The cleaner the coils—and other elements—the more efficient the system.
Dirty Air Conditioner or Ductless Mini-Split? Call EMCO Tech for service in South Philadelphia.
Since 2006, EMCO Tech Heating and Cooling has successfully cleaned central air conditioning systems and ductless mini-splits for clients. HVAC service areas include Philadelphia, Bucks County, Montgomery County, Delaware County, and Chester County, PA.
If you believe your air conditioning system or ductless mini-split unit needs a seasonal cleaning, please contact us today to schedule a home visit.
Residents of South Philadelphia zip codes: 19112, 19145, 19146, 19147, 19148 should consider installing ductless mini split in older homes. Especially, where there’s not enough room for central air conditioning.
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