Maintenance on your central or wall-mounted air conditioner or heat pump

Are you about to move into a home with a wall-mounted or central heat pump or air conditioner? If so, it’s essential that you know the specific maintenance that will be necessary so you can enjoy the benefits of these systems with no worries as you settle into your new home. You must have your air conditioning and heating equipment serviced at various times throughout their lives in order for them to function at full capacity, whether in summer or winter. If you neglect this maintenance, it could cause the equipment to lose power or even break down. That’s why it’s important to keep an eye on your system all year long to make sure it’s working correctly.

Maintenance on a central heat pump or air conditioner

If your home has a central air conditioning unit, it’s important to have it professionally cleaned every five years. This period will vary from one home to another depending on such factors as the presence pets, the performance of renovation work (which produces a lot of dust), any allergies the home’s occupants may have, etc. At GestionAir, a full cleaning of your furnace and ducts will cost approximately $300 to $500. The exact price will depend on the number of air vents in the home, the type of equipment and its capacity.

With the aid of a camera, we will inspect and clean each duct connected to the central unit in order to prevent the accumulation of allergens, including animal fur, dust, construction debris such as sawdust, etc. We will also check for mold. In this regard, for around $400 or $500, it’s possible to have a UV lamp built in to your central air conditioning system to detect the presence of mold. If the lamp finds any, it will send an alert to your thermostat so you can take the necessary actions to prevent any potential long-term risks to you and your family. Mold can, in fact, have serious consequences for the health of the home’s residents. They can develop problems with asthma virtually overnight simply because of the mold that’s present in the air.

Maintenance on a wall-mounted heat pump or air conditioner

A wall unit requires full maintenance every three to six years at an average cost of $180 to $250. This professional cleaning will prolong the useful life of your equipment, in addition to ensuring that it works optimally throughout the year. However, you must also make sure to periodically clean the disposable or electrostatic filters, including those in the interior unit of the heat pump or air conditioner. You must spot-clean your disposable filters every two to three months, depending on your lifestyle habits (pets, smoking, etc.). You’ll need to replace them every six months. For your convenience, GestionAir provides four to six disposable filters with each new piece of equipment. If you use electrostatic filters, you’ll need to clean them approximately every two months, rinsing them with water and letting them air-dry. You must make sure the filter is completely dry before putting it back in. You can reuse an electrostatic filter over a period of five to ten years. This will save you a lot of money in the long run.

You must gently rinse off the external unit of your air conditioner periodically to prevent the accumulation of pollen, dust and debris. However, the external unit of a heat pump doesn’t require any particular maintenance.

Once you move in to your new home, it’s important not to neglect the maintenance of your air conditioning and heating systems. If you do, the equipment could lose efficiency, leading to significant problems, including reduced air circulation inside the home because of clogged filters, which can also lead to the appearance of mold and mildew. Beware of the numerous companies that go door-to-door offering cleaning services at ridiculously low prices, as they are unlikely to perform any kind of thorough, full maintenance on your equipment. It’s important not to take this kind of maintenance lightly, as it requires the technical expertise of a professional. You should also make sure that the professional you choose is licensed.

Contact the team at GestionAir. They will be happy to answer all your questions regarding maintenance on your new wall-mounted heat pump or central air conditioning unit.