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Many people like to run their air conditioner without performing maintenance. Air conditioners are made to be work horses that produce cool, dry air in the middle of the hottest, most humid summers--but running the air conditioner without doing standard maintenance procedures can take its toll. Over time, this can cause your A/C to break down and need air conditioning repair. These tips will help you keep your air conditioner running in those long, hot days of summer.

Seal the Ducts

The HVAC ducts in many homes are found in the attic. Leaks in those HVAC ducts can blast cool air into the attic, even if the attic is not used as a living space. This forces your air conditioner to work much harder than necessary just to cool your house. Over time, this can lead to burn out or may even necessitate an early replacement of the unit. Have your air ducts inspected on an annual basis and sealed whenever necessary.

Clean Your A/C Drain Line

Your A/C's drain line is a pipe that drains the collected humidity from your air conditioning system. The pipe exits the house near the air conditioner condenser and drips constantly while the air conditioner is running. Over time, that pipe can grow algae on the inside. If not cleaned out, it can become clogged. This will either cause your air conditioner to stop running or may cause a large leak in your house. To avoid this problem, use a shop vac to suck the water and algae out of the pipe on an annual basis.

Clean the Condenser

Your air conditioner condenser can become clogged with leaves and debris from your trees and yard. These leaves can get inside the condenser and may stick in the fins on the side of the condenser. Cleaning the condenser will make it easier for your air conditioner to release heat, which makes it easier for your air conditioner to do its job. Over time, this can extend the life of the air conditioner.

To clean the condenser, cut the power to the air conditioner, then use a hose to spray the inside and outside of the condenser. To get inside the condenser, remove the lid. If your condenser is especially dirty, use condenser coil detergent (sold at hardware stores) to clean the condenser more thoroughly.

For more information about how you can take care of your air conditioner and avoid air conditioning repair, talk to an HVAC professional during your next air conditioner tune up. To find out more, speak with a business like Custom Comfort.