Air conditioning units are some of the most overlooked appliances when it comes to cleaning and maintenance, which is disadvantageous because a dirty unit can have adverse effects on your health, the environment, and could be the reason your electricity bills are soaring.An air conditioner that hasn’t been cleaned for long can be loud or noisy when turned on, take longer than usual to cool the area, and may have a foul smell emanating from it.
The benefits of cleaning your AC go beyond providing fresh and cool air into your facilities as explained below.
Efficiency
Cleaning your air conditioning unit helps remove the debris and build up that clogs the air filters and settles on the evaporator coil.The evaporator coil is the component in your AC system that absorbs the heat from the air inside your home. When unclean and poorly maintained it affects the cooling performance due to reduced heat transfer, frozen coils, and an overheating compressor. Clogged drain channels prevent a unit from reducing humidity, and the resulting excess moisture may discolor walls or carpet. Cleaning the air filters, coils and drains periodically significantly improves the efficiency of your AC.
Indoor air quality
As explained in this previous article (https://fmcleaningdubai.com/best-practices/810/) a dirty air filter can become a secondary source of indoor pollution in a building. Dust accumulation causes less airflow and provides a suitable breeding ground for mold, fungi, bacteria and germs to thrive. Consequently, whenever such a dirty air conditioner is turned on, these harmful particles get blown into the room and contaminate the air,degenerating the IAQ and exposing the occupants to a variety of respiratory infections. Likewise, the evaporator coils should be professionally cleaned periodically. When dirt corrodes the coil the refrigerant leaks and releases poisonous vapors to the indoor environment that causes an unhealthy IAQ that is toxic to the occupants’ health. A well cleaned and maintained air conditioner works efficiently to provide a healthy and comfortable IAQ for people to live and work in. With its clean filters it maintains humidity by humidifying or dehumidifying the room and prevents stuffiness and mildew, cleans the air and removes pollutants and allergens without blowing them back, and provides constant and adequate air flow, all necessary factors for good IAQ.
Saving energy and medical bills 
In addition, when dirty filters restrict airflow, the unituses twice as much energy for twice as long to cool the passing air, causing an increase in electricity bills. Regularly cleaning the filters will lower your AC’s energy consumption by 5% to 15%as the usage of power will be less since it’s not struggling against dirty vents and blocked filters.Again, dirty air ducts spread respiratory allergies that contaminate the air and can expose you to a variety of respiratory infections and asthma attacks.Thus, frequent cleaning and maintenance of your AC promotes better health and subsequently helps to save unnecessary medical bills.
Prevents costly future repairs
Dirty ACs can eventually lead to bigger mechanical problems or complete breakdown of the unit. The dirtier it gets the harder it becomes to clean, which may lead to malfunction of some or all of the components,which then leads to costly repairs and replacements. Such problems can be avoided by having the unit regularly cleaned by a professional, who can also identify and solve potential problems that the unit may encounter in future.
Prolongs lifespan
Regular air conditioner cleaning can add years to the unit.Based on studies, any AC unit which should be replaced in five years will service its user for longer if cared for properly. Periodic cleaning and maintenance routines will keep all components in working order and lengthen the AC’s lifespan.
Saving the environment
Most importantly, an AC that is cleaned regularly helps reduce your carbon footprint by consuming less electricity for optimum performance.As explained, a dirty AC allows a build-up of debris that restricts air-flow, making the unit take more time to cool the passing air hence consuming more power.Using less energy reduces your carbon footprint and mitigates the effects of global climate change, improves public health, maintains biodiversity and boosts the global economy.
Conclusion
Regular air conditioner cleaning and maintenance is important as it not only ensures the AC unit is running effectively and efficiently at all times, but also plays a role in supporting health and safety in a facility while saving costs.
