Air conditioner service: Clean the filter you can yourself, but everything else is better to entrust professionals. Types and cost of service.
static filters
1 - compressor;
2 - liquids for flushing drainage and removing calcium with heat exchanger;
3 - Tools for removing the front panel of the external block;
4 - anemometer;
5 - tester for checking the operating voltage and starting current;
6 - napkins for cleaning plastic;
7 - the subject detector;
8 - a balloon for the transport of freon;
9 - flask for accurate refueling circuit
Spring is time to take care of the preparation of homemade climate technology for the summer season. Otherwise, at the most inopportune moment, at the time of the midday heat and stuffy nights, the sudden outlet of the air conditioner can leave your dwelling without saving coolness. How to avoid this?
How do we usually do, bring home new household appliances? Include into the outlet, and it works without requiring some special attention. Well, except from time to time you have to brush the dust from the TV or change the distilled light bulb in the chandelier. Skilmatic system is different. It is rather a parallel with a car, the operation of which requires regular oil replacement, controlling the level of coolant, tire pressure, periodic races to a service center for passage of inspection, etc. Most of us begins to think about the service only after the conditioner breakdowns. Avteda Preventive service of the "homemade climate carrier" allows not only to detect and prevent possible malfunctions, but also to extend the service life of the equipment, which means to reduce costs for expensive repairs.
Do it yourself
The simplest, but absolutely necessary operation for servicing the air conditioner, which you can spend and ourselves, is to regularly clean the mesh filters of the indoor unit (here and then we are talking about the most common types of air conditioner-split systems with an internal wall-type block) . It is necessary to do this at least once instez, but better every two weeks. You can not imagine how intensely on the filters of the internal blocks of split systems are deposited by dust from carpet, clothing, pets. The dirt layer on the filters sometimes reaches a centimeter thickness!Naturally, inhalation of air driven through a layer of dirt, health in the inhabitants of your home will not add. In addition, oddly enough, when using air conditioning with clogged filters will be unreasonably quickly lose your wallet. As dust accumulates, the filter decreases the amount of airborne evaporator and the performance of the cooling conditioner is reduced. Strong pollution leads to a violation of the modes of the refrigeration system and even to clog the drainage system with whole lumps of dust. Vitoga allocated during the operation of the moisture air conditioner can get into the room and spoil his finish. If the filters of the inner block cannot be cleaned for a long time, the dirt from the evaporator plates will need to be removed using potent chemical compositions.
The filters of the inner block are brushed, then washed with soap under warm water. At the same time, you can capture with you to the bathroom and the front panel of the indoor unit (if it is a wall type). After the items, it is necessary to let dry, if possible, away from direct sunlight and heating devices (after all, parts made of plastic). The filter removal sequence is indicated in the instruction manual, which remains you after the departure of the operating conditioner workers.
In addition to the mesh air filters, which are available in the inner block of each split system, and others are often used in household air conditioners. For example, an electrostatic filter, capturing pollen and dust particles, and a carbon filter, deodorizing air, and a carbon filter, deodorizing air, are quite often installed for fine air purification. Passive electrostatic filter (if it is not combined with coal) in special care does not need. He works safely for 3 years, after which it must not be forgotten to replace the new one. The resource of coal filters (worth $ 15-20) is about six months, but in the conditions of an extremely polluted metropolitan atmosphere, they serve no more than a month.
However, manufacturers constantly improve air filtration system. One of the most modern solutions in the field of cleaning and deodorizing the air in the apartment are zeolitic filters. They are more efficient than simple coal: the zeolitic filter fully cleans the air in the room in just 30 minutes, while the depth-com. Agenial, zeolite filters retain their performance for 3-5 years (their "counterparts" from activated carbon, as already mentioned above, is subject to replacement every 6 months). Such durability is ensured due to the ability of the filter to self-restoration. Zeolite filters are very easy to clean - for this they are simply exposed to sunlight. Under the action of the rays of the Sun on the titanium oxide contained in the fibers, a catalytic process begins, which restores the filtering properties of zeolite. Many manufacturers of climate techniques took the new cleaning technology, only every company it has its own name: Zeolite filters - Utoshiba, Solar Regeneration- Upaanasonic.
Food professionals
Of course, air conditioning service is not exhausted with filter washing or replacing batteries in the remote control. The air conditioning is quite complicated, in addition to filters, he has a lot of good, sooner or later requiring close attention from the service professionals. They control the condition of all the basic nodes of the freon air conditioner, compressor, capacitor and evaporator, interconnected with copper tubes; fans; Automation systems, etc. The frequency of maintenance of the elements of the split system directly depends on the conditions of its operation. Usually, the frequency of maintenance is determined on the basis of the calendar graph or according to the results of the instrument inspection. So why do you have to pay money?
Look at the windows of your urban apartment. Each spring is to be washed, and you probably saw how much dirt accumulates on the glasses, which means it enters capacitors of external blocks through which large air volumes with all sorts of impurities and outsiders. Radical measures will also be needed for cleaning the outer blocks from the poplar fluff, Gary and other street mud. After all, the contaminated capacitor is a noticeable decrease in the KPD of the compressor. Since the external unit, as a rule, is located outside the window, on the sheer wall of the building, access to it is difficult. Sometimes it may even be necessary for the services of an industrial climber. For cleaning, special brushes are used with not too rigid bristles and a compressor, with which the dirt is blown with compressed air.
Be careful. Do not allow the service brigade to clean the external unit using a high-pressure portable washing - like that is used when washing cars. Very often, this method of cleaning leads to a sparrel of the air conditioner (the plates of the heat exchanger bend).
An important direction of the service of the service service is also regular control of the modes of operation of the compressor and checking the tightness of the freon contour. The leakage of freon, as a rule, occurs quite slowly and therefore imperceptibly for the owner (by the way, the normalized loss of 6 to 8% of the refrigerant per year is generally inevitable - due to the presence in the circuit not possess absolute tightness of threaded compounds and service valves). With poor-quality installation, Freon can imperceptibly leak almost without a residue in a few days or months. At first, the loss of the refrigerant tightness does not affect the operation of the air conditioner, but after a while the compressor can completely fail. To compensate for leaks, air conditioning must be charged every 1.5-2 years.
There are several methods for checking and adjusting the refrigerant charge. You can detect the flow, say, using a special device. But quite often, the service specialists do not have to apply any equipment. The first signs of reducing the amount of freon in the system- Education and ice formation on the fitting compounds of the outer block in the field of copper tubes, as well as the insufficient air cooling in the room (the difference in the flow temperature at the inlet and the air conditioner outlet should be approximately 10C).
The list of services for which you pay money to the service of service, also includes electrical tests. For example, checking the performance of the engine of the compressor or drives of the fans of the outer and internal blocks. The decision on the need for urgent, proactive repair failure can be made according to the results of the express analysis of the compressor oil, as well as when moisture in the refrigerator or due to refrigerant leaks. Naturally, only service specialists will be able to maintain a system of plasma air purification, the ionization system and other new-fashioned "beams", which today in the elite climate technique supplied to the Russian market.
Contacting the service will help you get an independent assessment of the quality of installation work and make sure the working capacity of the climate system after the end of the premises decoration measures. Often, it is possible to identify dangerous errors and flaws of installers (for example, for some aircraft brands, an error can be considered the lack of a stabilizer that protects the compressor and control automation from voltage jumps in the supply network) and finishing builders. The latter may damage the mains of the refrigeration circuit, electrical communications, clog the drainage hole and the air tract with construction trash and dust.
Most of us are rather vaguely represent the rules of operation of air conditioners, although they are painted in detail in the instructions attached to the instrument. Therefore, do not be afraid to ask questions to representatives of the service company. They will probably tell you a lot of instructive stories. For example, the use of air conditioner in the winter. The fact is that it is possible to include the air conditioner not adapted to the cold, only at an outdoor temperature is not lower than -7c. Operation at lower temperatures entails the most disastrous consequences for the equipment to reduce the service life before the instantaneous breakage of the compressor. In addition, when operating a split-system in cooling mode (users, in the oxen of central heating in winter, hot, often in the habit, include air conditioning on the cold), it is possible to freeze drainage holes and leakage of condensate from the inner unit on the wallpaper and on the floor. If the device is not adapted to the manufacturer to the cold, service specialists will help you do it. They will equip the air conditioner so-called all-season block, which will expand the boundaries of its performance in the area of reduced temperatures (up to -20 ..- 22s).
Warranty and service - not the same
Warranty and service is not the same. Warranty service is provided by the manufacturer of your air conditioner only through the official distributors of this brand. As a rule, the warranty period for air conditioning systems does not exceed one year (exception, of course possible). Next the fate of the air conditioner, you can trust either an authorized service center or a specialized climate firm. It is necessary that the main parameters of the system work should be regularly monitored to avoid its premature failure. After all, a complex of preventive and diagnostic work requires special knowledge, technical training of specialists and professional diagnostic equipment.Smart automation
The system of automation practically does not need service. However, about its role in relation to the most consumer air conditioner service procedure is definitely worth it. The fact is that good microprocessor control often allows the user to save on service. For example, on split-systems from Mitsubishi Electric, Daikin and some other manufacturers, self-diagnosis system is often provided, capable of informing the error codes or problems in the operation of the air conditioner, the number of starts and restarts of the compressor, etc. Maintenance service is much easier to determine the nature of the malfunction before opening the device. The self-diagnostic system is particularly useful if the external unit is installed on a sheer wall and only a climber can get to it (Ago services are about $ 100). So, the system of self-diagnosis will allow you to abandon the services of the climbers, if the problem is hidden in the inner block and there is no point in climbing on the wall.
Many progressive manufacturers provide for various mechanical or electronic protection blocks in air conditioners, the use of which can save the device from breakage as a result of the violation of the rules of operation. Yvs should also clearly understand that no wisdom of the manufacturer do not save the user from the need to contact the service service.
To the number of technical raisins, allowing to postpone a call to the service personnel include high and low pressure relays, standard supplied, for example, with household air conditioners of the Carrier model range. The high-pressure relay disables the operation of the device, if on the street + 40 ° C or if the heat exchanger of the external block is strongly clogged with dirt and poplar foam. It is clear that only a specialist can competently fulfill the cleaning of the outer unit heat exchanger. The same must also be said about eliminating the cause of the relay of the low pressure relay - freon leakage.
Some firms, for example, Chofu, Hitachi, Daikin, are sometimes used instead of a high and low pressure relay electronic compressor current protection system, which allows indirectly to determine the refund or leakage of freon, dirty filters, etc. And protect the air conditioning from breakdown. Avot on the devices of the "budget" series nor the relay nor blocks of protection for the current compressor is usually not. Therefore, the owner of such equipment should be especially attentive to complying with the rules of its operation and is mandatory to order regular service from a worthy firm.
How to choose a service firm
The problems associated with the microclimate in your home can qualitatively solve only companies with, at a minimum, biennial experience in the service market for servicing air conditioning systems. Such companies, as a rule, offer the entire range of services (subtracting to installation and maintenance of instruments), have a warehouse of spare parts, a service center, specialized equipment.A high level of service for "throwing" prices is not possible. The customer service must contain its car park, pay salary to specialists, etc. Need a professional tool. Note that the required kit is only one service brigade worth $ 1200-1300. Special consumables are not suiced, the use of which will certainly prevent the damage of the main equipment.
When concluding a contract with a service firm of the air conditioner, make sure that the text of the document shows all the services specified earlier, as well as the timing of the planned work.
Best of all, if the specialists of the service center were trained in the training centers of manufacturers by their technology.
When choosing a service center, ask you to acquaint you with a package of documents regulating the work of the organization. The following paper should include:
- Certificate of manufacturer of serviceable equipment confirming the right service center for working with a specific trademark (certificate of an authorized service center);
- Certificate of conformity for "installation, repair and maintenance of air conditioners";
- certificate of conformity for "repair of household electric heating devices and fan heaters", which is issued by the certification authority of the Services of the All-Russian Research Institute of Certification (VNIIS);
- A document on checking the accuracy of the instrument readings used by the service center specialists in the process of their daily work.
Types and approximate cost of quarterly work on the annual service maintenance of wall split systems with a capacity of up to 5 kW (by cold)
| Type of work | I quarter | II quarter | III quarter | IV quarter | Approximate cost of work, $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| External inspection of the body and air conditioner nodes for the absence of mechanical damage | +. | +. | +. | +. | five |
| Cleaning the air filter of the indoor unit | +. | +. | +. | +. | five |
| Checking the operation of the air conditioner in all modes, checking the system malfunction indication system | +. | +. | +. | +. | five |
| Checking the functioning and cleaning of the drainage system (if necessary) | +. | +. | +. | +. | 10 |
| Check and measuring the temperature characteristics of the air conditioner | +. | +. | +. | +. | 10 |
| Check the health of the electric motor and the blades of the inner block fan (if necessary) | - | - | - | +. | 10 |
| Washing evaporator inner block | +. | +. | +. | +. | 25. |
| Check compliance of the refrigerant working pressure rate in the system | +. | +. | +. | +. | twenty |
| Washing Heat Exchanger Outdoor Block | - | +. | - | +. | 25. |
| Check the state of electrical connections between blocks, in blocks | - | - | - | +. | 10 |
| Check the tightness and lack of freon leaks | +. | +. | +. | +. | 10 |
| Check the health of the electric motor and the blades of the outer block fan | - | +. | - | +. | five |
| Departure service engineer | +. | - | - | - | 15-30 |
The editorial board thanks the "Russian ventilation company" for helping the surveys and the company "Vertex" for help in preparing the material.