LIFE OF AN AC SYSTEM

The life of an AC system is mostly governed by the following factors:

* Usage Pattern: The no. of hours the AC system is operated

*Preventive Maintenance: ensuring that coils are kept clean, corrosion is kept under control, constant check on gas, filters of an AC is done.

*Proximity to Sea: Causes faster corrosion.

* Brand / Make : Few brands have special anticorrosion treatment which enhance the life of the AC System.

* Dusty & Windy Areas: generally chocks the coils, wind velocity can damage the system and reduce its life.

* Power Supply: constant fluctuating, causes a lot of damage to the electrical parts in an AC system. It is always advisable to manually switch the AC system "off" in case of a power cut & restart it again. The correct steps are first put it on the "fan" mode, and after 3 minutes on the "cool" mode, this will never load the compressor. In some larger AC's there are built in microprocessors & PCB's to handle the above functions.

*Quality of Water used in Cooling
Tower : (to extract the heat) -if it is "hard water" & "dirty" it can reduce the life of the system, one will have to keep "descaling" the cooling towers regularly, and even opt for a filteration & a softening plant These reduce breakdown & enhance the life of the system.

*Economically priced AC's wherein the "gauge of the material used is thin" also do not last.

*In marshy areas, the AC system tends to get corroded faster and scientists say that there is some insect which "eats copper", leading  to repeated leakage of gas from AC system.

*Never smoke near an airconditioner as it creates congestion in the machine. Handle small plastic parts as they are fragile and may break. Do not clean filters of your AC when it is plugged in.

In brief, the factors that increase the life of an AC is adjust the thermostat to the right temperature, clean the filters once a week, get the AC serviced every 6 months, use the right type and capacity of an AC.  

Issue BG57 Dec05