In homes and businesses where ductwork isn’t the ideal choice, there’s always the option to install a ductless mini-split. Such systems provide a convenient, cost-effective way to heat and cool areas of your home where ductwork isn’t feasible. Plus, ductless mini-split maintenance is often simple and affordable.
Ductless mini-splits works much like regular air-source heat pumps, using refrigerant to transfer heat from the outside to the inside during the winter and from the inside out during the summer. Here’s a look at the six steps an experienced Fort Wayne HVAC technician takes when performing ductless mini-split maintenance.
- Clean the primary filters: Many ductless mini-splits have indoor evaporator units featuring mesh filters, which need to be cleaned at least annually. This is done during routine ductless mini-split maintenance.
- Clean indoor air quality (IAQ) filtration components: On most units, these components can be removed easily and cleaned. The general recommendation is to clean the IAQ filtration components after 400 hours of operation.
- Inspect the evaporator coils: Various levels of filtration protect the evaporator coils from most dirt and debris, but it’s wise to have them inspected annually during ductless mini-split maintenance. Then, if they are dirty, the technician can clean them to help maintain top energy efficiency.
- Check the drain pan: The pan should drain properly if it was installed at the correct slope and if the line is free of kinks. Accumulated moisture can cause water damage or support the growth of mold and mildew that deteriorates indoor air quality.
- Balance the fan wheel and blower assembly: This is usually not a problem, but particularly in commercial kitchens, the accumulation of grime and grease can cause the fan wheel to go out of balance.
- Check the condensing unit: This is the outdoor portion of the ductless mini-split. The technician should inspect the condition of refrigerant lines and insulation wraps along with the overall cleanliness of the outdoor unit.
These important tasks performed during a ductless mini-split maintenance call will ensure that you stay comfortable all year round. For more expert heating and cooling tips, please contact Hartman Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning for your Fort Wayne area home today.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in New Haven, Indiana and surrounding Fort Wayne area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about ductless mini-split maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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