In order for various equipment to be able to safely carry out the functionality assigned to it, it is necessary to monitor its condition. How to achieve this? Only with regular maintenance. Air conditioning systems are no exception to this rule. How is this process going?
general information
To ensure reliable operation of hard currency (air conditioning systems), it is necessary:
- carry out maintenance and scheduled repairs by qualified personnel;
- periodically conduct tests and, if necessary, adjust for a sanitary-hygienic effect;
- to carry out periodic monitoring of the state of the air in the premises served.
It is advisable that installation, maintenance and repair be carried out by persons who are officially licensed. Although this is not always possible. Moreover, the availability of the required document is not always a guarantee of high professionalism of employees. To correct the situation, an instruction manual for air conditioning systems is being developed. Any skilled person can use it. After all, working with air conditioners does not imply licensing, since there is no need to carry out alterations, reconstruction and major repairs.
Although not so simple. After all, installation and repair are subject to licensing, since the installation or removal of any machines leads to changes in the architecture of the premises. The necessary documents should be received at the State Construction Committee of the Russian Federation by personal application. Although quite often you can meet with complaints that this is more a bureaucratic measure than one in which there is a real need.
Time regulation
Any action according to existing instructions must be performed in a limited time. Regulations are drawn up by manufacturers taking into account recommendations in relation to a particular technique. On average, if normal operating conditions are observed, then you have to spend:
- Visual inspection of an existing device for mechanical damage - 5 min.
- Power check - 3 min.
- Checking the system display and operating modes - 5 min.
- Comparison of temperature parameters and the norm, written in the instrument passport - 5 min.
- Checking the performance of the drainage system - 7 min.
- Search for Freon leaks - 5 min.
- Cleaning heat exchangers, fans, exterior panels of system units and mechanical filters - 40 min.
As you can see, standard maintenance of ventilation and air conditioning systems lasts about an hour. Increasing or decreasing the time spent depends on what the customer wants to spend, as well as on the system used. It should be noted that the regulation does not provide the entire list of works. This means that established standards can vary greatly.
What is VRF type air conditioning service ?
In addition to the above, it is also necessary to carry out:
- Diagnostics of working currents of electric motors;
- Checking the health of fans and compressors;
- Inspection of anti-vibration mounts;
- Checking the tightness of thermal insulation.
When the ventilation and air conditioning systems are serviced and malfunctions are detected, but it is necessary to carry out repair work. Some of them can be carried out on site. For other cases, the device is dismantled and taken to a specialized service center.
How much does it all cost?
The answer to this question depends on the amount of work and the frequency of their implementation. For example, annual, seasonal, quarterly, or monthly services can be provided. What should you pay attention to? If we are talking about household air conditioners used in spring and summer, then annual maintenance is best for them. But if the system is used for twelve months to ensure the desired climate, then it is better to conduct a test twice a year. When it comes to (semi) industrial plants, the best solution would be to conclude a contract with a specialized company for the implementation of quarterly / monthly maintenance.
What will affect the final price and frequency? Maintenance and repair of the air conditioning system in terms of cost depends on the location, the received heat load, the location of the device. So, if we are talking about a crowded office with a large number of computers and office equipment that are located near a busy highway, it is best to place a bet on service once every three months. But for the technical premises of service, manufacturing enterprises, warehouses and other similar facilities, regular cleaning and verification of the correctness of the parameters should be carried out once every month.
If an agreement on repair and maintenance is concluded, it must be remembered that when a certain unit fails, there is a right to demand free repair. You only need to pay for supplies and spare parts. And in the end, not the final price is affected by the power of the equipment and its purpose. So, semi-industrial devices cost twice as much as household models. And an increase in power by 5 kW contributes to an increase in the initial amount by a third. In addition, it must be borne in mind that the work of industrial climbers is paid separately.
Planned and capital works
Best of all, if the malfunction is not allowed. This helps the planned work:
- Diagnostics.
- Maintenance work.
- Troubleshoot and adjust the device.
- Emergency repair.
- Consulting support.
But this is not always enough. If the system has significant problems, such as the failure of individual units and assemblies, then there is a need for capital intervention. In this case, it involves the preliminary dismantling of the ventilation and its subsequent dispatch to a specialized workshop or manufacturer. It is there that the system's operability is restored and technical components change, the repair of which is not possible. It is possible to dismantle not the entire device, but only individual units and assemblies with their subsequent shipment.
What are repair and restoration work?
Installation and maintenance of air conditioning systems are not limited to just inspecting the functionality of the equipment. If a specific malfunction is detected, there is a need to repair the device. It also provides for time limits. The list of possible repair and restoration services is truly huge. Its reduction in full may stretch to the entire article. But you can not ignore:
- Capacitor replacement - 150 min.
- Compressor replacement in the presence of electrical or mechanical damage - 250 min.
- Replacing the fan impeller of the indoor unit fan - 120 min.
- Replacing the fan motor of the outdoor unit - 120 min.
- Four-way valve replacement - 100 min.
- Repair of the drainage pipeline - 15 min.
- Changing the temperature sensor - 30 min.
- Transshipment - 10 min.
The list is far from complete. After-sales service of air conditioning systems includes over a hundred different points. And in most cases, the power of the device must be taken into account.
What equipment is used in the work?
Prevention and repair require the availability and use of special materials and devices. In a standard situation, the maintenance of air conditioning systems involves the use of:
- Manometers.
- Steam generator.
- High pressure washers.
- Weights and cylinder with freon.
- Clamp Meters.
- Swedish key.
- Rags.
- Chemical solution for processing the evaporator of the indoor unit.
Also, depending on the identified malfunctions, other tools can be used:
- To replace the board, you will need a multimeter and a screwdriver that measure current resistance and voltage.
- If the fan motor is faulty, then an additional key and a test capacitor are also needed.
- In case of problems with the compressors, clamp meters, a manometer, freon, a vacuum pump, a burner, solder, a pipe cutter, nitrogen will be needed.
When work is underway - the maintenance of air conditioning and ventilation systems, it is clear that professional equipment cannot be replaced with improvised means. It is advisable to entrust it to specialists who have an electrical safety group not lower than the third. It should also be remembered that all activities should be carried out in accordance with the operational and technical documentation. Now let's pay attention to the process itself.
Work with home air conditioners
In order to have fewer problems, it is necessary to provide quality early care. If you have some basic knowledge, you can do it yourself using brains and instructions.
First of all, attention should be paid to cleaning the filters. They act as a barrier that traps the smallest particles of dirt and dust that are in the air. This type of cleaning is considered the most important, therefore, it is considered as the main one. It must be carried out often. Desirable - several times a week. For example, when cleaning the entire house. Although the exact number can vary significantly depending on a number of factors.
The most important among them is the intensity of use of the device. As a rule, cleaning is carried out using a vacuum cleaner, rags or washing (in case of excessive pollution). But it is necessary to comply with safety requirements. First of all, the use of various detergents, in particular, and household chemicals in general, should be abandoned. This is due to the fact that their use can have a detrimental effect on the filter and the indoor unit of the air conditioner. In addition, air can be contaminated with various chemicals, which will be supplied to the room. Secondly, rough rubbing of the filters often leads to their breakdown. And this leads to additional expenses.
In the end, it is worth noting that improper and untimely service, due to which the air conditioner fails, voids the warranty.
What points should be considered still?
Different models have different locations of the heat exchanger (which is the most common radiator and requires regular maintenance). In some devices, it can be found under the opening lid. In others, you can get to the heat exchanger only by passing the air filter (for example, in dual air purification systems). If it is very dirty, then you can use a vacuum cleaner, which is quite capable of coping with a little clogging.
Although if intensive use has led to significant dusting, then know that it is better to service the ventilation and air conditioning systems to specialists who can carry out steam cleaning. Also, for the effective operation of the device, one should not forget about cleaning the air conditioning unit. For this, the same vacuum cleaner is used. If it has sufficient power, it will help to absorb a huge layer of dirt and dust from the radiator and external filters.
Use of the information provided
You can clean the air conditioners yourself. Of course, it is not a fact that in this case a professional level of specialized services will be achieved, but, nevertheless, this will allow it to be maintained in working condition. To carry out all the required operations, the system must be de-energized and turned on only after half an hour after the service has been completed.
Certain difficulties arise when the outdoor unit is placed at high altitude. In such cases, the help of competent specialists with a tower and climbing equipment is indispensable. If a decision is made to act independently, it must be remembered that caution and accuracy are the key to the long-term operation of the equipment. As well as the health and even safety of life of the person himself.
Conclusion
So it is considered what constitutes the maintenance of air conditioning systems. There is not one option for their cleaning - both on their own, and with the involvement of professionals. You should always remember that the best problem is one that has been avoided. And prevention is best suited here. After all, paying for the services of specialists costs money, which, as you know, does not lie on the road.
In addition, it is necessary to take into account the fact that even the most rapid response results in a temporary suspension of the air conditioning system. This means that the activity will not have to be carried out in the best conditions or it will have to be stopped altogether (especially relevant for industrial plants).