Staying comfortable in the Twin Cities metro area’s continental climate takes a well-engineered heating and cooling system. Today’s ductless mini splits can easily handle the job, but only if cared for properly.
- Keep your filter clean – A dirty air filter reduces your system’s efficiency, strains the components and worsens your indoor air quality. To avoid these problems, clean and replace your filter as often as the manufacturer recommends. Different filters have different maintenance schedules. A charcoal filter only needs to be dusted and placed in the sunlight for disinfection once every six months. A catechin filter, however, should be vacuumed clean or washed every two weeks or so.
- Clear the outdoor unit – Periodically clear dry leaves and other debris off your outdoor condenser unit. Once or twice a year, spray it down with a gentle stream of water from a garden hose. This prevents buildup that impairs airflow, reduces your system’s efficiency, and can cause components inside the unit to overheat.
- Allow for condensate drainage – The outdoor end of your condensate tube should be directed to a floor drain, gutter or similar area where condensate can drain freely. Blockages in this drain let water back up in the system. This water can then start dripping out of your indoor unit onto your floor. Running your A/C when the outdoor temperature is below 70 degrees can also cause your indoor unit to drip.
- Care for your remote – Pressing the reset button solves most simple remote malfunctions. When that doesn’t work, try installing fresh batteries. If your remote still doesn’t work, consult the manufacturer.
- Schedule professional maintenance – Because ductless mini splits are used year round, they require more attention than a furnace or central A/C system. Aim to schedule professional maintenance for your mini split system twice a year. One before the heating season and another before the cooling season are ideal times.
For more tips on caring for your ductless mini splits or to schedule a professional inspection, contact us at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning anywhere in Twin Cities metro area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about ductless mini splits and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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