In most cases, a new air conditioner is used at once, as any other domestic appliance. But such type of operation can result a serious breakage of a split-system after 2-3 years.  And it doesn’t depend on a price of a device. More expensive models have a higher protection level and just do not switch on if there is something wrong.
In order to understand a cause of such a petulance of split systems let’s briefly review their inside arrangement. Any split-system consists of an outside unit with a compressor, a ventilator, a radiator and an inside unit with a ventilator, a radiator. These units are connected with the help of a copper pipe-line. Mixture of Freon 22 with compressor oil is circulated in this copper pipe-line. The ventilators provide the radiators with blow off with the purpose of improving heat exchange and equal apportionment of the cold air.
So, the most spread causes of air conditioners breakage are the following:
1. Dirtying of filters of an inside unit
These filters are designed to stop the dust. And they protect people as well a radiator of an inside unit. If you need to clean the filter, just wash it with the help of warm water and dry during some minutes. It is an easy operation, described in the direction of use. You need to clean filters one time during fortnight. If the air is too dusted, you need to wash filters more often.
If you don’t clean filters, your air conditioners will cool the air worse. The sign of a dirty filter is water that drops out an air conditioner.
2. Freon leakage
Leakage of Freon is a normal thing and is 6 - 8 % per year on average! You may compensate it refueling Freon each 1,5-2 years. If the Freon level is lower than the admissible level, a compressor can overheat and jam. To change a compressor will cost you as much as a conditioner’s half cost.
The first signs of Freon leakage is a hear frost and ice formation near the outside unit and insufficient air cooling (the difference between temperature must be 8-10 °Ñ at least). If you’ve notice such signs, switch off the air conditioner and go to the service.
3. Air conditioner functioning in winter
Most of air conditioners are designed to operate at -5°Ñ - +15 °Ñ of the outside air. Because an all seasonal unit increases the total cost at 150-200 $. Heating an apartment with the help of an air conditioner is not always profitable. Because productivity of even an adapted air conditioner reduces by 3 times, if an ambient temperature is - 20°C.
The usage of a nonadapted air conditioner reduces its life.
THE MAIN RULES
If you want your air conditioner operating a determined period (7-12 years), follow the advice:
- to clean filters no less than 1 time per year.
- if water drops, there is hoarfrost on a copper pipe-line, cooling is worse, show up any strange sounds, switch off the air conditioner and ask the service for help.
- no less than 1 time per 2 years to call for the service (it is desirable 1 time per year, in spring). They will check the pressure in the system, refuel Freon, check the air conditioner in all conditions, clean inside and outside units.
- don’t switch on the air conditioner at the absence of special all seasonal units, if an ambient temperature is below 0°Ñ.
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