Air Conditioners can cause house fires!

Your air conditioner can make your home a fire trap. Many homes have been burnt down due to poorly maintained or outdated air conditioners.

In between summer and winter, there are long periods when you probably do not use your air conditioning. This is when dust and mould builds up inside. Then, when you finally turn it on again, the internals of your air con warm up and get stifled by the dust etc., making them get hotter and hotter internally until they burst into flame.

Do you go to bed with your a/c still running, to keep you warm in winter or cool in summer? What would happen if it caught fire while you slept? What a frightening thought, but this is the reality for a number of homes and offices that have been damaged by a fire that started in their air conditioner.

During the extreme temperatures of summer and winter, we can put added pressure on our a/c units, especially if they are not well maintained. Air conditioners that are straining to work can become fire hazards.

A report by ABC News states “the appliance many people rely on to keep their homes cool could potentially pose a fire risk.”

According to a US National Fire Protection Association Report “air conditioners cause an average of 20 deaths, 140 injuries, and $82 million in property damage annually”.

What can you do to reduce the risk of fire?

There are five things that you can do to reduce the risk to your home or office. These five steps could save your property from extensive fire damage or total loss.

1. Clean the Filters

All air conditioners have easy to remove filters. These should be removed and cleaned at least monthly. Set a date or time for the clean every month. Maybe the first Saturday of the month or the 1^st of every month. Pick something that you can remember. If there is something you already do on a monthly basis, use this as a reminder to clean the filters. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on how to efficiently clean the filters. Also, be aware that not cleaning these regularly could void the warranty on your unit.

2. Check the Cord

While cleaning the filter have a look at then electrical cable and plug. Have they deteriorated? Are there any cracks or breaks in the cord or plug? If there are, then get an electrician to repair these before plugging in the appliance. Any damaged equipment must be replaced.

3. Dust in the Ducts

Clean the unit free of dust. Vacuum behind the filter to remove any dust. Vacuum and wipe over all vents and the plastic surround of your unit. If possible, clean the ducts and remove any dust build up. This will also help to prevent potential hazards from building in your unit and stop you from blowing this back into the room when you switch on the unit.

4. Check Out the Outside Unit

Split and ducted systems have an outside unit. When cleaning your filters have a look at the outside unit. Is it covered in leaves? Are there items stacked around it or on top of it? Is there rubbish, dust, dirt or insects clogging the unit? Have rodents claimed it as their home? Your exterior unit must be free from any other objects. Wipe it down when cleaning your filters. Remove any dust, dirt or grime.

5. Maintenance is Key

The most common reason for an a/c unit to catch fire is because it isn’t maintained. Just like all other electrical or mechanical items you own, the a/c must be maintained. You get your car serviced regularly; you also need to do this for your a/c.  But, don’t just let anyone do this, once a year get a professional to do a thorough clean of your a/c unit. They will inspect all surfaces and components of the unit. They will thoroughly clean and test the unit reporting to you any faults. Use a reputable company that can guarantee their work. This step is one that should not be overlooked.

Who Can Offer a Guarantee?

HydroKleen provide the expertise and best technology to clean, sanitise and maintain air conditioning units. It’s our speciality and our process is so unique it has been trademarked.

If you want to see a demonstration of how we thoroughly clean air conditioning units check out the YouTube video at https://youtu.be/DswSrqOHXsw

A HydroKleened unit is one that will be well maintained, free of dust, dirt and other contaminants and will run efficiently. Our qualified technicians will make sure you’re a/c unit is safe to use and provide you with their 19-point checklist.

HydroKleen guarantee that if you are not happy with the clean, you don’t have to pay.

HydroKleen are the ONLY Air Conditioning Cleaning company exclusively approved by the National Asthma Council Australia’s Sensitive Choice Program and we provide a written 12 month guarantee against Mould regrowth.

Click Here for more information about Hydrokleen.