AIR CONDITIONING
Don’t forget the condensate pump
When it comes to air conditioning maintenance schedules it is vital engineers maintain the condensate pump as well as the main air conditioning system. Stuart Newbury from Aspen Pumps gives some top tips.
M
aintaining an air conditioning system is vital both to help ensure good indoor air quality is maintained in
a building and to ensure a unit is operating efficiently. Research shows dirt can increase an Air Conditioning (AC) system’s energy usage by up to 30%, therefore for an AC system to work at peak efficiency and performance it needs to be clean.
However, as well as maintaining the AC unit, engineers should not ignore the condensate pump since this should be cleaned and maintained too. A poorly maintained AC system may cause operation and performance issues within a condensate pump, leading to blockages and reduced pump life. The frequency of cleaning needed depends on the environment the pump is operating in but a good rule of thumb is to check and clean it every time the AC system is maintained. A condensate pump has three main parts, the reservoir or tank, the activation technology, typically a float system and the pump motor. When the condensation level rises in the reservoir, the float begins to lift, which signals the pump to activate. However, dirt and dust particles can accumulate on the pump sensors, which can affect the operating levels of the pump and the overflow safety position. Another part of the pump that needs attention while cleaning is the filter, which is designed to trap any water-borne debris on entry to the pump reservoir or tank. It is essential to remove the filter, if applicable, and thoroughly clean and rinse
28 February 2020
the filter, pump sensor and reservoir, prior to reassembly of the pump. In addition to the risk of causing the reservoir to overflow, poor maintenance of the AC system may cause the pump motor to work harder, reducing pump flow rate performance, increasing noise levels and ultimately reducing pump life. When maintaining the condensate pump it is also good practice to check the condition of the inlet and outlet pipes to ensure there are no kinks or deterioration which could affect performance, causing noise or overflow problems.
There are a range of different types of
condensate pumps on the market, designed specifically to suit different applications. Some mini pumps, such as the slim line Mini Aqua are designed to fit within an AC unit, whereas the popular Mini Orange can be sited remotely from the AC unit. Other pumps are designed to deal with larger amounts of condensate and are ideal for cassette units, such as the Max Hi- Flow tank pump.
However, whether engineers are cleaning an AC wall unit, which has a slimline condensate pump installed inside it, such as Aspen’s Mini Aqua, or a cassette unit with a larger tank pump, such as the Max Hi-Flow, the cleaning and maintenance procedure is the same.
1. Prepare: Drain the reservoir if possible, prior to isolating the AC unit and condensate pump
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