Cleaning and regular maintenance of your A/C can help you save money as well as extend the life of the unit. See below for some steps to keep your air conditioning unit running smoothly.
Regular maintenance of your A/C unit is helpful for energy efficiency, comfort and overall unit function. Here are some instructions we pulled from HGTV. Click the link for a step-by-step guide HGTV.com
- Shut off the power – Look for an exterior shut-off box near the unit and also make sure the power is off at the breaker box
- Remove debris – Remove the fan cage on the exterior condenser using a screwdriver or wrench and remove the fasteners and lift the cage or fan grill away from the unit. Clean any debris from the interior.
- Clean the fins – Remove the outer covers and remove all outside dirt (using the attachment brush on a shop vacuum is very helpful). After, use a gentle stream of water from your garden hose to spray through the fins from the inside out to remove any built-up debris and dirt. Be sure NOT to use a power washer/pressure washer as this can damage the fins.
- Clean the area around the unit – When you have finished cleaning, replace the fan cage. Remove any leaves, branches and vegetation at least 2 feet in all directions to unsure proper airflow around the unit.
- Level the unit – The pad the unit sits on can tip as soil settles. Check to see if the condenser is level and be sure to use rust resistant shims to bring it back to level.
- Clean the evaporator coil – Located inside your home. On the blower/furnace unit look for the evaporator coil door (maybe secured with foil duct tape or screws). Using a soft brush, dust off the coils and clean out the drain pan. Replace the coil door and use foil duct tape to reseal if necessary
- Clean the evaporator drain – Over time, algae and mold can build up and plug the drain – if the drain is not flowing or flowing slowly, it will need to be unplugged. Refer to the link for instructions on how to unplug the drain HGTV
- Change the blower filter – The filter in your HVAC system should be changed at a minimum of two times a year. Once before warm weather season and once before cold weather season. You should replace the filter with a new filter that has the same airflow rating.
- Turn the power back on
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