As you can finally step outside of your home without a winter jacket, it’s time to think about your springtime maintenance task. As a homeowner, you’ll need to take adequate time to prepare your entire air conditioning system for the summer. Realize that by performing regular maintenance on your air conditioning system each spring, you can help to prolong its life and reduce your risk of experiencing a system malfunction.
Clean Your Outside Unit and Surrounding Area
Since the weather is getting nicer, it’s time to set half of a day aside for your AC maintenance needs. Start by shutting off the power to your entire air conditioning system. This will allow you to safely clean the system components without fear of injury or electrocution.
You’ll need to unscrew the cover for the outside AC unit. As you pull the cover off, you may find that you’ll need to disconnect some wires to get the cover completely off. Be sure to note the order of the wires so that you reinstall them correctly when you’re done cleaning the entire outside unit.
Start your cleaning with the condenser coil. Use a store-bought condenser cleaning agent as you’ll need a powerful cleaner to remove the stuck-on debris. Keep in mind that your outdoor unit is exposed to the outdoor elements, so you’ll need to really work to remove that stuck-on debris. Once you clean the condenser coil, it’s time to use the hose to wash off the rest of the unit.
You never want to use a pressure washer when cleaning your outdoor unit. This could result in damage to the sensitive fins. As you’re cleaning the fins, you’ll want to use a fin comb or pair of pliers to straighten out any fins that have become bent. Bent fins won’t allow your system to remove as much heat as it should. Go ahead and put your AC cover back on the unit. Be sure to reconnect any wires that you disconnected.
Take a moment to clean out the area around the outdoor unit. It’s not uncommon for loose leaves to get stuck between the unit and the exterior of your home. If there are any bushes against the unit, be sure to trim them back. Your unit needs a good 3 feet of open space around it to have optimal airflow.
Clean Your Indoor Unit
Next up, you’ll want to head inside. Remove the access panel and locate the evaporator coil. Again, you’ll want to use a specialized foaming cleanser for cleaning this coil. Once the coil is cleaned off, move on to cleaning the drainpipe and drain. It’s not uncommon for the drainpipe and the drain to have hard water scaling and a general buildup of loose debris.
Over time, this debris can end up clogging the pipe or the drain itself. If this happens, water will back up inside of your air conditioning unit. This could result in a water leak inside your home. A simple solution of bleach and water should be all that you need to get rid of any loose debris and hard water scaling. Once you get the drain and drainpipe clean, it’s time to reinstall the access panel.
Install a New Filter
During your AC preparation day, it’s a good idea to install a new air filter. If your system is like most, it will have one air filter. You can locate this filter by looking at your owner’s manual or asking an AC professional. Take a moment and pop out your existing filter. You can replace it with a HEPA, washable, fiberglass, or pleated filter.
You’ll just need to ensure that the filter is the right size for your system. Each type of air conditioning system has its own air filter size. If you have young children in your home or you’re dealing with respiratory issues, it’s a good idea to spend a little extra money and install a HEPA air filter. This type of filter will collect more airborne debris than the other types of filters.
Superior AC Service
HB Home Service Team has experienced AC service technicians waiting to assist you with all of your air conditioning needs. We even offer heating, plumbing, home safety, air purification, and electrical services. If it’s time to get your AC unit serviced, or you need assistance with another one of the services that we offer, it’s time to give us a call today!