With summer coming to an end in Wyandotte, now is a good time to get ahead on air conditioner maintenance.
If you haven’t taken care of it this year, it could be blocked with dirt and debris from your yard. This collection can reduce your unit’s efficiency and cause it to malfunction. Or require replacement sooner.
We suggest having your air conditioning system professionally serviced annually. Why? A clean system can be more energy efficient, which could save you money on energy expenses.
Regular AC maintenance also helps our technicians spot and handle minor issues before they develop into high-priced problems.
Related: How to Keep Your Air Conditioner from Failing
Some of the work we perform involves:
- Viewing the blower, motor, drain line and coils
- Watching pressure and temperature
- Testing lines, refrigerant amounts and connections
There’s still time to have a tune-up done this fall—and we can get your furnace ready for heating season too.
Schedule maintenance now
There’s also some work you can do alone between professional tune-ups. It only takes about an hour to wash your outdoor condenser unit, as well as a couple of parts on your indoor HVAC system.
Related: How Often Should You Expect to Get Air Conditioning Service Done?
How to Clean Your Outside AC Unit
Pick a warm day to clean your air conditioner. At least 60 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) is best. That way, you can run your equipment once you’ve cleaned it.
You’ll only need a couple of things:
- Wet-dry vacuum and hose with a soft brush attachment
- Screwdriver
- Butter knife
- Damp rag
- Small, round paintbrush
- Replacement furnace filter (if necessary)
Related: How AC Repair and Maintenance Can Actually Save You Money
5 Steps to Clean the Outside Unit
1. Turn Off the Power
Stop the electricity to your air conditioner at the breaker box.
2. Clean the Outside
Remove waste from the equipment. This includes branches, bushes, weeds and grass.
Then run the vacuum to cautiously clean the metallic fins. These parts are also called as condenser coils and move heat away from your unit.
You need to be considerate of these fine coils. Misshapen or crushed fins can affect efficiency.
3. Fix Bent Fins
Use a butter knife to straighten warped fins. You can also buy a fin comb from an appliance parts website. A pro from Gee & Missler Heating & Air Conditioning should take care of severe damage.
4. Clean the Inside
After removing the fan, fish out leaves and other yard waste. Then mop the inside of the system with a wet sponge.
The only coil cleaner you have to have is water. Use gentle pressure from a hose nozzle to wash the fins, showering water from the inside out. Put the fan back in once you’re completed.
5. Test Your Air Conditioner
You can now restore power and turn your air conditioner back on. If it’s not working like it should, give us a call at 734-363-8907.
Related: Air Conditioner Service: Pay a Little Now, Save Later
3 Steps to Clean the Indoor Unit
1. Turn Off the Power
Cut the electricity to your furnace at the breaker box.
2. Check Your Filter
Furnace filters should be replaced every several months, depending on the kind you use.
Unsure when you last put in a new one? Pull it out and angle it toward the light. If there’s no light visible, buy a new one.
3. Clean the Inside
Remove the blower door and vacuum up dust.
Then examine your air conditioner’s drain line—it’s a pliable plastic tube. If it’s scummy, you can freshen it by flowing water-down bleach through the tube to flush the line. Or you can get a new tube.
Scrub the drain port using a small, round paintbrush. Reconnect the drain tube and turn the power back on.
Related: How to Keep Your Air Conditioner Running Well Through Fall
Never Forget a Tune-Up Again
Annual air conditioner maintenance from Gee & Missler Heating & Air Conditioning can make your equipment more efficient and help it last longer. We also provide practical service agreements, so you won’t forget to plan your annual maintenance!