It’s a hot, sunny day in July. The forecast says it’s going to feel like 40 degrees Celsius by the afternoon. You think to yourself, “Thank goodness we have air conditioning”, until you realize… you don’t. As timing would have it, your air conditioning unit has decided to stop working, just when you need it most.
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It’s a hot, sunny day in July. The forecast says it’s going to feel like 40 degrees Celsius by the afternoon. You think to yourself, “Thank goodness we have air conditioning”, until you realize… you don’t. As timing would have it, your air conditioning unit has decided to stop working, just when you need it most.
Like many things in life, your air conditioner requires regular maintenance and care to ensure it not only runs smoothly when you need it to, but lasts longer too, ultimately saving you money in the future. Follow these steps to ensure your air conditioner is ready to work through those hot summer days and to catch any issues in advance before they become major, or worse, an emergency.
BE SAFE! Remember to shut off the power before you begin working around the air conditioner. There are many dangers when working around electricity and an air conditioner’s moving parts. Look for an exterior shut off box near the unit and/or turn the power off at the breaker box located inside your home.
This is arguably the most important maintenance task you can do as a homeowner. If you are going to do only one thing to maintain your unit, let it be this. A clogged or dirty air filter will reduce the efficiency of your air conditioning unit. The filter in your HVAC system should be changed, at a minimum, two times a year - once before the heating season begins and once before the cooling season begins. This will keep your HVAC system healthy and improve the air quality inside your home. There is no harm in changing it more often, especially if you live in a particularly dusty area or you have pets inside your home. You will want to ensure that you are replacing the air filter with a new filter that has the same airflow rating and that you line up the air flow arrows in the correct direction.
Over time, things like leaves, dirt, grass clippings and branches will build up around the outside of your air conditioner. These types of debris and foliage around the unit will decrease the unit’s capacity and reduce airflow. Minimize debris around the unit by cutting back branches and vegetation at least two feet in all directions which will ensure proper airflow around the unit.
During the winter time, it’s a good idea to cover the top of the unit with a piece of plywood or plastic to keep debris from falling in. However, don’t cover the unit’s sides, since moisture can build up inside and cause corrosion. Also, a completely covered unit will encourage animals to build nests inside over the colder months - yikes! Don’t forget to remove the cover when you start to operate the unit.
Remove the outer covers and use a brush attachment on a shop vacuum to remove all outside dirt. Then, using a gentle stream from your garden hose, spray the fins from the inside out to remove any built-up dirt or debris from between them. NEVER use a pressure washer since the high pressure can damage the fins. Check the coil fins for any bent fins that may block the airflow. This can reduce the efficiency of the unit. You can gently straighten any bent fins using a butter knife or a “fin comb”. Be gentle though, so that the tubing embedded within the fins is not damaged.
Don’t forget to turn the power back on when you’re all done! And remember, while there are many things you can do to help keep your air conditioning system in tip top shape, there are maintenance items that only a trained HVAC technician will be able to do. Make sure you get an expert technician, like the ones we have at Farr Mechanical, to check your unit periodically. Contact us today with any questions regarding your HVAC system.
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