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Clean Your Air Conditioner in 5 Easy Steps !

Marge Stevens

After a mild Midwest winter thanks to El Nino, the weather experts are already predicting a hotter-than-normal summer. No doubt, that means your air conditioner will be working overtime. Can it take the heat? Follow these 5 easy steps for cleaning your central air conditioner, and you’ll stay calm, cool, and collected even during the hottest days!

Step #1: Check the Thermostat

The best time to test drive your air conditioner is before you need it. Set your thermostat to the “cool” setting and place your hand over a vent. If cool air is not streaming out within minutes, call for service as soon as possible. An A/C technician’s schedule is much more flexible now, before the weather heats up.

Step #2: Trim Around the Unit

If there are trees, shrubs, or other plants around your air conditioner, give them a pre-summer trim. Now is a great time to do this because they’re not yet in full leaf – you won’t be fighting foliage as you cut. Most air conditioning manufacturers recommend a minimum of 10” of clearance around the unit, but you may even want to add a few more inches between your A/C unit and the vegetation. That way, you won’t be trimming again during the hot and muggy summer days.

Step #3: Clean or Replace the Filters

Don’t limit this activity to spring cleaning; furnace and A/C units should be cleaned or replaced at least twice a yearor whenever they begin to look clogged with dust. If this isn’t done regularly, the airflow through the system will be restricted and the unit’s efficiency will plummet. Not only that, the dust that can no longer be trapped by the filter will circulate in your home. Instructions for cleaning or replacing filters vary depending on the model and manufacturer. Consult your manual or look for information on the Internet.

Step #4: Check the Fan and Clean the Condenser

IMPORTANT: Turn off the circuit breaker at the panel before you begin cleaning the fan or coils to prevent electric shock!

Most central air conditioning condenser units are located outside the building – they look like a large metal box with a fan on the inside. The fan moves the air across the condenser coils, so make sure nothing is obstructing the movement of the blades. To clean the coils, you’ll need to remove the side and top panels or protective grilles from the condenser unit. Unscrew the side panels and pull them away from the unit, and then lift off the top, which may be heavy due to the weight of the fan attached to it. Don’t tug any of the wires connected to the fan. Use a refrigerator coil brush or a soft brush on a vacuum to gently clean the coils. Be careful not to bend the delicate fins or damage the coils. If you do bend the fins, you can straighten them with a “fin comb” made for this purpose.

For dirt that won’t budge with a soft brush, spray on a commercial coil cleaner from the inside, being careful not to spray the fan or electrical components. Sometimes it’s necessary to use a hose with a trigger-style nozzle to blast dirt and debris out of the coils from inside the unit with a strong, focused stream. But if you do this, be very careful not to bend the fins, flood the area, or spray water on electrical components or the fan motor (cover those areas with a plastic garbage bag before spraying). Also be aware that doing this can cause mud to block some of the areas between the fins, so you may have to brush it a second time.

Scoop leaves and debris out of the base of the condenser and, if it has a drain, make sure the drain is clear. Then turn your attention to the fan. Use a vacuum with a brush and a rag to clean the fan blades. Next, tighten any loose mounting bolts. If the fan motor has oil ports, put a few drops of lightweight oil or spray lubricant into the ports. Mop up any excess water inside the unit, then reassemble the condenser.

Step #5: Check the Coolant Lines

The coolant lines are the tubes or pipes that run from the evaporator on the air handler (on the furnace unit) to the condenser outside. They are typically covered with foam coolant line. If you see areas where the insulation is frayed or missing, replace it. To do this, install foam insulation sleeves or wrap the lines in a spiral fashion with foam insulation tape – both are available at most hardware stores. Cut the sleeve to fit using a utility knife.

Does your air conditioning unit need to be repaired or replaced? Contact Blissfield Heating and Plumbing or give us a call at (517) 486-3575. We’ll help you keep your cool all summer long.

8593 E US Hwy 223

Blissfield, MI 49228

Phone: (517) 486-3575

Social Media: Facebook | Google+


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