With summer coming to an end in Greensburg, now is a great time to get ahead on air conditioner maintenance.
If you haven’t cleaned it recently, it could be full of dirt and yard refuse. This buildup can reduce your unit’s efficiency and cause it to malfunction. Or wear it down faster.
We advise having your air conditioning system professionally tuned-up once a year. Why? A clean system can be more energy efficient, which could save you money on energy bills.
Routine AC maintenance also helps our technicians discover and take care of minor issues before they turn into costly problems.
Related: How to Keep Your Air Conditioner from Failing
Some of the work we perform involves:
- Inspecting the blower, motor, drain line and coils
- Checking pressure and temperature
- Examining lines, refrigerant amounts and connections
There’s still time to have a tune-up done this fall—and we can get your furnace prepared for heating season too.
Schedule maintenance now
There’s also some maintenance you can do on your own between professional tune-ups. You only need about an hour to clean your outdoor condenser unit, as well as several components on your indoor HVAC system.
Related: How Often Should You Expect to Get Air Conditioning Service Done?
How to Clean Your Outside AC Unit
Select a temperate day to wash your air conditioner. At least 60 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) is ideal. That way, you can test your equipment once you’ve cleaned it.
You’ll only need a couple of items:
- 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
Cut the juice to your air conditioner at the breaker box.
2. Clean the Outside
Take out waste from the equipment. This includes branches, bushes, weeds and grass.
Then turn on the vacuum to cautiously clean the metallic fins. These pieces are also known as condenser coils and divert heat away from your system.
You need to be considerate of these fine coils. Bent or crinkled fins can influence efficiency.
3. Fix Bent Fins
Use a butter knife to rearrange misshapen fins. You can also buy a fin comb from an appliance parts retailer. A pro from Wallpe Heating & Cooling should take care of extensive damage.
4. Clean the Inside
After extracting the fan, pull out leaves and other yard litter. Then wipe the inside of the equipment with a wet rag.
The only coil cleaner you have to have is water. Use light pressure from a hose nozzle to clean the fins, showering water from the inside out. Reinstall the fan once you’re completed.
5. Test Your Air Conditioner
It’s safe to restore power and turn your air conditioner back on. If it’s not running correctly, give us a call at 812-663-7252.
Related: Air Conditioner Service: Pay a Little Now, Save Later
3 Steps to Clean the Indoor Unit
1. Turn Off the Power
Cut the power to your furnace at the breaker box.
2. Check Your Filter
Furnace filters should be changed every several months, depending on the type you use.
Unsure when you last put in a new one? Take it out and hold it up to the light. If there’s no light visible, get a new one.
3. Clean the Inside
Remove the blower door and vacuum up dust.
Then inspect your air conditioner’s drain line—it’s a pliable plastic tube. If it’s dirty, you can clean it by flowing water-down bleach through the tube to sanitize the line. Or you can get a new tube.
Wash the drain port using a small, round paintbrush. Reconnect the drain tube and restore power.
Related: How to Keep Your Air Conditioner Running Well Through Fall
Never Forget a Tune-Up Again
Annual air conditioner maintenance from Wallpe Heating & Cooling can make your unit more efficient and help it last longer. We also offer convenient service agreements, so you won’t forget to book your routine maintenance!