With summer winding down in Greensburg, now is a great time to get a kick start on air conditioner maintenance.

If you haven’t cleaned it lately, it could be full of dirt and yard waste. This accumulation can limit your unit’s efficiency and cause it to stop working. Or make it wear out faster.

We recommend having your air conditioning system professionally tuned-up annually. Why? Clean equipment can be more energy efficient, which could save you money on energy bills.

Consistent AC maintenance also helps our technicians discover and handle slight issues before they turn into costly problems.

Related: How to Keep Your Air Conditioner from Failing

Some of the work we perform includes:

  • Inspecting the blower, motor, drain line and coils
  • Watching pressure and temperature
  • Examining lines, refrigerant amounts and connections

There’s still time to have maintenance done this fall—and we can get your furnace prepped for heating season too.

There’s also some maintenance you can do alone between professional tune-ups. You just need about an hour to clean your outdoor condenser unit, as well as a few pieces 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 warm day to wash your air conditioner. At least 60 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) is great. That way, you can run the unit once you’ve cleaned it.

You’ll only need a couple of tools:

  • 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

Five Steps to Clean the Outside Unit

1. Turn Off the Power

Switch off the electricity to your air conditioner at the breaker box.

2. Clean the Outside

Remove debris from the equipment. This includes branches, bushes, weeds and grass.

Then use the vacuum to gently clean the metallic fins. These components are also known as condenser coils and transfer heat away from your unit.

You need to be cautious with these delicate coils. Bent or crushed fins can affect efficiency.

3. Fix Bent Fins

Use a butter knife to rearrange misshapen fins. You can also buy a fin comb from an appliance part website. A pro from Wallpe Heating & Cooling should handle severe damage.

4. Clean the Inside

After extracting the fan, dig out leaves and other yard waste. Then clean the inside of the equipment with a wet sponge.

The only coil cleaner you should use is water. Use gentle pressure from a hose nozzle to rinse 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 like it should, give us a call at 812-663-7252.

Related: Air Conditioner Service: Pay a Little Now, Save Later

Three Steps to Clean the Indoor Unit

1. Turn Off the Power

Stop the juice to your furnace at the breaker box.

2. Check Your Filter

Furnace filters need to be exchanged every couple of months, depending on the model you use.

Unsure when you last replaced yours? Take it out and tilt it toward the light. If there’s no light visible, replace it.

3. Clean the Inside

Remove the blower door and vacuum up dust.

Then take a look at your air conditioner’s drain line—it’s a supple plastic tube. If it’s dirty, you can sanitize it by flowing watered-down bleach through the tube to clean the line. Or you can get a new tube.

Wash 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 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 service!