With summer ending in Wharton, now is an ideal time to get a head start on air conditioner maintenance.
If you haven’t cleaned it this year, it could be blocked with mud and debris from your yard. This collection can reduce your unit’s efficiency and cause it to stop working. Or wear it down more quickly.
We advise having your air conditioning system professionally maintained every year. Why? A clean unit can be more energy efficient, which could save you money on electric costs.
Routine AC maintenance also helps our technicians spot and take care of minor issues before they become expensive problems.
Related: How to Keep Your Air Conditioner from Failing
Some of the work we complete includes:
- Viewing the blower, motor, drain line and coils
- Checking pressure and temperature
- Reviewing lines, refrigerant levels and connections
You can still have maintenance 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 by yourself between professional tune-ups. You just need 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
Choose a temperate day to wash your air conditioner. At least 60 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) is best. That way, you can test your system once you’ve cleaned it.
You’ll only need a handful 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
Switch off the juice to your air conditioner at the breaker box.
2. Clean the Outside
Remove rubbish from the equipment. This includes branches, bushes, weeds and grass.
Then use the vacuum to cautiously clean the metallic fins. These pieces are also called as condenser coils and transfer heat away from your system.
You need to be careful with these delicate coils. Bent or crinkled fins can influence efficiency.
3. Fix Bent Fins
Use a butter knife to rearrange bent fins. You can also get a fin comb from an appliance parts retailer. A pro from Faust Air Conditioning and Heating should take care of extensive damage.
4. Clean the Inside
After removing the fan, fish out leaves and other yard rubbish. Then clean the inside of the equipment with a wet rag.
The only coil cleaner you need is water. Use slight pressure from a hose nozzle to clean the fins, spraying water from the inside out. Put the fan back in once you’re done.
5. Test Your Air Conditioner
Now it’s time to restore power and turn your air conditioner back on. If it’s not operating correctly, reach out to us a call at 979-323-6130.
Related: Air Conditioner Service: Pay a Little Now, Save Later
3 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 should be replaced every few months, depending on the kind you use.
Unsure when you last put in a new one? Pull 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 examine your air conditioner’s drain line—it’s a flexible plastic tube. If it’s scummy, you can freshen it by draining thinned bleach through the tube to sanitize the line. Or you can replace the 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 Faust Air Conditioning and Heating can make your unit more efficient and help it last longer. We also provide practical service agreements, so you won’t forget to schedule your regular tune-up!