With summer winding down in Kingsville, now is an ideal time to get a kick start on air conditioner maintenance.
If you haven’t washed it lately, it could be blocked with dirt and debris from your yard. This accumulation can reduce your unit’s efficiency and cause it to stop working. Or wear it down more quickly.
We recommend having your air conditioning system professionally tuned-up annually. Why? A clean unit can be more energy efficient, which could save you money on energy bills.
Consistent AC maintenance also helps our technicians spot and handle small issues before they turn into expensive 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
- Checking pressure and temperature
- Testing 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.
Schedule maintenance now
There’s also some upkeep you can do by yourself between professional tune-ups. You just need about an hour to clean your outdoor condenser unit, as well as several 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 clean your air conditioner. At least 60 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) is ideal. That way, you can check your equipment once you’ve cleaned it.
You’ll only need a few 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
5 Steps to Clean the Outside Unit
1. Turn Off the Power
Stop the electricity to your air conditioner at the breaker box.
2. Clean the Outside
Empty debris from the unit. This includes branches, bushes, weeds and grass.
Then turn on the vacuum to cautiously clean the metallic fins. These pieces are also called as condenser coils and move heat away from your system.
You need to be considerate of these fine coils. Bent or crushed 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 website. A pro from Four Seasons Air Conditioning and Heating LLC should take care of large amounts of damage.
4. Clean the Inside
After taking out the fan, dig out leaves and other yard litter. Then clean the inside of the equipment with a wet sponge.
The only coil cleaner you have to have is water. Use gentle pressure from a hose nozzle to rinse the fins, directing water from the inside out. Reinstall the fan once you’re finished.
5. Test Your Air Conditioner
You can now restore power and turn your air conditioner back on. If it’s not operating correctly, reach out to us a call at 361-214-1203.
Related: Air Conditioner Service: Pay a Little Now, Save Later
3 Steps to Clean the Indoor Unit
1. Turn Off the Power
Cut the juice to your furnace at the breaker box.
2. Check Your Filter
Furnace filters must be changed every couple of months, depending on the model you use.
Can’t remember when you last put in a new one? Remove it and hold it up to the light. If light isn’t visible, buy a new one.
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 flexible plastic tube. If it’s scummy, you can clean it by flowing diluted bleach through the tube to sanitize the line. Or you can buy a new tube.
Clean the drain port using a small, round paintbrush. Connect the drain tube and switch 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 Four Seasons Air Conditioning and Heating LLC can make your system more efficient and help it last longer. We also offer practical service agreements, so you won’t forget to plan your routine tune-up!