It is essential to maintain your air conditioner year-round so that your unit operates efficiently and the air in your home is clean. If you are concerned that your air conditioner is dirty and want to clean it yourself, you can follow some standard instructions to make sure everything gets cleaned correctly and safely.
Clean the Inside AC Parts
When you work on your air conditioner inside or outside your home, you should make sure that there is no power to your AC unit. This means that you should turn it off at the source, such as the breaker box.
Once you turn off the power to the air conditioner, you can begin to work on the unit. Open the AC unit and clean or replace the filter. The filter needs replacing several times during the cooling months; every two months is a good standard.
Cleaning the evaporator coils should be done on a warm day and with a mask, as the dust may bother some people. You can find a no-rinse coil cleaner at a hardware store for the coils. After you put the cleaner on the coils, it will drip into the drain pan.
Once the coil cleaner finishes dripping into the drip pan, you should wash the pan with soap and water. You may also need a solution of bleach and water to get rid of mold, mildew, or algae. The recommendation is to use a 50/50 mix of bleach and water to clean mold and mildew from the air conditioner. This solution will also help sanitize everything.
Check the AC drain for your house to make sure it is clear and there are no clogs. These drains can grow mold, mildew, and become clogged with other debris, which can make the air quality in your home poor. You may need to clean it with a wet/dry vac if there is a clog.
Once everything inside is clean, replace the access panel and secure it with the screws you removed. You may need to get HVAC metal foil tape to seal it, being careful not to cover any information a technician may need for future maintenance.
Cleaning the Outside AC Unit
You can clean the outside unit first or second; the order isn’t important. Make sure the electricity is off, and then remove the grille. Once you have the top off, you should be able to set it aside without disconnecting wires.
There may be a lot of dirt, leaves, and other debris in the AC unit if it wasn’t covered during the winter months. Clean out the debris. You may want to get your wet/dry vacuum to get everything out of the exterior unit. Once there is no longer any debris, it is time to clean the coils and fins. There is a solution to clean the coils and fins that you can get at the hardware store. Spray it on, being careful not to breathe in the fumes. Rinse the solution with a hose and then straighten any bent fins.
Once you finish cleaning the inside of the exterior unit, put it back together carefully. The last step is inspecting and clearing away the debris and foliage that can grow around the unit. It is a good rule of thumb to have an area of 2 feet clear around the unit so that it isn’t damaged and performs appropriately. It is also a great idea to check and make sure the exterior unit is level. If it isn’t level, it may work inefficiently.
Finally, test your air conditioner to make sure everything is working correctly and the air coming from it is nice and cool in each room. It is good to run it for a while, so doing this on a warmer day is a great way to save energy.
Turn to a Professional AC Company
If you want maintenance for your air conditioner in the Farmingdale, NY, area, B.A.C. Systems, Inc., has professional technicians who will come to your home and ensure that your AC system is well maintained. We can also install a new air conditioner or repair an older unit. We offer heating repairs, maintenance, and installation for our customers in the area as well. Our other services include roofing and masonry work. Do you need new siding or windows? We can help. Contact us today for more information about the services we offer in the area.
