With summer ending in Moline, now is a good time to get a head start on air conditioner maintenance.
If you haven’t taken care of it this year, it could be full of dust and yard waste. This buildup can reduce your unit’s efficiency and cause it to break down. Or wear it down more quickly.
We advise having your air conditioning system professionally tuned-up every year. Why? A clean unit can be more energy efficient, which could save you money on utility expenses.
Routine AC maintenance also helps our technicians discover and address small issues before they develop into 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
- Confirming pressure and temperature
- Reviewing lines, refrigerant amounts and connections
It’s not too late to have a tune-up 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 get the grime off your outdoor condenser unit, as well as a few 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
Pick a temperate day to wash your air conditioner. At least 60 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) is great. That way, you can check your equipment once you’ve cleaned it.
You’ll only need a couple 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
Take out rubbish from the system. This includes branches, bushes, weeds and grass.
Then turn on the vacuum to slowly clean the metallic fins. These pieces are also called as condenser coils and divert heat away from your system.
You need to be careful with these delicate coils. Bent or crushed fins can influence efficiency.
3. Fix Bent Fins
Use a butter knife to adjust warped fins. You can also buy a fin comb from an appliance parts website. A pro from J.L. Brady Company LLC should take care of large amounts of damage.
4. Clean the Inside
After extracting the fan, pull out leaves and other yard litter. Then clean the inside of the unit with a wet rag.
The only coil cleaner you need is water. Use gentle pressure from a hose nozzle to clean the fins, showering water from the inside out. Put the fan back in once you’re completed.
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, contact us a call at 309-517-7511.
Related: Air Conditioner Service: Pay a Little Now, Save Later
3 Steps to Clean the Indoor Unit
1. Turn Off the Power
Turn off the power to your furnace at the breaker box.
2. Check Your Filter
Furnace filters need to be replaced every few months, depending on the type you use.
Not sure when you last checked yours? Take it out and hold it up to the light. If you can’t see light through it, 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 scummy, you can clean it by flowing water-down bleach through the tube to flush the line. Or you can get a new tube.
Wash the drain port using a small, round paintbrush. Reconnect 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 J.L. Brady Company LLC can make your unit more efficient and help it last longer. We also provide practical service agreements, so you won’t forget to book your regular maintenance!