When the springtime air starts to fill your home, it can invigorate your desire for that much-awaited home maintenance. One of the biggest tasks on your list is likely cleaning your centralized home air conditioning system. By having the right strategy to follow, you can make the cleaning process smooth and easy this year.
Start by Collecting the Proper Tools
It’s never a good idea to just jump into your springtime air conditioner maintenance without taking the time to collect the proper tools. If you do, you’ll likely find yourself running back and forth to the store. This is a surefire way to make your air conditioner maintenance feel like it’s taking forever.
Instead, make a list of the things that you’ll need to clean your air conditioning system. You’ll need an evaporator coil cleaner, condenser coil cleaner, a fin comb, an air filter that fits your AC system, and some bleach. Be sure to set about half of a day aside to perform the necessary maintenance on your centralized air conditioning system.
Start With the Power
The first step in cleaning your home air conditioning system is killing the power to it. You should do this at the electrical panel box. Locate the circuit breaker labeled for your air conditioning system and flip it to the off position. You shouldn’t be turning this back on until both the interior and exterior air conditioning units are thoroughly cleaned.
Replace Your Air Filter
You should start your cleaning by replacing your air conditioner filter. You’ll want to remove the old filter and put in the new one. Make sure that the model number matches up or the new filter will not work.
There are various types of air filters that you can purchase. For those who don’t want to worry about replacing their air filter every three months, there are washable filters that you can buy. For those with severe allergies or young children, a HEPA filter is best for superior quality filtering. Pleated filters and fiberglass filters are other options that homeowners may invest in.
A general rule of thumb is to look at your existing air filter. If you can see through it, it’s good for a little while longer. If you can’t see through it any longer, then it’s time for a replacement. It’s highly recommended by air conditioning experts to check your air filter’s condition once a month.
Move Onto Your Venting
Each room in your home will have vents that move air throughout the ductwork in your home. You’ll want to thoroughly clean all of these vents as they can easily accumulate stuck-on dirt and debris. Some soap and hot water are typically all that you need. Just ensure that the vents are completely dry before you reinstall them. If not, the excess moisture can cause mold and mildew growth to occur.
When you’re cleaning your vents, it’s a good idea to check their airflow. You want to make sure that the air flows directly out of the vent and into the room. If there are any objects in the way, like furniture or lamps, move them out of the direct flow of the air. This will help to ensure that your air conditioning system remains efficient.
Wipe Out Your Ductwork
The ductwork in your home runs throughout the walls. While you don’t likely have access to all of the ducting, you can have access to some of it while you’re cleaning the vents. Optimize this time by using a dry cloth to remove stuck-on grime and dirt from the inside of your ducting.
You can have a professional clean out all of your ducting with specialized equipment. It’s best to do this every three to five years. Those who have severe allergies or upper respiratory conditions should opt for cleaning their ducting out more often as it will enhance the indoor air quality that they breathe.
Open Up Your Indoor Unit
Head to your indoor air conditioning unit and open up the access panel. You’ll want to move the panel to the side so that it’s out of your way while you continue to clean your interior AC system. Next, grab your evaporator coil cleaner and use it to clean off those coils.
This is typically a foaming cleanser that will remove the grime and drip it off to the drain pan. Next, mix up a 50/50 solution of water and bleach. Pour it down the drain and drainpipe. This will remove stuck-on debris and hard water. This step is necessary to prevent clogs from building up inside of your drain or drainpipe. Go ahead and reinstall the access panel.
Head to the Outdoor AC Unit
When you get to your outdoor compressor unit, you’ll need to evaluate its surroundings. The unit needs a good three feet of space around it. This helps to allow adequate airflow throughout the outside unit, which is necessary to remove the heat from the refrigerant inside of your air conditioning system.
It’s very common for loose debris like twigs and leaves to get stuck behind the unit. Use your broom to remove those objects. Trim back any overgrown bushes and cut back any tree limbs that are too close to your outdoor compressor unit. Next, it’s time to clean the actual outdoor unit.
Start by removing the air conditioner grille cover fasteners. You’ll want to place the grille cover out of the way while you work on cleaning the unit. You may need to disconnect some wiring between the grille cover and the actual outdoor unit. If you do, make sure that you make a mental note of how it’s connected so that you can reconnect it when you’re done with your cleaning tasks.
When your air conditioner grille cover is off, it’s time to grab that condenser coil cleaner that you picked up at your local hardware store. You should read the instructions and utilize safety gloves if necessary to protect yourself from the solution. Let the foaming cleaning solution drip off of the condenser coils.
Next, grab your hose and spray out your outdoor compressor unit. Remove the foaming solution and any loose debris, like twigs or leaves, that have accumulated inside of it. Make sure that you hit each of the metal fins to get them cleaned. Avoid the temptation to utilize a pressure washer as it will likely bend the metal fins.
Take your metal fin comb and straighten out the metal fins. These fins are very sensitive, so it’s easy for them to become bent. They need to be straight in order to properly disperse the heat that enters the compressor unit. Make sure that each fin is straight before reinstalling the air conditioner grille cover. If you disconnected any wiring, make sure that you reconnect it now.
Top-Quality AC Maintenance
Gallagher's Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning provides top-quality AC maintenance throughout the Sacramento area. We also offer expert indoor air quality testing, heating and cooling repairs and installation. Simply pick up the phone and give us a call today to get your next appointment scheduled.
When the springtime air starts to fill your home, it can invigorate your desire for that much-awaited home maintenance. One of the biggest tasks on your list is likely cleaning your centralized home air conditioning system. By having the right strategy to follow, you can make the cleaning process smooth and easy this year.
Start by Collecting the Proper Tools
It’s never a good idea to just jump into your springtime air conditioner maintenance without taking the time to collect the proper tools. If you do, you’ll likely find yourself running back and forth to the store. This is a surefire way to make your air conditioner maintenance feel like it’s taking forever.
Instead, make a list of the things that you’ll need to clean your air conditioning system. You’ll need an evaporator coil cleaner, condenser coil cleaner, a fin comb, an air filter that fits your AC system, and some bleach. Be sure to set about half of a day aside to perform the necessary maintenance on your centralized air conditioning system.
Start With the Power
The first step in cleaning your home air conditioning system is killing the power to it. You should do this at the electrical panel box. Locate the circuit breaker labeled for your air conditioning system and flip it to the off position. You shouldn’t be turning this back on until both the interior and exterior air conditioning units are thoroughly cleaned.
Replace Your Air Filter
You should start your cleaning by replacing your air conditioner filter. You’ll want to remove the old filter and put in the new one. Make sure that the model number matches up or the new filter will not work.
There are various types of air filters that you can purchase. For those who don’t want to worry about replacing their air filter every three months, there are washable filters that you can buy. For those with severe allergies or young children, a HEPA filter is best for superior quality filtering. Pleated filters and fiberglass filters are other options that homeowners may invest in.
A general rule of thumb is to look at your existing air filter. If you can see through it, it’s good for a little while longer. If you can’t see through it any longer, then it’s time for a replacement. It’s highly recommended by air conditioning experts to check your air filter’s condition once a month.
Move Onto Your Venting
Each room in your home will have vents that move air throughout the ductwork in your home. You’ll want to thoroughly clean all of these vents as they can easily accumulate stuck-on dirt and debris. Some soap and hot water are typically all that you need. Just ensure that the vents are completely dry before you reinstall them. If not, the excess moisture can cause mold and mildew growth to occur.
When you’re cleaning your vents, it’s a good idea to check their airflow. You want to make sure that the air flows directly out of the vent and into the room. If there are any objects in the way, like furniture or lamps, move them out of the direct flow of the air. This will help to ensure that your air conditioning system remains efficient.
Wipe Out Your Ductwork
The ductwork in your home runs throughout the walls. While you don’t likely have access to all of the ducting, you can have access to some of it while you’re cleaning the vents. Optimize this time by using a dry cloth to remove stuck-on grime and dirt from the inside of your ducting.
You can have a professional clean out all of your ducting with specialized equipment. It’s best to do this every three to five years. Those who have severe allergies or upper respiratory conditions should opt for cleaning their ducting out more often as it will enhance the indoor air quality that they breathe.
Open Up Your Indoor Unit
Head to your indoor air conditioning unit and open up the access panel. You’ll want to move the panel to the side so that it’s out of your way while you continue to clean your interior AC system. Next, grab your evaporator coil cleaner and use it to clean off those coils.
This is typically a foaming cleanser that will remove the grime and drip it off to the drain pan. Next, mix up a 50/50 solution of water and bleach. Pour it down the drain and drainpipe. This will remove stuck-on debris and hard water. This step is necessary to prevent clogs from building up inside of your drain or drainpipe. Go ahead and reinstall the access panel.
Head to the Outdoor AC Unit
When you get to your outdoor compressor unit, you’ll need to evaluate its surroundings. The unit needs a good three feet of space around it. This helps to allow adequate airflow throughout the outside unit, which is necessary to remove the heat from the refrigerant inside of your air conditioning system.
It’s very common for loose debris like twigs and leaves to get stuck behind the unit. Use your broom to remove those objects. Trim back any overgrown bushes and cut back any tree limbs that are too close to your outdoor compressor unit. Next, it’s time to clean the actual outdoor unit.
Start by removing the air conditioner grille cover fasteners. You’ll want to place the grille cover out of the way while you work on cleaning the unit. You may need to disconnect some wiring between the grille cover and the actual outdoor unit. If you do, make sure that you make a mental note of how it’s connected so that you can reconnect it when you’re done with your cleaning tasks.
When your air conditioner grille cover is off, it’s time to grab that condenser coil cleaner that you picked up at your local hardware store. You should read the instructions and utilize safety gloves if necessary to protect yourself from the solution. Let the foaming cleaning solution drip off of the condenser coils.
Next, grab your hose and spray out your outdoor compressor unit. Remove the foaming solution and any loose debris, like twigs or leaves, that have accumulated inside of it. Make sure that you hit each of the metal fins to get them cleaned. Avoid the temptation to utilize a pressure washer as it will likely bend the metal fins.
Take your metal fin comb and straighten out the metal fins. These fins are very sensitive, so it’s easy for them to become bent. They need to be straight in order to properly disperse the heat that enters the compressor unit. Make sure that each fin is straight before reinstalling the air conditioner grille cover. If you disconnected any wiring, make sure that you reconnect it now.
Top-Quality AC Maintenance
Gallagher's Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning provides top-quality AC maintenance throughout the Sacramento area. We also offer heating and air conditioning services in addition to other plumbing services. Simply pick up the phone and give us a call today to get your next appointment scheduled.
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