With summer coming to an end in Houston, now is a great time to get ahead on air conditioner maintenance.
If you haven’t washed it lately, it could be clogged with dirt and yard waste. This buildup can reduce your unit’s efficiency and cause it to stop working. Or wear it down faster.
We advise having your air conditioning system professionally maintained annually. Why? Clean equipment can be more energy efficient, which could save you money on energy bills.
Routine AC maintenance also helps our technicians locate and take care of small 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
- Examining lines, refrigerant totals and connections
There’s still time to have service done this fall—and we can get your furnace prepped for heating season too.
Schedule maintenance now
There’s also some work you can do by yourself between professional tune-ups. You only need about an hour to get the grime off your outdoor condenser unit, as well as several 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 warm day to scrub your air conditioner. At least 60 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) is great. That way, you can check the unit once you’ve cleaned it.
You’ll only need a few 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 run the vacuum to slowly clean the metallic fins. These pieces are also referred to as condenser coils and divert heat away from your system.
You need to be careful with these fragile coils. Misshapen or crumpled fins can impact efficiency.
3. Fix Bent Fins
Use a butter knife to adjust warped fins. You can also use a fin comb from an appliance parts retailer. A pro from Marcos AC & Heating should handle extensive damage.
4. Clean the Inside
After extracting the fan, dig out leaves and other yard rubbish. Then clean the inside of the equipment with a wet sponge.
The only coil cleaner you need is water. Use gentle pressure from a hose nozzle to wash the fins, showering water from the inside out. Replace the fan once you’re completed.
5. Test Your Air Conditioner
It’s safe to restore power and turn your air conditioner back on. If it’s not running correctly, contact us a call at 713-469-3357.
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 electricity to your furnace at the breaker box.
2. Check Your Filter
Furnace filters need to be exchanged every few months, depending on the type you use.
Unsure when you last put in a new one? Take it out and angle 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 supple plastic tube. If it’s dirty, you can clean it by draining thinned bleach through the tube to clean the line. Or you can buy a new tube.
Scrub the drain port using a small, round paintbrush. Connect 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 Marcos AC & Heating can make your system more efficient and help it last longer. We also provide handy service agreements, so you won’t forget to schedule your annual service!