Three Secrets of Air Conditioner Maintenance

Air conditioners can be a blessing in the hot summer, but many people often forget about them during the cooler winter months. However, keeping your air conditioner in top condition during these neglected times can be very important. A well-regulated air conditioner can help you save energy and money. Here are three secret ways you can keep your HVAC running smoothly.

At the beginning and the end of the summer, before you turn it on and after it’s ready to be turned off for a while, you should clean the outside of your unit. The first step requires you to shut off the power to the air conditioner to prevent you from getting harmed. Then, a simple cleaning around the unit may suffice. At this point you can get rid of dead leaves, old grass, or other debris that have weaseled their way into the unit or the perimeter.

By collecting leaves, sticks, or other trash, you may allow the right amount of air to flow into your HVAC unit. But here’s the second tip: look inside your air conditioner and make sure there aren’t any collected leaves or trash inside, either. Take off the fasteners that hold down the fan cage on your AC unit by using a wrench. Then, you can suck out leaves or other junk by using a Shop Vac—although some people prefer to do it by hand. Either way is fine.

Finally, once you’ve removed the leaves, you can take a hose and spray down the fins. This spraying cleans them, removes smaller debris, and dirt. A gentle spraying should do the trick, but if your fins are still positively filthy after quite a bit of water, you may want to get a specialized cleaning solution made specifically for AC units.

Keeping your HVAC clean when you’re not using it may be the most important tip for AC maintenance. By cleaning your unit twice a year, you can enjoy your AC for years to come.