Sprucing Up AC Units for Spring

It’s getting to be that time of year again when air conditioner units are about to be started up for the season. This requires a series of maintenance steps, which are outlined below, courtesy of FamilyHandyman.com:

First, locate the shutoff box near the exterior of the unit and turn off the power. If this box does not exist, then cut power by manually turning off the circuit breaker in the electrical panel that provides power to the unit.

Then, move on to cleaning the outdoor unit’s condenser coil, which consists of a mass of tubes and fins. This task must be performed periodically because the condenser coil perpetually pulls air from the outside in order to cool it and push it through your home with the help of the indoor blower fan. As a result, debris, dust, leaves, dirt and other items can become trapped in the machinery of the coil, which hampers the efficiency of the unit.

If your unit’s fan is maintenance free, you will not need to apply oil to its various oil ports. If it is not, refer to your unit’s owner’s manual to see how to proceed.

Inspect the elements of the external unit for any signs of damage or wear. If in doubt about any element, consider contacting a qualified professional for assistance.

Moving indoors, turn off the power to the furnace, then check the furnace/air cleaner filter and change or clean as appropriate. If your blower motor needs lubricating, you might want to leave this task to a pro, since the areas that would need to receive the lubrication aren’t always easy to reach.

You’ll also want to check the drain that pulls away condensation from the interior unit. Flexible drain hoses are relatively easy to check for clogs or obstructions. You may be able to clear a rigid plastic drain line with a flexible wire. Failing that, you will need to cut off a section of the pipe and, after cleaning the drain, re-assemble it with the proper joints and solvent.

More questions about starting up your AC unit for the season? Contact AC World today!