Prepare your central air for the coming season. Before turning on your central air for the first time, whether it has just been installed or for the first time of the season, there are some things that should be done beforehand. By working off a check list, you will be able to catch problems or issues before they occur, so that when the central air unit is up and running, you will know that the unit will be good to go for the entire year. Always perform these procedures with the air conditioning breaker switch in the "off" position. Checking the Condenser Fan The condenser fan is located outside of the building in a large metal box-like container called the condenser box. Remove any plastic or tarp cover from this unit, if applicable. Remove the grill that covers the fan and clean the blades with a vacuum attachment brush. Vacuum out the bottom of the condenser box to remove any debris, dead leaves or anything else that may have been sucked inside from the operation of the fan. Make sure nothing is blocking the airflow to the fan blades.

Vines or bushes that interfere with the airflow must be trimmed back, and any debris that may have stuck to the fan grill must be removed. Cleaning the Condenser Coils The condenser coils are located inside the condenser box, and both the side and top panels must be removed to gain access. These are generally held on with screws. The coils will look like the fins on a radiator, and can be cleaned with either a water hose or a vacuum cleaner and brush attachment. ac unit not in windowAny stuck-on grease or gunk can be removed with condenser coil spray and then hosed off. used mobile home ac unitsAlways be extra careful to not bend the coil fins during cleaning. how to change filter in window ac unitBent fins will reduce the effectiveness and efficiency of your air conditioning unit.

Checking the Coolant Lines The coolant lines must be checked for both leakage and insulation continuity. Damaged, crimped or leaking lines must be replaced by a professional heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) contractor. All coolant pipe lines must be covered by intact insulation, and any areas of damaged insulation should be cut off with a utility knife and replaced. Coolant pipe insulation is readily available at hardware stores. The Filter and Ductwork Change the filter in your HVAC unit before the air conditioning unit is turned on for the first time. Check the ductwork that supplies the conditioned air to each room. All of the ductwork seams must be sealed and intact, and any damaged or compromised ductwork runs must be repaired or replaced before the unit is turned on. Electrical Aspects Check the battery in the thermostat if you have a computer-controlled model. A good idea is to change the battery every year at the start of the cooling season. This will ensure proper and maintenance-free thermostat function throughout the entire year.

Make sure the breaker switch is operable. Flip it to the "on" position and notice if it stays on. If it breaks after a few seconds before the unit is running, there is an electrical short in the system, and a qualified electrical technician must be called in to troubleshoot the problem. References Furnace Compare: Annual Central Air Conditioner MaintenanceHome Tips: Preparing Your Air Conditioner for SummerSalmon Plumbing: Air Conditioning Spring Start-up Tips Photo Credits Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images Suggest a CorrectionUpdated post: Summer is Coming, is Your AC Unit Ready? It is generally a good idea to consider doing some basic maintenance on your air conditioning and heating system at the beginning of every heating and cooling season.   This past winter’s “polar vortex” has been especially tough on outdoor equipment. These ultra-low negative temperature spikes, along with the extended times below freezing, can affect your home air conditioning system’s Spring start up.

But with a few checks and a little effort, you can help to insure a trouble-free summer cooling season. 1. Inspect the outdoor unit panels: These panels are designed to enclose the electrical connections and must be in place to help protect both you and the system. If you are missing a panel (possibly due to wind) or if the panel is misaligned, this could cause potential risks for both you and the operation of the equipment. If the panel covering the electrical connections is missing or out of place you should call a qualified technician for an assessment before starting your system. 2. Remove any condenser covers, coil blankets or lids: If you covered the outdoor coil in order to protect it during the winter months, be sure to remove the cover before starting the system. These covers protect and insulate the coil, but also limit any heat transfer. Starting the system with any of these covers in place, even for a short time, could severely damage your system.   3. Repair or replace any damaged pipe insulation: The suction line (the larger copper pipe on the outdoor unit) helps to supply cool refrigerant back to the compressor in the outdoor unit.

If the system’s suction pipe has damaged insulation, this could cause a loss of required cooling for the outdoor unit which could damage your system and may also cause you to lose energy as well. The insulation should be intact to maintain system cooling. Look on the copper pipe for a size (5/8, 3/4, 7/8, etc.) to determine the coordinate size of insulation. It might be possible to find the insulation at a local hardware store.  NOTE: ONLY the larger line needs insulation. Do NOT insulate the smaller copper line. 4. Remove any debris from the outdoor coil: Depending on where you live or what side of the house your system is located on, you might find trash or vegetation blown into or against the coil. The system coils are designed to transfer heat, and any debris limits this effect. Next, inspect the indoor unit: 5. Change the air filters: The change in seasons is usually a good time to replace your indoor air filters. The Polar Vortex this winter has probably caused your furnace to run a lot more than previous winters. 

It’s likely that your indoor air filter will have gathered a lot more debris and dust than normal, so be sure to change the filter before the 2014 cooling season.  The link below provides a step-by-step guide to this process. (Be sure to pay attention to the airflow directions arrow on both the system and the filter – they both need to be pointing in the same direction). How to Change Your Indoor Air Filter 6. Check the coil drainage hose: This hose (usually plastic) can also be called the “condensate line”. Since the coil’s temperature is lower than the ambient air, water will condense on the coil and drip into the tray below. This condensate needs to flow to a drain or the tray will fill up and flood the unit or potentially spill water into your basement. With the amount of time spent indoors this past winter due to the Polar Vortex affecting most of North America, it is possible that any impromptu soccer games or dodgeball matches in the basement might have moved this line.

Check to make sure the line is in the proper place, attached, and will drain to the appropriate location. 7. Clean the supply vents and return grills:  Make sure the both the supply and return air grills and vents are open and free of debris.  It would also be good to use the vacuum to remove any pet hair or dust that might have accumulated during the previous season. Some houses have separate winter and summer supply grills, or house zoning and some even have separate systems – one for heating and one for cooling.  If you have a system like this you might have put extra plastic material over the AC vents to prevent drafts during the cold Polar Vortex months.  If so, it is important to remove these before you turn on the AC or you will not have proper air flow back through the system and this could cause severe damage.  In general, cleaning all grills at the beginning of every season is a good idea. 8. Turn it on and make sure it works:  After going through the check list, wait for a nice, hot day when you have some time to check the air coming out of the indoor vents for the first few minutes after starting it, and then every few hours throughout the day. 

After the first few minutes, you should feel cool air coming out of the registers.  If no air is coming out, or if the air coming out does not feel cool, then something is wrong and you should immediately turn the system off at the thermostat.  You can go through the check list one more time and then try it again.  If the problem persists, turn the system off and call a good HVAC contractor who can diagnose the problem.  Leaving the system turned on when it’s not running properly can do a lot of damage.  It never hurts to ask a HVAC Professional to help diagnose the problems if your system is not working properly. In summary, a brief inspection of your system now could help keep your system running worry free through the heat of the summer and fall and is especially important for older systems.  If your system is old and has endured an unusually harsh season, it might be time to call for help.  Summer is just around the corner and no one knows your house better than you.