If you're like us, you're already feeling the intense heat of (unofficial) summer. This weekend, in fact, we found sanctuary thanks to our amazing air conditioners. If you are anticipating the pangs of the soon-to-be scorching season, it's the perfect time to clean your outdoor air conditioner. Because routine cleaning won't only prolong the life of your machine, but an unclogged, debris-less unit will function more efficiently, costing you less in energy bills. What's not to love about that? The first and most important step to cleaning an outdoor unit is turning off the power switch, which should be located in a small box near the machine. Next, remove any leaves, branches or other debris that may have gotten stuck in the condenser fins, which are the thin metal pieces that run along the exterior of the unit. Then, vacuum the fins with a soft-bristled brush attachment making sure not to bend any fins. Once you're done, unscrew and remove the top grille. The fan will most likely be attached to the grille.

Vacuum any debris around the motor. Then, using a hose with a direct spray, wash down the interior walls, avoiding electrical components and not bending any fins. Finally, wipe down the fan blades with a damp cloth. Have something to say? Be sure to check out Stylelist Home on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest. Air Conditioner Air Conditioner Cleaner Air Conditioning Maintenance Cleaning Tips Air Conditioners Get top stories and blog posts emailed to me each day. Newsletters may offer personalized content or advertisements.Cleaning condenser coils on your outdoor AC unit will not only help the unit cool more efficiently, but it will also cut down on the power consumption of your AC.  It is important to clean the coils early in the year, before the AC unit is needed for the summer.The outdoor condenser coil of your air conditioner performs a tough job in warm weather. It takes the concentrated heat collected from your home and dumps it into the hot outdoor air. To get rid of the collected heat, your outdoor condenser coil has to move a lot of air.

If the coil is dirty or if plants or other objects are too close to the conditioner unit, the fan in the outdoor coil can’t move as much air as required for good performance and efficiency. carrier 10 ton hvac unitThis raises your electricity cost for air conditioning and may shorten the life of the outdoor condensing unit.ac unit outside tempAround the outdoor condensing unit of the air conditioner, remove plants and other debris from within 3 feet of the unit in all directions.ac-dc power supply meaningMake sure the air’s upward path from the unit is unrestricted for at least 5 feet.If your outdoor unit is installed under a deck or if someone built a trellis or some other structure above it, either move that structure or hire an air-conditioning contractor to move the outdoor unit.

Most condenser coils are loaded with pollen and dust even when you can’t see it.  If your cooling season is 4 months or more, annual cleaning is an excellent idea. Do not wait longer than 2 years before cleaning condenser coils, and if your summers are long, cleaning more than once a year may be necessary.Simply restore the power to your AC unit and you’ll have a much smoother running air conditioner.If you find that there are too many bent fins, or if the AC unit is extremely dirty, you should call a local professional to service and clean it. For more information on air conditioning see The Homeowners Handbook to Energy Efficiency. Or, for specific information about servicing air conditioners for energy efficiency, see Saturn Hydronic Systems Field Guide.How do you clean air conditioner drain lines?Using an improvised vacuum cleaner or a mighty pump to clean a condensate drain line is another option. Clean a condensate line by first checking whether the drain is clogged.

If there is no sign of a slow drip, then the air conditioner drain line is blocked; therefore, cleaning is required. To unclog or clean the line, pour white vinegar to kill any algae that might be growing inside. Pour water into the drain several times to rinse and get rid of the white vinegar odor. Another alternative method involves using bleach instead of vinegar to clean the condensate drain. Use the same procedure. However, bleach should not be used during colder months as it can damage the pipe. Also, another effective way of cleaning a condensate drain involves using a mighty pump. Use a mighty pump to blow out the debris that is causing the clog. Make sure that you connect the pump outlet with the condensate line opening correctly before you begin. Lastly, use an improvised vacuum cleaner to get rid of dirt or debris that is clogging the condensate drain. To achieve this, use an adapter to connect the vacuum cleaner with the condensate pipe. Vacuum clean to remove any debris.

A vacuum with powerful suction is required for this exercise. What can you do to repair a broken heating and air conditioning system? Fixing a broken heating and air conditioning system depends on the problem that is occurring, but often a system that is leaking water requires cleaning th... What is air temperature? Where can I shoot my air rifle? What is a Trane air conditioner? Where can you buy a steam boiler? How much does an air hostess earn? Where can you buy a infrared space heater?Why is Air Conditioning Self Maintenance Important? - Air conditioners need yearly maintenance to maintain proper performance. With the proper maintenance your air conditioning and heating equipment will work more economically and be more dependable for years to come. With a few easy and routine procedures you can keep your unit at peak performance and get the maximum amount of comfort from your HVAC system. Air conditioners consume a large portion of the average monthly power bill and proper and efficient maintenance can make a significant difference.

Your air conditioner loses 5% of its overall efficiency every year it goes without proper professional maintenance. Systems operating at peak efficiency can cut monthly energy costs by up to 25%. Even when professionally maintained air conditioners can use a few extra procedures to add more life and efficiency to the unit. Proper maintenance effectively doubles the life span of the average residential heating and cooling system. Many of the health risks that are associated with poor air quality can be greatly reduced or eliminated with proper system installation and maintenance. Routine maintenance of your Air conditioning Unit - Remember that self maintenance is no substitute for professional maintenance but can add greatly to the efficiency of routine professional maintenance. Click here for more on professional maintenance. Important - Please read our disclaimer and the following safety procedures before you attempt any maintenance work yourself. If you are unsure about any of the procedures or are uncomfortable for any reason do not attempt to perform any procedure.

Instead get a professional to assist you. 1) Shut Off All Power Sources - Please be sure to shut off all electrical power to the unit before you remove any of the access panels or attempt to perform any maintenance procedures. Always remember that there may be more than one power connection switch. 2) Watch Out for Sharp Edges - Be very careful when you handle parts or reach into units. Many of the metal parts and housings have very sharp edges which can cause severe injury. 3) Follow All Safety Precautions - Follow all safety precautions suggested by the manufacturer of the equipment as well as all state and local codes. 4) Use Common Sense - If something seems dangerous don't do it. Instead consult a professional. Now that we have warned you of what to look out for let's move on. 1) Keep Your Filter Clean - Check the return air filter in your air conditioning system every 2 to 4 weeks. One of the most overlooked and easiest ways to save money and keep your system running smoothly is to keep your filter clean.

Without a clean filter your unit cannot operate properly and its life span is greatly shortened. Dirty filters can cause you to use extra electricity, cause your unit to break down and need costly repairs and shorten the life of your unit. Only replace your filter when it is dirty, remember there is no magic amount of time between replacements. Just visually inspect the filter and if it has a film of dirt on the entire surface then its time to replace it. If you have the reusable type of filter clean it with soap and water (or the cleaner recommended by the manufacturer) and remember to wash the clean side of the filter so you don't just wash the dirt deeper into the filters core. Remember if your washing a reusable filter to let it dry completely before reinstalling it. Always keep your unit off while the filter is not in place. 2) Keep Your Condenser Clean - Clean and clear any debris from your outdoor condensing unit. Keep any leaves, plants or bushes, cut grass, and other debris away from your outdoor condensing unit to avoid obstructing the outdoor coil and causing expensive repairs.

Be sure to turn off the unit both a the thermostat and the breaker and or disconnect near the unit before opening it up. Most units have a side panel that can be removed making this relatively easy. Be extremely careful as the inside of a unit can contain metal that can be very sharp. Check the base pan inside the unit a couple of times a year and remove any leaves or dirt so that the unit can drain correctly. 3) Level the Outdoor Unit - Check your outdoor unit to see if it is in a level position. If your outdoor unit shifts and the unit is not level then the compressor and fan motors may wear out more quickly leading to expensive repairs or replacement. Units also should be level to help water drain out of the unit. If your unit has sagged on one side you can sometimes place a wooden or metal shim under one side to even it up at least until a professional can take a look at it. If your unit is unstable or at a severe slope call a professional to have the problem corrected. Don't try to level the unit yourself as the copper lines can be damaged in the process if proper caution is not taken.

4) Keep Your Condenser Coil Clean - Wash the coil of your outdoor condensing unit with soap and water. You need to do this at least once a month during the cooling season and more often if you live near the ocean. Ne sure to turn off the power to the unit at the disconnect and the breaker before attempting this. If you live near the coast you can preserve the life of your unit by washing the coil and all exposed surfaces every three months with dishwashing soap and water. Salt air is very corrosive to metal and can destroy sensitive condenser coils in a matter of months. Some of the more sophisticated units like Carrier systems are made out of galvanized metal and are protected by a coat of high quality corrosive resistant paint that can help protect the cabinet. Even so routine buildup of dirt and dust can rob your unit of its efficiency and put a strain on the unit that can shorten the life of the system. Treatments are available in problem areas to help to slow the rate of corrosion if necessary.

One study showed that coils that were not cleaned showed a 27% loss in heat transfer after 18 months. 5) Clean Your Return Air Grill - Clean and dust off of your return air and keep it free of obstructions. Use a vacuum cleaner and soft brush attachment to remove dust from the outside and inside of the grill to help filters last longer. Turn the unit off at the thermostat first to avoid getting the dust into the air supply. If you can't get the grill clean call a professional for service to have it cleaned or replaced. Make sure that there are no obstructions in front of the return air like drapes, furniture or anything that would obstruct the airflow to prevent shortening the life and performance of your unit. 6) Get Professional Maintenance - Routinely have a professional contractor perform pre-summer maintenance to keep your unit running smoothly and efficiently for many years to come. To save money you may consider purchasing a maintenance agreement for your heating and air conditioning system.