With summer ending in Boynton Beach, now is a good time to get a head start on air conditioner maintenance.

If you haven’t washed it recently, it could be blocked with mud and yard waste. This collection can reduce your unit’s efficiency and cause it to stop working. Or make it wear out more quickly.

We recommend having your air conditioning system professionally maintained every year. Why? Clean equipment can be more energy efficient, which could save you money on energy costs.

Routine AC maintenance also helps our technicians discover and take care of minor issues before they develop into high-priced problems.

Related: How to Keep Your Air Conditioner from Failing

Some of the work we perform includes:

  • Inspecting the blower, motor, drain line and coils
  • Checking pressure and temperature
  • Testing lines, refrigerant amounts and connections

There’s still time to have maintenance done this fall—and we can get your furnace ready for heating season too.

There’s also some maintenance you can do on your own between professional tune-ups. You only need about an hour to wash your outdoor condenser unit, as well as a couple of 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 best. That way, you can check the unit once you’ve cleaned it.

You’ll only need a few items:

  • 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

Five Steps to Clean the Outside Unit

1. Turn Off the Power

Stop the electricity to your air conditioner at the breaker box.

2. Clean the Outside

Take out debris from the system. This includes branches, bushes, weeds and grass.

Then run the vacuum to cautiously clean the metallic fins. These pieces are also called condenser coils and move heat away from your system.

You need to be cautious with these fragile coils. Misshapen or crinkled fins can affect efficiency.

3. Fix Bent Fins

Use a butter knife to adjust misshapen fins. You can also get a fin comb from an appliance part store. A pro from A2Z Air Inc should handle extensive damage.

4. Clean the Inside

After removing the fan, fish out leaves and other yard rubbish. Then mop the inside of the equipment with a wet sponge.

The only coil cleaner you have to have is water. Use gentle pressure from a hose nozzle to wash the fins, spraying water from the inside out. Put the fan back in 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 operating like it should, reach out to us a call at 561-270-6228.

Related: Air Conditioner Service: Pay a Little Now, Save Later

Three Steps to Clean the Indoor Unit

1. Turn Off the Power

Turn off the power to your furnace at the breaker box.

2. Check Your Filter

Furnace filters should be exchanged every couple of months, depending on the kind you use.

Can’t remember when you last replaced yours? Pull it out and tilt it toward the light. If you can’t see light through it, 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 sanitize it by flowing diluted bleach through the tube to flush the line. Or you can replace the tube.

Clean 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 A2Z Air Inc can make your equipment more efficient and help it last longer. We also provide convenient service agreements, so you won’t forget to plan your regular maintenance!