With summer ending in Cambridge, now is a great time to get a head start on air conditioner maintenance.

If you haven’t cleaned it lately, it could be blocked with dirt and yard waste. This accumulation can reduce your unit’s efficiency and cause it to stop working. Or require replacement sooner.

We suggest having your air conditioning system professionally serviced every year. Why? A clean unit can be more energy efficient, which could save you money on electric expenses.

Routine AC maintenance also helps our technicians spot and handle minor issues before they develop into expensive problems.

Related: How to Keep Your Air Conditioner from Failing

Some of the work we perform consists of:

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

It’s not too late to have service done this fall—and we can get your furnace prepped 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 several 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

Select a mild day to wash your air conditioner. At least 60 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) is ideal. That way, you can check the unit once you’ve cleaned it.

You’ll only need a couple of things:

  • 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

Cut the juice to your air conditioner at the breaker box.

2. Clean the Outside

Remove waste from the equipment. This includes branches, bushes, weeds and grass.

Then use the vacuum to cautiously clean the metallic fins. These pieces are also called condenser coils and divert heat away from your unit.

You need to be considerate of these fine coils. Misshapen or crushed fins can impact efficiency.

3. Fix Bent Fins

Use a butter knife to adjust warped fins. You can also buy a fin comb from an appliance part website. A pro from Pliescott HVAC Services LLC should take care of severe damage.

4. Clean the Inside

After removing the fan, pull out leaves and other yard rubbish. Then clean the inside of the unit with a wet cloth.

The only coil cleaner you should use is water. Use light pressure from a hose nozzle to clean the fins, showering water from the inside out. Reinstall the fan 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 running properly, contact us a call at 410-228-4822.

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 juice to your furnace at the breaker box.

2. Check Your Filter

Furnace filters need to be exchanged every few months, depending on the model you use.

Unsure when you last replaced yours? Pull it out and angle it toward the light. If there’s no light visible, get a new one.

3. Clean the Inside

Remove the blower door and vacuum up dust.

Then inspect your air conditioner’s drain line—it’s a flexible plastic tube. If it’s dirty, you can clean it by draining thinned bleach through the tube to sanitize 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 Pliescott HVAC Services LLC can make your unit more efficient and help it last longer. We also provide convenient service agreements, so you won’t forget to schedule your annual service!