Summer is upon us here in the Fort Worth area, and that can only mean one thing: your air conditioner is probably already working overtime to keep your home cool and comfortable. Arthur Hagar Air Conditioning and Heating has been providing local residents with industry-leading HVAC service for more than 65 years, and we know a thing or two about keeping your air conditioning unit in top operating condition. In our prior article, we discussed the benefits of regularly maintaining your air conditioning unit. Today, we’ll take a look at a few tips related to air conditioning maintenance that you can do yourself before calling a reliable HVAC contractor like us to inspect your unit for its annual maintenance. Read on to learn more!
Turn Off the Unit
This might seem like a no brainer, but before you go anywhere near your air conditioning unit or its moving parts, be sure to turn off the power to the unit. This is not only for your safety, but also for the electrical integrity of the unit. Most condenser units run off of electrical power from a receptacle a few feet away. You can generally identify it as being a large steel box that is mounted to the side of your home that has blocks and switches on the inside. To turn off the power, either remove the block or turn the switch to the “OFF” position. If you’re uncertain as to whether you’ve cut the power, you can always turn off the power at your main electric box.
Remove Debris
Many air conditioning units sit on the side of your house, usually tucked back in a corner so as to not be an eyesore. While this is great for aesthetic purposes, it also provides optimal circumstances for debris such as leaves, trash, and other stray objects to collect around the unit. This debris can present a danger to the optimal performance of your unit because dirt and dust can collect on the coils, which are largely responsible for cooling your home. Arm yourself with a rake and trashcan to remove any debris that has accumulated around your unit and dispose of it properly.
Clean the Coils
We mentioned that the coils play a big part in cooling your home. It makes sense, then, that in order to efficiently operate, they should be clear of any dust and debris. This is possibly the best thing you can do for DIY air conditioning maintenance prior to calling an HVAC tech. Once you have made sure the power supply is cut off and removed the excess debris from around the unit, carefully spray the unit down with a hose, taking extra care not to use too much water pressure so that you don’t damage the metal fins. If you have concerns about how fragile the fins are, or if there are some that are bent, you can vacuum the fins with a soft brush attachment as an alternative to hosing down the unit.
Once you’ve done the dirty work outside, it’s also a good idea to check the air filters in your furnace. Performing these steps on your own are a good way to prep your unit for the quality air conditioning service that the techs at Arthur Hagar can provide. To learn more about seasonal maintenance or to schedule your service, contact us today! We look forward to hearing from you!
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