Your family’s ability to remain comfortable all summer long in Semmes, AL, depends on how well you keep your air conditioning maintained. Follow these five tips in order to make sure your air conditioning is prepared to function properly throughout the hot summer months.
Replace or Clean Your AC Filters
Locate your AC system’s air filters and inspect them. If they are full of dust and debris, then replace them with new filters. Dirty air filters result in:
- Recirculation of dust throughout your home
- Restriction of airflow
- Reduction in system efficiency
Your AC system may have air filters located at the return-air registers. You also need to check the air-handler cabinet or furnace area and replace or clean any filter you find there.
Continue to inspect your air filters throughout the summer. Replace return-air register filters every 30-90 days. Replace or clean any air-handler or furnace filters twice annually or when clogged with debris and dust.
Clean Your AC Unit’s Condenser Coils
You’ll usually find your condenser unit located outside the home. It’s a big metal structure with grilles on the side. You’ll notice large fan blades when looking through the grilles.
When a professional technician performs this work, they clean out any dirt, leaves or other debris that may have accumulated since last summer. Dirt and debris have a tendency to clog the condenser coils, which look like radiator-style fins. This needs to be cleaned out so the condenser coils can perform correctly as the large fan blades move across them.
Correctly cleaning the condenser coils each spring goes a long way in avoiding the need for repairs or a complete AC system replacement. In order to perform this maintenance job, a nut driver or screwdriver is used to remove the grilles or top panels that protect the condenser unit. Care must be used to avoid loosening any fan wires as the side panels and top are lifted off the entire unit.
The condenser coils can be cleaned with a soft vacuum brush or a refrigerator coil brush. Proper care must be used so the coils aren’t damaged. Your technician will vacuum the inside of the coils after cleaning them from the outside.
It may be necessary to use commercial coil cleaner when removing caked-on dirt and debris. It’s important that the unit’s electrical components or fan aren’t sprayed with coil cleaner. Your AC unit’s efficiency will increase once you have the condenser coils properly cleaned.
Clear All Debris From the Condenser
Now it’s time to clean out the entire condenser unit. Leaves, dirt or debris from the condenser’s base are removed. The drain is inspected to ensure that it’s clear of debris.
A rag and vacuum cleaner is typically used to clean the unit’s fan blades. If your fan motor has oil ports, then your technician will lubricate them with several drops of lightweight oil.
All mounting bolts that may have loosened since last summer are then tightened. The condenser is put back together. Lastly, it’s important to make sure that there aren’t any vines, weeds or branches nearby that can obstruct the condenser unit’s airflow.
Inspect the Coolant Lines
The refrigerant lines are checked next. These are the pipes that flow from the inside air-handler evaporator out to the condenser. Missing or frayed insulation is repaired using foam insulation sleeves. The condensate line and drain pain are checked to ensure that water is draining properly and there isn’t a clog in the line.
Test the Air Conditioning System
Your technician will turn off the inside thermostat and turn the power back on at the main panel before setting the thermostat to its “cool” setting.
Has it been a long time since you’ve had your AC system tuned up? If so, then we encourage you to call one of our friendly Air Specialty representatives. We’ll schedule a time for us to perform this important air conditioning maintenance work for you.
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