Do I Need to Clean My Outdoor Central Air Conditioning Unit?

Summer days in New York State are often beautiful, sunny, and clear, but they can
also be hot and muggy. After using your trusty central air conditioning
unit for months or even years of relief from the summer heat, you may be
left wondering if, how, and when you need to clean it? Continue reading to
learn more about how to best clean your
outdoor central air conditioning unit to keep it in tip-top shape.

Do Outdoor AC Units Need to
be Cleaned?

The short answer is yes, your
air conditioning unit does need to be cleaned. If you are experiencing issues
with your outdoor unit, these issues can often be resolved by simply giving it
a good cleaning. Since these units take in air from outdoors, they can often
pick up dirt, grass
clippings, and other particles from your yard. Because of this,
routine cleaning of your outdoor AC unit is highly recommended. The cleaning
process is usually straightforward and easy to do. Getting into the habit of
cleaning your outdoor AC unit can even save
you money when it comes to your utility bill and preventing issues
from arising in the future.

How Often Should I Clean My
Air Conditioner?

Even if you are not
experiencing issues with your outdoor air conditioning unit, you should plan on
giving it a deep clean least once a year. Having a dirty condenser and
evaporator coils can increase the energy usage
of your air conditioning system by over 30 percent. This means that the cleaner
you keep your AC unit, the more money you will save throughout the summer.

What is the Best Way to Clean
an Outdoor Central Air Conditioning Unit?

Although cleaning your outdoor air conditioning unit may be
daunting if you’ve never
done it before, it truly is a simple task. Follow these steps for a successful cleaning:

Step 1: Power Down and Open
the Unit

To clean your outdoor air
conditioning unit, you’ll want to start by powering it off. You can do this by
locating the service disconnect, which is usually a box with a door that flips
upward. This is typically found on the side of your house. Flip open the
door on the box and pull out the fuse to cut off power to the AC unit. Some
outdoor central air conditioning units have a protective casing around their
tops and sides. These function as shields that protect the AC unit from the
elements. To clean your unit, you may need to unscrew these pieces and remove
them to expose the coils.

Step 2: Remove Debris from the
Unit

Depending on your unit and
where it is located, there may be debris in the bottom of the air conditioner.
Oftentimes, entry-level air conditioning units will lack guards that stop
debris such as leaves, seeds, or
tiny twigs from collecting in the bottom of the pan. Be sure to scoop out any
debris you do find either by hand or by using a shop vacuum.

Step 3: Clean the Air
Conditioner Coils and Fins

Once you are sure that the
power to the unit has been cut off and your AC unit’s coils are exposed, the
next step will be to wash all
the dirt and grime out from the inside of the unit. Using a coil cleaning
solution, you will want to spray directly on to the coils and fins. Let your
solution sit for a few minutes and foam up before gently rinsing off with a
garden hose. Pro-tip: avoid using a pressure washer as the fins can be
delicate and can become damaged under pressure. Be sure to use the water to
push the dirt to the outside faces of the unit. Once you start to see the dirt
surfacing on the unit’s outside faces, then you can start to spray the dirt off
the outside of the unit and onto the ground.

Step 4: Finishing Touches

After deep cleaning the unit
itself, in order to ensure that your unit is running efficiently there are a
few things you’ll want to do before powering it back up. The first thing you
will want to do is inspect the air conditioner fins, as bent fins cause reduced
airflow. It’s best
to purchase a fin tool kit from your local hardware store to help you properly
adjust the fins back into place. After this, you should be able to reassemble
your unit.

The next thing you’ll want to
double check is the area around the unit. Make sure this area is clear at least
two feet in each direct to ensure optimal airflow. Then, inspect the area in
which your outdoor AC is sitting.  Because dirt can settle below the unit and
cause it to start tipping, it’s important that you level out the unit once you
are done working. If your unit is unlevel for too long it can cause damage
leading to costly repairs.

Now that your outdoor air
conditioning unit is sparkling clean, it’s time reconnect it to its power source. After a full season of using your freshly cleaned central
air conditioning unit, you should see a noticeable difference in your energy usage. For more information on summer
related tips, check out the link below.