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

If you haven’t cleaned it recently, it could be full of dust and yard refuse. This buildup can reduce your unit’s efficiency and cause it to malfunction. Or wear it down faster.

We recommend having your air conditioning system professionally tuned-up annually. Why? A clean system can be more energy efficient, which could save you money on utility costs.

Consistent AC maintenance also helps our technicians locate and take care of minor issues before they turn into high-priced problems.

Related: How to Keep Your Air Conditioner from Failing

Some of the work we perform involves:

  • Inspecting the blower, motor, drain line and coils
  • Watching pressure and temperature
  • Reviewing lines, refrigerant totals 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 upkeep you can do alone between professional tune-ups. You only need about an hour to clean your outdoor condenser unit, as well as a few pieces 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 temperate day to wash your air conditioner. At least 60 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) is ideal. That way, you can run your system once you’ve cleaned it.

You’ll only need a couple of 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

Switch off the juice to your air conditioner at the breaker box.

2. Clean the Outside

Empty waste from the unit. This includes branches, bushes, weeds and grass.

Then run the vacuum to gently clean the metallic fins. These pieces are also referred to as condenser coils and transfer heat away from your system.

You need to be careful with these delicate coils. Bent or crumpled fins can affect efficiency.

3. Fix Bent Fins

Use a butter knife to adjust misshapen fins. You can also buy a fin comb from an appliance part retailer. A pro from Age Heating & Cooling should take care of severe damage.

4. Clean the Inside

After extracting the fan, fish out leaves and other yard litter. Then clean the inside of the system with a wet sponge.

The only coil cleaner you need is water. Use light pressure from a hose nozzle to clean the fins, spraying 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 like it should, reach out to us a call at 208-603-2210.

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 type you use.

Unsure when you last put in a new one? Pull it out and hold it up to the light. If light isn’t visible, buy a new one.

3. Clean the Inside

Remove the blower door and vacuum up dust.

Then take a look at your air conditioner’s drain line—it’s a pliable plastic tube. If it’s scummy, you can clean it by draining watered-down bleach through the tube to flush the line. Or you can buy a new tube.

Wash the drain port using a small, round paintbrush. Reconnect 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 Age Heating & Cooling can make your system more efficient and help it last longer. We also have practical service agreements, so you won’t forget to plan your regular maintenance!