A clean air conditioner is an efficient air conditioner. Cleaning your air conditioner regularly will make it last longer and help your house feel cool during the hottest days of summer. It’s a great idea to have your air conditioning system cleaned and inspected annually by the professionals at Novak Heating and Cooling in the Cedar Rapids, IA area to ensure it’s working properly and has enough refrigerant. However, if your appointment can’t come soon enough, here’s How To Clean Dirty Condenser Coils in your air conditioner to keep it running smoothly.
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How to Clean Dirty Condenser Coils
To clean your air conditioner condenser coils, you’ll need the following tools:
- Hose with a sprayer attachment
- Vacuum with a soft brush attachment
- Air Conditioner condenser coil cleaner
- Work clothes, gloves, and eye protection
1 – Turn Off the Air Conditioner and Thermostat
First, turn off your air conditioner at the thermostat. Once you’re outside, find the electrical disconnect near your condenser unit and either turn it to the “off” position or unplug it.
2 – Inspect and Clear the Unit
Make sure there are no visible signs of damage to the unit. If there are, call Novak Heating and Cooling for services in Cedar Rapids, Robins, Marion, North Liberty, or Hiawatha, Iowa right away. Remove any grass, sticks, or debris around the unit.
3 – Use a Knife to Straighten Fins
Use a butter knife or a cooling fin comb to straighten any bent fins. Don’t insert a knife more than half an inch.
4 – Remove the Top of the Air Conditioner
You may need a screwdriver to remove the fan and the top of the air conditioner. Be careful of the electrical wires. Carefully set the top of the air conditioner aside.
5 – Clean Inside the Air Conditioner
Use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment to clean the outside and inside of the air conditioner. Be careful not to bend any fins. You can also use a damp cloth to clean other surfaces of the unit.
6 – Spray Air Conditioner Unit with a Hose
Grab your hose with a sprayer attachment and spray the fins from the inside and outside. Once you’ve rinsed out the air conditioner, spray the air conditioner with a coil cleaner. You will need to find a specific coil cleaner that is compatible with your air conditioner. Consult your owner’s manual or search your air conditioner’s manufacturer website for recommendations. Let the cleaner sit for 10-15 minutes before rinsing it off again with the hose. Avoid spraying the fan motor.
7 – Check Refrigerant Pressure
Check your refrigerant levels before and after cleaning your air conditioner. In many cases, the pressure will be higher than it’s supposed to be for a given size and type of air conditioner before you start cleaning. After the cleaning, the pressure should be lower and more in line with factory specs. This means the cleaning was effective and the air conditioner will run more efficiently.
8 – Reassemble the Air Conditioner
Reattach the top of the air conditioner, and plug it back in.
9 – Replace the Air Filter
Although this isn’t inside your outdoor unit, it’s always a great idea to replace your air filter every 90 days to ensure proper airflow to your air conditioner.
Turn the power on, and if your air conditioner starts running again without making strange noises, then you cleaned your condenser coils properly!
Call Novak Heating and Cooling to Clean Dirty AC Condenser Coils
If you’re uncomfortable with any of these cleaning steps, then don’t attempt to clean your condenser coils yourself. Call the professional air conditioning technicians at Novak Heating and Cooling in Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, Marion, Robins, North Liberty, and the surrounding areas to ensure a proper cleaning every season.