Your air conditioner worked hard all summer long to keep your home cool and your air fresh. As we wind down another Canadian summer, it’s an excellent time to consider doing some minor air conditioner cleaning and maintenance. Keeping your air conditioner in good working order improves efficiency, reduces energy costs and can prevent expensive repairs.
Why Should You Clean Your Air Conditioner?
Your hard-working air conditioner accumulates dust, dirt and other debris over time. If you ignore it, the residue will build up, obstructing airflow and making it much harder for your air conditioner to work efficiently. Your energy consumption will go up, and so will your power bills. There are health reasons to keep your AC clean as well. Mould and mildew can begin to grow and affect your air quality. This can have a significant impact on those with allergies or respiratory issues. With regular maintenance, your air conditioner will run smoothly, and you’ll have a healthier living space.
Related: 5 Eco-Friendly Upgrades to Ensure Clean Air at Home
How To Clean Your Air Conditioner
Cleaning the filter is the easiest step, but the other steps might be out of your comfort zone. That’s OK; you can call an HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) firm to take care of anything you’re uncomfortable with. Ask your neighbours and friends for recommendations.
Related: 20 Easy Ways to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient
Get Ready
You’ll need to gather up some tools and materials before starting. We suggest these:
— Vacuum with a brush attachment or a brush
— Air conditioning coil cleaner (your local hardware store has this)
— Screwdrivers
— Pail or access to a laundry/utility sink
— Garden hose
— Eye protection and gloves
Related: 20 Green (and Cost-Effective) Ways to Keep Cool This Summer
Switch Off the Power
Always turn off the power when you’re working on your air conditioning unit to prevent shocks. This is usually done at your main breaker, although some AC units may have its own breaker.
Clean or Replace the Filter
One of the easiest ways to keep your air conditioner functioning efficiently is to clean or replace the air filter regularly. Some units will remind you when you need to do this. Cleaning the filter every six weeks or so will help maintain airflow and ensure good air quality.
The process for doing this depends on your AC unit, so check your manual for exact steps. The filter is usually located behind a grill, either on top or in front. Follow the instructions to remove it.
You can tell how dirty it is just by looking at it. If there’s only a light amount of dust and dirt, bang it over a garbage can to loosen the grime. Then, vacuum it to remove any dust that’s stuck in the filter.
Give it a good rinse in warm water with or without a mild detergent, depending on how dirty the filter is. Filters that are very dirty or damaged should be replaced.
Related: How to Get Rid of Dust From Every Type of Surface at Home
Clean the Coils/Condenser Unit
You should only do this if you feel comfortable. Your AC’s coils are how it gets rid of the heat in your home. If the coils are dirty, they’re less efficient and your AC must work much harder.
Cleaning the coils on an interior unit can be complicated and messy, so it’s best left to the pros. For central air units, you can clean the coils using a special cleaner from your hardware store. Follow your manufacturer’s instructions and ensure you’re not voiding the warranty.
Step 1: Double-check that the power is off.
Step 2: Carefully remove the AC’s outer casing to access the coils.
Step 3: Using a brush or a Shop-Vac, remove dirt and grime from the coils and inside the case. Be careful not to damage the fins.
Step 4: Spray the coils with your AC coil cleaner. Let the cleaner sit to allow it to penetrate the grime. This generally takes 10-15 minutes, but follow the instructions for best results.
Step 5: Rinse the cleaner and dirt off the coils using your garden house. Avoid using a pressure washer as this can damage the coils.
Step 6: Replace the outer casing and wipe it down with a damp cloth.
Step 7: Power the air conditioner up to make sure it’s working correctly.
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Maintenance
A regular maintenance routine will keep your air conditioner running smoothly. You should clean the filter every 4-6 weeks and inspect the coils and/or condenser unit annually. If you find your AC isn’t working as it should or is making funny noises, call in the experts.
