When you haven't used your air conditioner for several months, it makes sense that it may need a little TLC before you run it full blast come summertime. Find out how air conditioning contractors can help you with pre-season cleaning so that your AC is in tip-top shape when the warm weather arrives.
Air conditioners are wonderful inventions that allow us to live comfortably in even the warmest months of the year. However magical these units may seem, though, they're still just machines, and they need to be taken care of so that they function optimally. If you haven't used your AC for several months, you may need to give it some attention before you simply demand that it run full blast come June or July. Before turning on your air conditioner this year, call up your local air conditioning company to do any necessary pre-season cleaning and maintenance so that you don't encounter any problems down the line.
No matter what shape you think your air conditioner is in, it could still probably use a good cleaning before you lower the temperature on the thermostat this summer. Some of this you can do on your own, such as making sure the area around your exterior condenser unit is clear of debris such as tall grass, leaves, etc. If you're feeling intrepid, you can also clean the condenser coil and the fins of any accumulated dirt, dust, or other debris. You can do this by taking off the unit cover in order to access those parts and using coil cleaner and a fin brush to clean them. While you can do this solo, you may, however, want to leave this job to an air conditioning maintenance pro. It's not rocket science, but the parts are delicate and you need to buy specialized cleaners and tools to do the job correctly.
Inside the house, you need to make sure that the evaporator part of the unit is clean and ready to go, too. The evaporator is located above the furnace in the plenum, where the main duct connects to the blower system. In some central air units, the evaporator isn't easily accessible. In that case, you definitely need to call a professional air conditioner service to see to it. If you can reach the evaporator, though--and if you feel confident accessing it safely--you can clean it on your own. This involves removing the plenum cover (and doing it in such a way that you can easily replace it when you're done) and then removing the access panel so that you can get to the evaporator. Then, you need to clean the underside of the evaporator with a stiff brush, and also clean the tray below the unit that collects excess water. If you feel at all unsure of how to do this, you should contact a pro for AC maintenance so that you don't risk getting in over your head and damaging your unit in some way.
When you or professionals perform this type of basic air conditioning service, you're setting the ground for a nice, cool, drama-free summer, at least as far as your central air unit is concerned. Taking care of this type of pre-season cleaning also lets you troubleshoot any other maintenance issues that might have arisen in the off months before they become major problems.
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