How to Clean Your Air Conditioner Compressor

Clean your air conditioner compressor every year before the cooling season. Cleaning the air conditioner compressor makes the unit work much more efficiently and will save you money. The compressor part of your air conditioner is located on the exterior of your home and can become inefficient with debris and leaves blocking it. Here are some useful tips to help.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Turn off the power to your air conditioner before cleaning. Locate the power switch next to the compressor outdoors, and turn it off. If you can't locate an external power switch, turn off the air conditioner at the thermostat inside and turn off the breaker for the air conditioner at your breaker box.

2. Clean any noticeable debris from the compressor. Debris, like vines twining up into the "fins" or leaves piled up on the base, will make your air conditioner work harder and cost more money to run. Cleaning the debris away from the exterior of the unit will keep the air flow moving freely.

3. Remove the grill that covers the external compressor. There are usually screws that hold the grill cover in place; unscrew the screws and put them in a safe place. When you remove the grill, be careful not to disconnect any wires that are attached.

4. Check the unit for any debris or leaves that have gotten into the inside, at the bottom of the air conditioner unit. Use a Shop-Vac or your hands to remove the debris from the bottom for manual cleaning. Wear gloves if using your hands for manual cleaning.

5. Spray the remaining debris out with a hose. Use a spray nozzle on the hose end for cleaning the air conditioner. Insert the hose on the inside of the unit and spray the debris outward. If the debris is not coming out from a particular "fin" area, check to see if it is bent. If the fin is bent, straighten it with a special tool that you can buy from an air conditioner supply store.

6. Replace the grill top and replace the screws. Allow the air conditioner unit to dry after cleaning. Turn on the power switch or breaker in the breaker box. Your air conditioner unit is now ready to give you a full season of cool air.

Tips & Warnings

• If the unit is only an air conditioner (and not a heat pump) cover the top of the air conditioner with a sheet of plywood at the end of the season; the plywood keeps debris out of the top and makes cleaning easier next year.

[trek41]

on 4/29/2008 Your tips are good. but I found a better way to clean my a/c unit. I found a tool I use at WaterSaber.com