Things You'll Need:
- Tooth brush
- Garden hose with spray nozzle.
- Shop Vacuum
- Plastic cover
- Screw driver
- Socket wrench
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Step 1
Find the condenser, it's located outside in a metal box, in your side or backyard. It looks a little like a car radiator: it has coils of tubing and many small fins. The fins is where the heat from your house ends up. Here is where the heat is removed by outside air. If the fins are dirty or plugged, it's difficult for the passing air to take away the heat.
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Step 2
Locate the air conditioning circuit breaker and turn it off. Some units have their own circuit box with a lever switch, if yours is this way, turn off the switch.
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Step 3
After you have the power turned off, remove the screws that hold the cover in place and remove the cover.
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Step 4
Take a toothbrush or another stiff non-metallic brush and clean the outside of the condenser fins. Take all of the bugs grass and accumulated debris off.
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Step 5
While brushing the fins, be sure to not bend any of them. If any of them are bent, straighten them out with a tiny screw driver so the cooling air can get through.
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Step 6
Use a vacuum cleaner to suck up any reachable dust and debris from the fins.
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Step 7
Take a large plastic tarp or trash bag and cover the compressor and electrical parts.
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Step 8
Use a garden hose with maximum pressure to spray water on the condenser. Spray from the inside out to remove the dust and debris that you were unable to get with your shop vac.
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Step 9
Check the fan and clean the blades if needed.
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Step 10
Remove the plastic cover from the compressor and replace the box cover.
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Step 11
Flip on the circuit breaker or switch to restore power to the unit.
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Step 12
Yearly spring cleaning of the AC condenser unit will keep it working at top efficiency; it will run cooler and save you money.
