How to Clean an Air Conditioning Unit
It is important to keep your central air conditioning unit clean so that it runs at peak performance during the hot summer months. Chances are the unit will become clogged with dry leaves, dead grass, and other dirt over the winter. Clear it out before the outside temperature starts to sizzle. You don't need any special skills or experience to clean your air conditioning unit. Follow these steps for clean, cool air all summer long. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Vacuum
- Soft brush attachment
- Dinner knife or fin comb
- Damp cloth
- Garden hose
- New furnace filter
- Electric motor oil
- Bleach and water solution
- Pipe cleaner
Instructions
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Outside Condenser/Compressor Unit
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1
Turn off the electrical power to the outside condenser/compressor unit.
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2
Vacuum the exterior fins surrounding your condenser unit with a soft brush. Vacuum around the entire unit to remove any leaves and other dirt that has built up in or around the fragile fins. Remove dead weeds, grass and bushes within two feet of your condenser unit.
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3
Use a dinner knife or a fin comb to gently apply pressure to damaged or bent fins and straighten them out. Don't put the knife more than a half inch into the fins.
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4
Remove the fan from the top of your condenser/compressor unit by unscrewing the top grille. Lift the fan out and manually remove any leaves or debris that have collected inside the unit. Wipe down the inside of the unit with a damp cloth. Use a garden hose to spray the fins from the inside out, using a fair amount of water pressure. Place the fan back in the unit and fasten the screws to secure the top.
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5
Reactive the power and set your indoor thermostat to "Cool" to allow the compressor unit to come back to life.
Indoor Evaporator Unit
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6
Turn off the power to your furnace before you start cleaning the indoor evaporator unit.
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7
Open the main blower compartment of your furnace and remove the filter. If it's disposable, replace it with a new one. If it's reusable, place it in a tub and cover it with one inch of water. Add a little laundry detergent to create some suds and let it soak for about 15 minutes. Rinse and air dry the filter and put it back in the furnace unit.
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8
Use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment to suck up any dust in the blower compartment. If the motor has lubrication ports, add five drops of electric motor oil into each port to keep them running smoothly.
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9
Locate the plastic condensation drain tube and pull it off the drain port. If there is algae growth inside, mix one part bleach and 16 parts water into a solution and pour it into the tube. If flushing doesn't remove the dirt, replace the tube.
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10
Clean grime and dirt out of the drain port with a pipe cleaner. Put the drain tube back onto the port and turn your main power switch back on.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Allow about a half day to clean your air conditioning unit if you're doing it for the first time.
Clean your air conditioning unit when the temperature is about 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Consult your owner's manual for any special cleaning instructions that apply to your unit.
