How to Maintain Central Air
A clean air conditioner is a more efficient machine. While most central air conditioner manufacturers recommend that trained personnel actually perform maintenance on the air conditioner's coils, ductwork and electrical parts, the homeowner can perform simple tasks to clean air conditioner parts and keep them working at their best. Always remember to turn off electrical power to both the furnace and air conditioner unit inside the house as well as the air conditioner's condenser located outside the house before performing any air conditioner maintenance task. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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1
Clear any debris, such as leaves and grass clippings, from the area around the air conditioner's condenser. Use pruning shears to trim back any shrubs that may be disrupting the flow of air around the condenser.
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2
Attach a garden hose to the house's outdoor faucet. Attach a spray nozzle to the hose. Rinse the condenser by spraying it from the top to bottom. This process should remove surface dirt.
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3
Find the drain for the condensate pipe inside the furnace room. Clean the area around the drain so that nothing obstructs flow from the air conditioner. Inspect the condensate hose or pipe for cracks or leaks.
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4
Remove the clean-out cap from the condensate pipe's drain tube. Mix 2 to 3 tbsp. of bleach in a cup of water. Pour this mixture into the clean-out opening. This allows you to see if there is a clog in the drainage system. If there is, run a wire through the pipe to remove the obstruction. The bleach inhibits the growth of any algae that may be in the pipe. Replace the clean-out cap.
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5
Change the furnace/air conditioner filter on a regular basis. Even one that appears to be clean may have enough particulate matter in it to not be cleaning the air efficiently.
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6
Replace the batteries on the thermostat if it has batteries.
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Tips & Warnings
It is easy to damage the coils on the condenser. Let a trained professional clean the coils if they need it.
References
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