My spring cleaning list seems to grow by the day. Whereas I’ve tackled some indoor projects, my list of outdoor chores barely has a dent in it. Of course, with more than a foot of snow still blanketing the yard, it’s hard to accomplish much work out there.
However, once the snow starts to melt I will be able to give my air conditioning unit a good cleaning. Condenser cleaning is not something you have to do on a monthly basis, but it certainly is a task you should tackle seasonally. Each spring head outdoors and remove any leaves, dirt or debris that has built up on the unit. Extraneous materials can block airflow, so it’s important to remove any sticks or other items that may be caught in the condenser coil. Also, it’s a good idea to make sure that nothing is leaning on or sitting on top of the unit.
To deep clean the condenser, unscrew the grill. Next, get a coil brush, a natural hairbrush or an old toothbrush and remove any dust, lint and pollen out of the fins. Use strong, even strokes to loosen the build-up of dirt and grime, and then brush off as much of the gunk as possible. If your unit is especially dirty, then you can wash it with a hose. Simply turn your hose on the lowest setting and spray the coils by aiming the water down through the vent in the top of the unit. It’s a good idea to complete this task when the weather is nice as you will have to let the unit air dry.
Before reattaching the grill, spray the condenser with a commercial coil cleaner and wait the recommended time so the product has time to evaporate. Finally, replace the grill and make sure all connections are tight.
Cleaning your air conditioning unit may seem like a simple task, however, if you have a newer model you may have to call in the experts. This is especially true if your unit’s grill is bolted on instead of screwed on. Don’t attempt to detach a grill if it is bolted on unless you have a background in mechanical repair.