Most HVAC professionals recommend annual ac maintenance to ensure the unit works well. During a maintenance visit, the technicians check refrigerant levels and repair leaks. Ausco Air Heating & Air Conditioning also inspect electrical components and lubricate moving parts to reduce friction.

If you see puddles around your air conditioner, a clogged condensate drain line may be to blame. Clearing the line prevents odor-causing mold and slime.

Clean the Condenser Fins

The air conditioning condenser coils play a vital role in the cooling process by absorbing and releasing heat from the refrigerant system. Unfortunately, because these coils are located outside the AC unit they’re exposed to dirt and grime which can easily block their critical heat exchange process. Dirty coils result in poor cooling performance and can even damage the coils, leading to costly compressor failure. Fortunately, regular cleaning can prevent this and help your air conditioner last longer.

The best way to clean ac coils is to use a brush with soft bristles to carefully remove any visible dirt from the fins without scratching or damaging them. For a deeper cleaning, use a coil cleaner with a hose to spray perpendicular to the coils and gently wash away stubborn residue. It’s important to turn off the power to the AC unit before attempting any maintenance tasks.

Ideally, the air conditioning condenser should be cleaned twice a year to keep them in good condition and avoid any problems that could affect cooling performance. However, environmental factors may require more frequent coil cleaning. This can include cyclical plant blooms and hay-making periods where more pollen, dust, and debris is circulating. Households with multiple pets also tend to experience faster buildup due to dander, fur, and hair that can be circulated around the home. Finally, homes with outdoor units located near busy roads, or under large trees/vegetation that shed leaves, might also need to clean the coils more often.

Neglecting coil cleaning for over a year can allow a lot of time for performance-robbing gunk to accumulate. As the accumulated debris decomposes it can also harbor bacterial growth which can further compromise the efficiency of your cooling system. Thankfully, the warning signs of dirty coils are fairly obvious. These include an inability to cool the home, musty odors coming from the vents, and weak airflow from the vents when the AC is running. Inspecting and cleaning the coils is an easy task that can greatly improve your cooling efficiency and lifespan of the entire air conditioning system.

Clean the Evaporator Coil

The evaporator coil in your indoor air handler (also called the air conditioning unit) is essential to proper evaporation and condensation of refrigerant. It also plays a critical role in facilitating heat transfer. Dirty coils can impede this process, resulting in lower system performance, reduced energy efficiency and possible ice formation on the coil fins, which indicates an issue with heat transfer that may require repair. The best way to prevent this from happening is by routinely cleaning the evaporator coil during your ac maintenance.

First, you must turn off the power to your indoor air handler. Depending on your system, this may be done at the thermostat or a power cutoff switch near the outdoor unit. Then, you will need to remove the access panel that covers the evaporator coil. This usually requires the use of a screwdriver.

Next, using a nylon brush, you will need to gently scrub away any large chunks of dirt or debris from the coil fins. Don’t worry about getting the coils perfectly clean; the key here is simply to “jostle out” any large pieces of dirt so they fall out of the coils and can be vacuumed up (use a light touch, as the coils are fragile). If you have a hose available, rinse the coils afterward to wash away any remaining soap residue.

Once the evaporator coil is completely clean, it’s a good idea to trim any bushes or trees that may be touching your outdoor unit. This will help prevent weeds or leaves from making their way onto the coil and disrupting the airflow process. Finally, you can use a comb or fin cleaner to straighten any coil fins that have become excessively bent, which will help improve airflow as well.

The frequency at which you should clean your evaporator coil depends on a number of factors, including the age and usage rate of your system, and your specific environmental conditions. As a general rule, you should have the evaporator coil cleaned at least twice a year in warm climates, and more frequently if your home is located close to a dusty road or other source of accumulated dirt.

Clean the Condensate Drain Line

The air conditioning drain line channels water that forms as a byproduct of the cooling process out of your home. It should be free of clogs, or it could damage your home and your air conditioner. If you see signs that your drain line needs cleaning, like pooling water around the air conditioner or rust on the drain pan, it’s time to call a qualified AC service technician.

Before the technician arrives, you should turn off your power at the breaker box associated with your AC unit. It’s not safe to work on a powered system, and it will be much easier for the tech to spot potential problems when the unit is off. Once the power is off, the technician will locate and inspect the drain line and pan for a clog. They’ll use a thin, stiff brush to dislodge any debris that can be reached without removing the drain pipe from the home.

If the drain line is clean, the technician will use a commercially available drain cleaner that’s suitable for PVC piping to clear any remaining debris and test the line by pouring a small amount of clean water through it. If the water flows out as it should, they’ll reassemble the line and restore power to your AC unit.

A clogged AC drain line can cause serious problems for your home, including damage to your air conditioner and mold growth. You should be on the lookout for any symptoms that your drain line is clogged, including water puddles near the AC unit, unusual noises or musty odors in the home.

You can prevent a clogged AC drain line with regular cleanings of the line using something you probably already have in your home: vinegar. Simply pouring a cup of distilled vinegar into the drain line kills any mildew, mold or bacteria that might have formed inside the line and helps to keep it from clogging in the future. This simple procedure can save you the cost of an AC service appointment and help to ensure that your air conditioner is working at peak performance.

Clean the Ductwork

When the air flow through an AC system becomes weak or slow, it indicates clogged ducts that need to be cleaned. It may also indicate that the air filter needs to be replaced or that there is a problem with the refrigerant levels. An AC technician will check for these issues during maintenance and address them promptly.

A professional will use special tools to dislodge the dirt, pet hair and debris from the ductwork. They will then vacuum out the entire ductwork system, leaving it cleaner and more efficient. The ductwork cleaning process usually takes two to five hours, depending on the size of the house.

Dirty ducts distribute toxins throughout the home as air passes through them, causing musty odors and respiratory problems. Clogged ducts make the air conditioner work harder to push the air through them, and this can shorten the lifespan of the unit.

Duct cleaning is particularly important during spring because it’s pollen season. The pollen of countless flowers, trees and grasses can get into the ductwork and spread throughout the house. If the ducts are clean, however, they won’t redistribute the pollen and will be able to trap it effectively.

Aside from reducing efficiency, dirty ducts can also contribute to high energy bills. They force the air conditioner to work overtime to push the air through them, and this wastes energy.

The technicians performing ac maintenance will also inspect and tighten all electrical connections to ensure they are safe and secure. Tightened electrical connections will help prevent the risk of fire and will improve the reliability of the AC unit.

Finally, the technicians will check the refrigerant levels to make sure they are at proper operating levels. Then, they will add the correct amount of refrigerant to the unit. This will ensure that the air conditioner can cool the home effectively and prevent damage to the compressor. Keeping the air conditioner’s refrigerant levels properly maintained will also help to keep the humidity in the home comfortable. This is especially important in areas where the weather can be very humid.