The effectiveness of an air conditioner largely depends on your condenser unit. Most importantly, your condenser coils need to be clean if you want cold air flowing throughout your ducks and into your home. Cleaning your coil is a simple job, but it is something that you should do every year. This article explains not only how to clean your coils, but also how to prevent them from getting too dirty in the first place.
Preventative Measures
If you want clean, undamaged condenser coils you just need to cover your condenser unit during the winter or whenever you aren't using your AC. Basically, the coils get dirty when dust, dirt, leaves, and debris get blown into them. So, if you invest in a condenser cover, cleaning your coils will be a much easier and quicker task. In fact, you might not even need to do it every year. However, it is always a good idea to check your coils before summer starts and clean them if they are dirty.
Cleaning the Coils (or fins)
The condenser coils are technically inside the walls of the unit. However, they are directly attached to the aluminum sheets that you can see. These aluminum sheets have ridges, which are called fins, that can get dirty. The space between each individual fin can get clogged with dirt over time. If you want to get technical about it, when people talk about cleaning the coils, they are technically talking about cleaning the condenser fins.
Also, most people don't realize that there are fins on the inside and outside of cylindrical condenser units. The fins on the inside can surprisingly get dirty as well. In fact, since there is no rain to wash loose dirt out, they can often be dirtier than the exterior fins. Depending on the design of your unit, you may or may not be able to clean your fins without removing the guard. If you can fit your hose through the guard, you probably won't need to remove it.
The most effective way to clean your condenser fans is to spray some all purpose cleaner onto them. Let the soap soak in for a few minutes to help break down the dirt. Then, just spray it off with the firm stream of water. Don't use too much water pressure because you could actually end up bending the fins.
This is simple work, but many people neglect it because they don't know how important and easy it is. If you clean your fins every year, your condenser will last longer, produce colder air and run more efficiently. For more information, contact a company like Staley Mechanicals.
Share15 December 2016
Can furnace repairs be made by the average DIYer? If you know a little about what you are doing, is it possible to avoid the expense of having a professional come out to take care of any problems that you are having? My blog is all about furnace safety and repair. You will learn a few things that you can do on your own and advice for when to call in the professional repair technician to assist with the repairs. By the time you reach the end, you will have a better understanding of what you can and should not do on your own.
