Your AC unit works tirelessly to maintain an ideal temperature in your home, which means it may become dirty quickly. Therefore, it’s essential that it be regularly serviced and cleaned.
Power down the HVAC unit at its breaker box and remove its top cover before clearing away leaves and branches that may have made their way onto or near its surface.
If you would like to hire a professional to properly clean your HVAC units, get in touch with Clover Services, who also provide the best heating, air conditioning, and other HVAC services.
Clean the condensate drain
An air conditioner does more than simply cool your home; it also regulates humidity by extracting excess moisture from the air. Unfortunately, during this process, a lot of dirt and debris is released into your drain line, potentially creating a blockage that could allow water to back up into your system, leading to significant damages.
One effective way to prevent this from happening is by regularly cleaning your air conditioning drain line. To do so, pour one cup of bleach or vinegar into the drain line’s access point on your indoor air conditioning unit, killing any mold, mildew or algae in the line that has formed there.
Next, pour one gallon of water through the vent opening to flush out any remaining blockages before replacing your vent cover – an effortless task suitable even for inexperienced homeowners!
Clean the evaporator coil
Though you could attempt to clean your evaporator coil on your own, calling in an HVAC technician might be easier and more effective. Before taking any actions with the coils, to ensure safety and prevent harm to any of the systems involved, utilize the circuit breaker on your electrical panel.
After turning the system off, use a soft brush to gently remove large pieces of dirt or debris from the coils using soft pressure; any bent fins should also be straightened as this can improve the performance of the unit.
Next, apply a thick layer of cleaner, as instructed on the label, to both coils and fins. Allowing this solution to sit for several minutes should help break down any heavy buildup on them before washing with plain water to thoroughly rinse off and get rid of it before repeating this process again – doing this will prevent residue from clinging to coils that could make them dirty more quickly than they already were!
Clean the fan blades
Fan blades are an integral component of an HVAC unit. They help spread cooled air throughout your home and if they become dirty enough can reduce the efficiency of the operation of your unit.
Before cleaning your fan blades, wear clothing you don’t mind getting dirty and protective headwear such as a shower cap or hat to shield you from falling debris. Also make sure that power has been cut to your unit before beginning cleaning efforts.
Start by removing the grate covering the fan inside the condenser unit. Next, use a garden hose to rinse off coils and drain pan with water from your garden hose; adding a coil cleaner solution can further clean them off.
Afterward, use a butter knife or another kitchen utensil to straighten any bent fins – be careful not to exert yourself too hard as over-exerting can bend fan blades! Finally, be sure to dry all components after cleaning in order to prevent further damage or corrosion!
Clean the air filter
Temperature-regulated air from your AC unit is circulated after passing the filter, where dust and grime can collect. Therefore, it’s essential that these filters be regularly cleaned so as to prevent dirty air from recirculating throughout the home.
Before beginning, ensure your air conditioning is switched off. This step is essential as attempting to clean your HVAC system while it’s active can lead to serious injuries and property damage – typically there’s an “AC shut-off box” nearby where this can be found.
Once the air filter is removed and replaced, properly dispose of the old one.
If your filter is particularly dirty, soak it for several hours in a mixture of water and mild detergent before rinsing and leaving it to dry in direct sunlight for several hours before putting it back into your HVAC unit – don’t forget to secure its access panel!