With summer winding down in Belton, now is a good time to get a kick start on air conditioner maintenance.

If you haven’t taken care of it recently, it could be blocked with dust and yard waste. This collection can limit your unit’s efficiency and cause it to stop working. Or make it wear out more quickly.

We advise having your air conditioning system professionally maintained once a year. Why? A clean system can be more energy efficient, which could save you money on utility costs.

Consistent AC maintenance also helps our technicians discover and handle slight issues before they turn into costly problems.

Related: How to Keep Your Air Conditioner from Failing

Some of the work we do involves:

  • Viewing the blower, motor, drain line and coils
  • Confirming pressure and temperature
  • Testing lines, refrigerant amounts and connections

There’s still time to have a tune-up done this fall—and we can get your furnace prepped for heating season too.

There’s also some upkeep you can do on your own between professional tune-ups. It only takes about an hour to clean your outdoor condenser unit, as well as a few components on your indoor HVAC system.

Related: How Often Should You Expect to Get Air Conditioning Service Done?

How to Clean Your Outside AC Unit

Select a temperate day to clean your air conditioner. At least 60 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) is best. That way, you can test the unit once you’ve cleaned it.

You’ll only need a couple of things:

  • Wet-dry vacuum and hose with a soft brush attachment
  • Screwdriver
  • Butter knife
  • Damp rag
  • Small, round paintbrush
  • Replacement furnace filter (if necessary)

Related: How AC Repair and Maintenance Can Actually Save You Money

Five Steps to Clean the Outside Unit

1. Turn Off the Power

Switch off the electricity to your air conditioner at the breaker box.

2. Clean the Outside

Take out waste from the equipment. This includes branches, bushes, weeds and grass.

Then run the vacuum to cautiously clean the metallic fins. These components are also called condenser coils and move heat away from your unit.

You need to be careful with these delicate coils. Bent or crushed fins can influence efficiency.

3. Fix Bent Fins

Use a butter knife to rearrange warped fins. You can also use a fin comb from an appliance part retailer. A pro from Myers Furnace Company should handle severe damage.

4. Clean the Inside

After taking out the fan, fish out leaves and other yard rubbish. Then mop the inside of the equipment with a wet sponge.

The only coil cleaner you need is water. Use gentle pressure from a hose nozzle to clean the fins, directing water from the inside out. Put the fan back in once you’re finished.

5. Test Your Air Conditioner

Now it’s time to restore power and turn your air conditioner back on. If it’s not running like it should, reach out to us a call at 816-249-1619.

Related: Air Conditioner Service: Pay a Little Now, Save Later

Three Steps to Clean the Indoor Unit

1. Turn Off the Power

Cut the power to your furnace at the breaker box.

2. Check Your Filter

Furnace filters must be changed every couple of months, depending on the model you use.

Can’t remember when you last checked yours? Take it out and tilt it toward the light. If you can’t see light through it, buy a new one.

3. Clean the Inside

Remove the blower door and vacuum up dust.

Then inspect your air conditioner’s drain line—it’s a flexible plastic tube. If it’s dirty, you can sanitize it by draining thinned bleach through the tube to flush the line. Or you can replace the tube.

Clean the drain port using a small, round paintbrush. Hook up the drain tube and turn the power back on.

Related: How to Keep Your Air Conditioner Running Well Through Fall

Never Forget a Tune-Up Again

Annual air conditioner maintenance from Myers Furnace Company can make your equipment more efficient and help it last longer. We also provide handy service agreements, so you won’t forget to schedule your annual service!