Keeping Your HVAC System In Great Condition
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Keeping Your HVAC System In Great Condition

There aren't many things more frustrating than an air conditioning that refuses to run. A hot, muggy home can make your space incredibly uncomfortable, which is why I have always focused on maintaining my air conditioning system. Unfortunately, I still run into problems from time to time and I am sure that all of you do, which is one of the reasons I decided to build this website. Check out these posts for more information about keeping your system working beautifully, even if you aren't naturally good at fixing things. You never know, making the right changes could dramatically improve your summertime experience.

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Keeping Your HVAC System In Great Condition

How To Clean AC Condenser Coils

Herbert Franklin

As your home ages, your air-conditioning system is bound to become less effective. You can do your part to combat this by regularly maintaining your condenser unit. The coils are the most important element of the condenser unit when it comes to airflow and the heat transfer process. This article explains the best way to clean and service your condenser coils. If you do this maintenance on a regular basis, your air conditioner is more likely to run at maximum efficiency. It can also help ensure that your condenser unit lasts for many years.

What are the Condenser Coils?

The condenser coils are easily visible and accessible through the protective metal cage. They are within the walls of the unit and are covered by sheets of aluminum. The aluminum has rows with small fins that stick out. The space between the individual fins can get caked and clogged in dirt. This slows down the heat transfer process and causes the condenser motor to work harder, sucking up more electricity and running up your energy bill. Technically, you aren't going to clean the coils, you are just cleaning the protective metal fins. But, most experts will still just call this task "cleaning the coils."

Power Down the Unit

Before you do any work on your coils, you want to cut the power to your condenser. The best way to do this is to simply hit the breaker switch because most condensers don't have a power switch. Don't just turn off your thermostat because you run the risk of having your unit power on while you are working on it.

Cleaning the Coils

The best way to clean the coils is to just use soap and water. In most cases you don't need to use any sort of scrub brush. If you spray some soap into the coils and let it soak in for a bit, the dirt will probably wash right out once you spray it down with a strong stream of water. Pay attention to the runoff. If it is dirty and brown, you are definitely cleaning your coils. Just be careful that you don't spray the fins too hard, or else they could bend, which is even worse than having them dirty.

This is not a complicated job so you should not put it aside. The longer you wait, the dirtier your coils will become, and the harder it will be to clean them. 

For more information, contact local professionals like Pell City Heating & Cooling Inc.


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