Cleaning tips from Port St. Lucie residents in Florida for your AC unit.

If you’ve neglected your air conditioner as part of the spring cleaning, then the chances are it is probably looking gross inside and out. If it’s dirty and clogged up, then it’s most likely not going to work correctly. Your first reaction might be to assume it’s time to get down to your nearest wholesale air conditioner store and get an AC replacement. However, before you decide to shell out your hard-earned money on a new unit, it’s worth giving it a thorough cleaning first. I hear you asking But how?

So, we thought we would give you our top cleaning tips from Port St. Lucie residents to keeping your unit clean and in the best condition possible.

1) Clean the indoor unit

The first thing that you must do is turn the power off. Once you’ve done that pull off the furnace filter, check and clean any dirt build up. After, open up the blower compartment and vacuum up the dust. Then, clean the drain tube. A simple bleach/water solution (1:16) should be enough to flush out the line. It is also worth cleaning the drain port. This is probably the easiest part, simply pop a pipe cleaner inside and pull out any clingy or loose dirt.

2) Clean around the air conditioner

This is a lot easier than cleaning the indoor unit. A build-up of leaves and dirt is common, and blocks the outdoor sections of the air conditioner. Clean out any debris and prune back any foliage that’s blocking the vents, this should help keep the outdoor sections nice and clean.

3) Clean the condenser

This can be a little trickier, but with a bit of patience, it can be done. First make sure the power is turned off, then vacuum away any debris from the exterior fins. Make sure to use a soft brush attachment or you could end up doing some damage to the fins. Next, unscrew the fan and pull out any leaves.

Top tip: wipe the interior surface with a damp cloth. And spray the fins from the inside out. This should get rid of any clingy debris.

Cleaning your air conditioner unit, isn’t too complicated, and could save you a lot as far as an AC replacement goes. However, if you feel uncertain, always contact a professional to help manage the maintenance and repair of your ac unit.