Summer in Wheat Ridge Colorado is hot, and your air conditioner becomes one of the most important things in your home. Regular maintenance and cleaning can keep your air conditioner running more efficiently, and it can improve the air quality in your home. Many Wheat Ridge residents clean their AC units in Spring, so that it’s ready to combat the Summer air.
If you’ve had your unit in storage for winter, you may have cleaned it thoroughly before you put it away. If you covered it, or you didn’t clean it before winter, then you’ll need to clean it now. You should also make sure that there’s no power going to the unit. Once you’re sure it’s safe, you can unscrew the fan cage and remove it. There may be debris inside, so you can remove it either with your hand, or you can use a wet/dry vacuum.
If there is a buildup of debris on the fins, you can clean them with a garden hose. Always clean the fins from the inside out, so that any dirt and debris ends up on the outside of the AC unit. Many stores offer fin cleaning sprays to help with this. Once you’ve cleaned the fins, you should check to see if any of the fins are bent. If there are bent fins, straighten them carefully with a butter knife, or a fin straightening tool. Take care so that you don’t damage the tubing inside of the fins. Bent fins reduce the air flow and make your unit less efficient.
You should make sure that the area around the unit is clean, and that it has at least two meters of clearance in all directions. You may have to cut back any plants or vegetation near your unit. You should also make sure that the unit is sitting level. The soil under the unit can settle and make it tip slightly. If that happens you can put some wood under the unit to make it level.
Next you should clean the blower unit on the inside of your house. Look for the evaporator coil door and remove it. Clean the coil with a soft brush, and then you can use an evaporator coil spray. These sprays don’t need to be rinsed off, and you can find them in home improvement and DIY stores. Clean the drain pan, and then pour a solution of half water, half bleach down the drain. If it doesn’t clear, then you should use your wet/dry vacuum to clear out any blockages. You can use a drain pan tablet to prevent any more algae growth, and then replace the door, and reseal it with duct tape, if you need to.
You can replace or clean your filter now too. Some filters can be cleaned, but other need to be replaced regularly. Cleaning and maintaining your AC can help to keep it running efficiently, and can help make it last longer, but there are some things that can only be done by a professional. You should have your unit serviced to make sure that everything is running smoothly. You may need to have an AC replacement if your unit has been damaged. You could check online for wholesale air conditioner units, as you might be able to get a better deal. If you do replace your unit, you should clean it regularly, following the steps above.