Blog

In Rockville, MD and the rest of Montgomery County, you can depend on the last frost occurring before May 7. The average last frost of the year happens around April 16. As spring approaches, you want to make sure your air conditioner is ready to keep you and your loved ones cool into the summer months.

Pre-season air conditioner maintenance is best left to professional technicians who have a list of tune-up tasks and maintenance checks they perform on each job. Attempting to tune-up your AC yourself may result in damage, injury or potentially void your warranty. However, there are a handful of things you can do yourself before cooling season begins:

1. Turn Off Your System
   Safety first! A significant amount of electricity and mechanical activity runs through your air conditioner system, even when you’re not using it. Make sure your system won’t turn on unexpectedly by turning off the power at the service panel. Your condenser (the big box outside) also may have a 240-volt weatherproof disconnect box near the unit. Use the lever, fuses, or circuit breaker inside to turn off the unit here. That way you’ll be doubly protected.
   
   
2. Clean or Replace Your Filters
   Furnace or air-handler filters should be replaced whenever they look clogged with dust — at least twice per year or every three months during high-use seasons. Dirty filters restrict airflow through the system, reduce the efficiency of your air conditioning unit and increase your cooling expenses. Dusty filters recirculate dust in your home, which can impact family members or visitors with allergies.
   
   
3. Clean the Condenser Coils
   The condenser unit is a large fan in a metal box where the sides look like grilles. Over the course of the fall and winter, this unit may have accumulated dirt and debris that you’ll want to clear away. First, make sure the fan is clean of any dirt and debris. Next, check inside the box and see if any debris has clogged the coils. If so, they need to be cleaned so that your air conditioner works at its highest efficiency. Here’s how:
   
   Make sure the unit is turned off and remove the side and top panels from the condenser unit.
   
   Lift off the top without tugging on any wires connected to the fan
   
   Gently clean the coils on the outside with a soft brush or refrigerator coil brush. Then clean the coils from the inside. Do not bend the fins or damage the coils.
   
   
4. Clear Debris From the Base of the Condenser
   Once you’ve cleaned the coils, clear any leaves and debris from the base of the condenser. If your unit has a drain, make sure it’s clear. Clean the fan blades with a vacuum or rag and clear any excess water from inside. Then, reassemble the condenser.
   
   
5. Check the Coolant Lines
   Find the refrigerant tubes or pipes on the air handler running from the evaporator to the condenser. You should recognize them because they are covered with foam coolant line insulation. Prevent your unit from losing energy over the summer by filling in or replacing any gaps in these lines with new foam insulation sleeves or wrapping the lines with foam insulation tape.
   
   
6. Test the System
   Once the unit has had a chance to dry completely, you’re ready to test it. First, turn the thermostat in your home to “OFF.” Next, turn the power to the AC unit on, first at the disconnect box near the condenser and then at your main fuse box panel. Then, turn your thermostat to “COOL.”

Want to Save Time Next Year?

Here’s one easy way to cut down on spring cleaning for your air conditioner next year: cover it through the fall and winter. When you’re sure that you won’t need the unit for a while, cover your condenser with a plastic tarp and secure it with a rope and/or bungee cords. This will save you a bunch of time next year.

Want to Save Time This Year?

Stay ahead of potential cooling system breakdowns by scheduling AC maintenance with Home Air Services. Call us at (301) 585-8100 or click here to find out more.