Let’s face it: air conditioning equipment is subject to extreme duty and will probably take quite a beating. You can combat the effects of misuse and abuse with good annual maintenance. Well-maintained air conditioners will perform better and can contribute to overall satisfaction. While some maintenance like inspecting and cleaning the indoor return air filters should be performed on a monthly basis, there are additional steps that should be taken annually by qualified personnel.

We suggest the following annual maintenance for central air conditioners:

1. Clear the coils and drain pan of all debris (lint, dirt, leaves, paper, etc.). Make sure there are no obstructions to airflow or condensate and check for air leaks around the sealing surface.

2. Clean the coils and drain pan with a soft brush and compressed air or vacuum. Take care not to bend the aluminum fins and protect all electrical components from any water or spray. Allow the unit to dry completely.

3. Inspect all gasket material for deterioration and replace as necessary.

4. Check the indoor blower housing, blower wheel, condenser fan blade and condenser shroud and clean them of any debris including mold and fungus. An antibacterial/antifungal cleaner may be used on the blower housing and blower wheel. Rinse with warm water and allow complete drying.

5. Inspect all the control components, both electrical and mechanical, as well as the power supply to insure they are working properly.

6. Check around the unit both indoors and outdoors to ensure that the required clearances have been maintained. For example, make sure that outdoor shrubbery has not grown in such a way as to block outdoor airflow. Trim back any plants that may flourish in the spring and summer months, creating a problem later.

7. Clean all obstructions or debris from the sleeve and drain system using an antibacterial/antifungal cleanser. Rinse with warm water and allow to dry thoroughly. Check the sealant around the sleeve and reseal any areas as needed.

8. Clean the front cover using a mild detergent and rinse with warm water. Allow the cover to dry completely before reinstalling it to the chassis.

Following these annual maintenance suggestions should help prevent performance problems when it counts the most. And when purchasing new units, remember to look for features that make routine maintenance easier. This will save time and money. For example, are filters easily accessible?

Even though you may not be a qualified HVAC technician there are several things you can do to you improve your air conditioner’s efficiency and prolong it’s life. It is still a good idea to havea qualified service man check your refrigerant pressures and temperatures every few years to obtain maximum system efficiency. Many things done on a preventive maintenance can be done by most home owners and do not require any specialty tools or instruments.

Many people don’t realize that the furnace filter they are accustom to changing is also used for your central air system. Make sure to inspect your system air filter monthly and replace as needed. A clean air filter is just as if not more important for air conditioning than heating.

You will also want to make sure most of the supply registers for you system are open. Air conditioners are sized for a specific amount of air flow so if it is restricted by closed registersproblems may occur. Be sure the drain line from the indoor coil or evaporator is clear and that there are no kinks in the hose. If this line seems very dirty you can pour common house hold bleach through it to kill growing bacteria.

Next you will want to turn the power off to the out door unit or condenser at the breaker and remove all grass and shrubs growing with in 8-10 inches of the coil that surrounds the air conditioner. Use a garden hose to soak down the coil surface area making sure not to use so much pressure that you damage the coil fins. Apply a condenser coil cleaner product that comes in a aerosol spray can or mixable concentrate and let soak for 3-5 minutes. Remove the units top and flush coil clean with a garden hose preferably from the inside out. Oil the condenser fan motor with 4-5 drops of a light weight oil, provided the motor has oiling ports.

Reassemble and restore power to the air conditioner. Set your thermostat to cool and below roomtemperature. After letting in run for 5-10 minutes check the discharge temperature at one of the supply registers closest to the indoor air handler. A quick rule of thumb is that you should have a 15 to 20 degree difference in supply air temperature and room air temperature. So if it is 76 degrees in the house your supply air temperature should be around 56 to 61 degrees. If the temperature difference is less than 15 degrees you may have to have a air conditioning technician check the refrigerant levels.