HVAC MAINTENANCE, HVAC TIPS, TIPS FOR HOMEOWNERS, UNCATEGORIZED
Most people think of their AC units as being mostly internal. Given that the air registers that blow cool air around your house are inside, that makes sense. But your HVAC unit actually consists of two main components: an indoor and an outdoor unit.
Your indoor unit is generally located near your furnace, which you’ll often find inside a closet or in a basement area. This unit is responsible for drawing heat and moisture out of your home. The most important maintenance task for this unit is replacing its air filters – a task that you’re probably familiar with.
The outside part of your HVAC system is a large compressor unit that sits on a concrete or stone slab. This unit uses refrigerant to cool the extracted hot air from your home. It then sends the cool air back inside. The indoor and outdoor units work together to ensure a continual flow of cool air.
To keep your home cool and comfortable during summer, take some time to maintain your outdoor HVAC unit. Regular basic maintenance, in tandem with professional service from your local HVAC experts, will keep your system running smoothly and efficiently.
Tips for maintaining your outdoor HVAC unit
Keeping your outdoor HVAC unit in good shape will improve its efficiency and longevity. Try these simple steps.
- Remove debris from around your outdoor AC unit. Leaves, sticks, dirt and other debris can clog your air conditioner and reduce its efficiency. First wipe down the protective cage. Then turn off your unit at the breaker, detach the protective cage, then gently remove offending debris. You can use your hands or even a vacuum cleaner to do this.
- Clean your outdoor unit’s “fins.” Use a garden hose on low pressure to wash away dirt and grime. Never use a pressure hose on your unit. You can also use the tip of a butter knife to gently bend back misaligned fins – but note that these fins are delicate! A soft-bristled brush can be used to remove additional debris.
- Clean around your unit. Prevention is better than cure. Keep your outdoor HVAC unit in good shape by trimming back grass and weeds and maintaining nearby plants and trees. When mowing your lawn, use a leaf blower to keep grass clippings away from your unit. Routinely check for signs of pest intrusion, and call an exterminator if needed.
- Make sure your unit is level. If the pad your HVAC unit sits on has settled, this poses problems for the efficiency of your unit. A unit that isn’t level may experience problems with the oil level inside its compressor, leading to damage through overheating. Your unit might also have drainage issues, leading to rusting and mold growth. If you don’t know how to level your unit, talk to your HVAC professional.
- Take note of issues. Pooling water, a vibrating unit, a unit that has shifted on its pad, or a unit that doesn’t seem to be cooling efficiently are all signs that it’s time to call one of the HVAC professionals at Shaw. Our technicians will clean, service or repair your unit to ensure that it’s running at optimal efficiency.
