Safety Guidelines
When Installing Central Air Conditioning:
- All products must be installed according to the manufacturer’s installation
instructions and safety guidelines. - All work must be done according to local and national building, electrical and
mechanical codes. - Wear proper safety equipment when performing your installation.
Get local permits if necessary. - Do not adjust or handle refrigerant unless you are EPA-Certified.
- Do not handle high-voltage electrical wiring unless properly trained.
- Be careful when handling sheet metal – it can be very sharp.
- Improper installation of products can cause
serious injury or death. - If you do not fully understand how to install your product after reading the
manufacturer’s instructions, contact your local heating and air conditioning
dealer for help and do not attempt to install it yourself.
Servicing Steps
Keep your air-conditioner (AC) maintained and you’ll not only save money on energy, but you’ll also extend its lifespan, saving money on costly early replacement.
Shut Off The Power
Due to the dangers of working around electricity and the air-conditioner’s moving parts, it’s essential to completely turn off power to the unit. On the exterior condenser/compressor, look for an exterior shut-off box near the unit. Indoors, also turn the power off at the breaker box.
Remove Debris
On the exterior condenser/compressor, remove the fan cage. Using a screwdriver or wrench, remove the fasteners and lift the cage or fan grill away from the top of the unit. By hand, or with a wet/dry vacuum, clean leaves, and other debris from the interior.
Clean The Fins
Remove the outer covers and use the brush attachment on a powerful shop vacuum to remove all outside dirt. Then, using a gentle stream from a garden hose, spray through the fins from the inside out to remove any built-up dirt or debris from between them. Never use a pressure washer, since the pressure can damage the fins. If the fins are particularly dirty, use a commercially available fin cleaning spray (available at home improvement centers; read and follow manufacturer directions).
Straighten The Fins
Since any reduction in air-flow through the fins can reduce efficiency, carefully straighten bent fins using a butter knife or commercially available fin-straightening tool. Be gentle so that the tubing embedded within the fins is not damaged.
Clean Area Around The Unit
Once finished with the cleaning, replace the fan cage. Rake back leaves and debris outside the condenser and cut back branches and vegetation at least 2 feet in all directions to ensure proper airflow around the unit. The condenser coil can be pressure washed but coil cleaner should not be used on this component. care must be taknen not the damage or bend the fins, straighten where necessary.
Level the Unit
Over time, the pad upon which the condenser unit sits can begin to tip as the soil settles beneath it. An out-of-level condenser unit can cause the compressor within to fail early. Check the condenser for level and use rot-resistant shims to bring it back to level.
Clean the Evaporator Coil
Now it’s time to move inside. On the inside blower unit, find the evaporator coil door. You may need to remove some foil duct tape and take out a few screws or bolts. Inside, use a soft brush to dust off the coil, then spray the coil with commercially available no-rinse or standard coil cleaner (available at AC supply Stores)). The spray will foam up and then drip into the drain pan. Clean out the drain pan with soap, hot water, and a little bleach. Then, pour a cup of 50% bleach/50% water down the drain. To keep the drain clear longer-term, place a commercially available drain pan tablet in the pan. This will inhibit future algae growth.
Clean a Plugged Evaporator Drain
First, find the drain line where it leaves the evaporator coil enclosure. The drain is usually a one-inch PVC pipe (white, grey, or black). Follow it to the end where it drains. Often the line drains outside near the condenser unit, but it can also drain into a utility sink.
Once located, use a wet/dry vacuum to clear the drain. It’s best to remove the paper filter from the wet/dry vacuum so as not to ruin the filter. Hold the hose of the wet/dry vacuum to the end of the drain line. You can use duct tape or simply hold a rag around the gap. Turn on the vacuum for 2-3 minutes then turn it off. This will clear the drain of any growing biological matter.
Change The Blower Filter
Locate the filter enclosure on the indoor AC where the large fresh air return duct enters the unit. You may need a screwdriver to turn the latch to open the door to the filter enclosure. Remove the old filter and install the new filter, matching the air-flow direction arrows on the filter to the arrows on the unit. Close and latch the door.
Turn The Power Back On
While these steps will help to keep your AC system in top shape, be aware that there are maintenance items that only a trained AC technician will be able to do. For example, a slow refrigerant leak in your AC system can lead to expensive compressor failure, but a homeowner doesn’t have the tools or skills necessary to check refrigerant levels. Also, clean ducts and proper airflow are essential to a well-functioning system, but homeowners lack the necessary equipment for the job. The bottom line? While some AC maintenance can be done by a savvy homeowner, it’s still necessary to have an expert technician check the system periodically.
