Did you know that more than 50% of energy use in US homes is for heating and cooling?

If your AC unit isn’t well maintained, it can draw even more energy than usual, causing a spike in your utility bill. 

Fortunately, you can easily get your system running efficiently through some basic air conditioning unit maintenance.

If your system is in need of serious air conditioning repair, you should call in a professional AC maintenance service. However, there are a lot of routine maintenance tasks you can carry out yourself as a homeowner. 

Read on to find out what these are, and keep your AC system running at peak performance. 

Vacuum Your Fins

If you’re wondering how to carry out AC unit maintenance, one of the first things to do is vacuum your fins.

Start by attaching a brush fitting and gently vacuuming out any debris from the interior of your unit. Some units will require you to unscrew and lift off the metal cover. Consult your user manual if you are unsure how to remove the cover. 

Then carefully run the brush up and down the fins. Do not go side to side as this can bend the sensitive fins. 

If there is still caked dirt on the fins after this, you can also spray them with some coil cleaner or a mix of detergent and water. Wait 5 minutes and then carefully rinse down the fins. 

Do not under any circumstances use a pressure washer on the fins. 

Clean Your Vents

Another routine air conditioning unit maintenance task is to clean your vents. If you notice dust building up by the vent covers, remove these and clean the areas you can reach and the covers themselves. 

Replace Your Filter

Did you know that a dirty air filter can cause your AC unit to use 5-15% more energy? 

If you’re wondering how to maintain an AC unit, one of the most important things to do is replace your air filter. A dirty, clogged filter can cause your system to work overtime and may trigger problems that require more extensive AC repair further down the line. 

Unclog Your Condenser Drain

If you’re wondering whether your unit needs air conditioning repair, make sure you check the condenser drain.

If water is pooling around the furnace while the unit is running, the drain is likely clogged. 

Turn off your unit and remove any debris that might have gotten stuck in the drain tube. If it’s clogged with slime, you can also pour a cup of vinegar into the pipe, replace the cap, and then turn the unit on after 30 minutes.

Fix Your Fins

If your air conditioning unit’s fins are bent, this can dramatically impact AC performance. 

If the fins aren’t badly bent, you might be able to fix them yourself by carefully inserting a dinner knife and running it between the bent fins to help straighten them. 

Be very gentle if you try this, and do not insert the knife deeper than 1/2 an inch.

Do You Need Professional Air Conditioning Unit Maintenance Done?

There are a number of air conditioning unit maintenance tasks you can carry out yourself. But if your system is giving persistent issues, or you don’t have the time for DIY air conditioning repair—the best thing to do is call in a professional air conditioning repair service. 

Would you like us to come repair your AC unit? 

Contact us for a free quote.