One of the easiest, and maybe most important, things you can do for your air conditioner is to give it a good cleaning. While the best time to do this is in the spring before the unit is needed for the hot weather season, cleaning the system at any time will do it some good. The operation is pretty straightforward and any homeowner should be able to accomplish this task to help avoid costly air conditioner repairs in the future.

Cleanliness Verses Energy Use

A cleaner air conditioner runs much more efficiently. Dirt, leaves and other forms of debris compromise the ability of your system to work at peak efficiency. When it comes to air conditioner repair this do-it-yourself action will save energy and money. The savings can be impressive over the course of the year.

Steps to Air Conditioner Cleaning

The following steps are some things you can do to give your cooling system a good cleaning. These are not hard to do and will make your entire system run better. Always remember to turn the unit off before doing any cleaning or air conditioner repair. 

Outside

• Remove the cover from the unit and take off the grill from the top. Be careful as there may be wires connected to the grill.
• Clean the inside of the unit. There may be dirt, leaves and other forms of debris inside. Vacuum as much as you can. Be careful not to damage the fins. You can use water to help clean out as much as you can but be careful not to get any electrical parts wet. 
• Check for any shrubs, branches and other plants that are too close to the unit. Try to keep these a couple of feet from the system. Prune anything that needs to be cut. Rake any leaves, grass clippings and similar objects that could get sucked up into the system.
• Clean the grill well also. If there are ports to oil the grill do so at this time. Keeping the grill clean will allow proper air flow into the system. 
• Make a general check of the area around your outside unit. Move anything that could interfere with the proper operation of your system. Toys, tools flower pots, patio furniture, etc. should be stored away from the area.

Inside 

• Check the filter. It is best to change the filter once a month or even more if you have pets or smokers in the home.
• Pour bleach or white vinegar down the PVC pipe that drains the system. This will keep slime and mold down and help water drain easier. 
• There are coils and other parts of the system that can be cleaned. If you are handy and want to clean these, your system will work even better. It may be better to let a trained technician at an air conditioner repair company work on this part of the cleaning though.

While you may do a great job of cleaning your system there is no substitute for calling on a competent air conditioner repair company to do the job on a seasonal basis. Air conditioner repair is their specialty and they may catch problems before they become larger issues. At Experts In Your Home, we have air conditioner repair technicians that service Chico & surrounding areas so don't hesitate to give us a call.

There are some things you can easily do when it comes to air conditioner repair. Cleaning your system is one of those things. Take some time to do this job and your unit will run smoother saving you both energy and money.