With summer coming to an end in Savage, now is a great time to get a kick start on air conditioner maintenance.

If you haven’t taken care of it this year, it could be blocked with dirt and yard waste. This collection can reduce your unit’s efficiency and cause it to break down. Or make it wear out more quickly.

We recommend having your air conditioning system professionally maintained once a year. Why? Clean equipment can be more energy efficient, which could save you money on utility costs.

Routine AC maintenance also helps our technicians discover and handle small issues before they develop into costly problems.

Related: How to Keep Your Air Conditioner from Failing

Some of the work we do includes:

  • Taking a look at the blower, motor, drain line and coils
  • Watching pressure and temperature
  • Reviewing lines, refrigerant amounts and connections

It’s not too late to have a tune-up done this fall—and we can get your furnace ready for heating season too.

There’s also some work you can do on your own between professional tune-ups. You just need about an hour to clean your outdoor condenser unit, as well as several parts on your indoor HVAC system.

Related: How Often Should You Expect to Get Air Conditioning Service Done?

Cleaning Out the Outside AC Unit

Choose a warm day to clean your air conditioner. At least 60 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) is great. That way, you can test your system once you’ve cleaned it.

You’ll only need a handful of items:

  • Wet-dry vacuum and hose with a soft brush attachment
  • Screwdriver
  • Butter knife
  • Damp rag
  • Small, round paintbrush
  • Replacement furnace filter (if necessary)

Related: How AC Repair and Maintenance Can Actually Save You Money

Five Steps to Clean the Outside Unit

1. Turn Off the Power

Cut the electricity to your air conditioner at the breaker box.

2. Clean the Outside

Take out debris from the system. This includes branches, bushes, weeds and grass.

Then run the vacuum to cautiously clean the metallic fins. These parts are also referred to as condenser coils and transfer heat away from your equipment.

You need to be careful with these fragile coils. Misshapen or crushed fins can influence efficiency.

3. Fix Bent Fins

Use a butter knife to straighten bent fins. You can also use a fin comb from an appliance part website. A pro from Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning should handle large amounts of damage.

4. Clean the Inside

After extracting the fan, fish out leaves and other yard waste. Then mop the inside of the system with a wet rag.

The only coil cleaner you have to have is water. Use slight pressure from a hose nozzle to clean the fins, directing water from the inside out. Put the fan back in once you’re completed.

5. Test Your Air Conditioner

It’s safe to restore power and turn your air conditioner back on. If it’s not operating like it should, reach out to us a call at 952-373-0377.

Related: Air Conditioner Service: Pay a Little Now, Save Later

Next, How You Can Clean the Indoor Unit

1. Turn Off the Power

Cut the juice to your furnace at the breaker box.

2. Check Your Filter

Furnace filters must be exchanged every couple of months, depending on the model you use.

Unsure when you last replaced yours? Take it out and angle it toward the light. If there’s no light visible, get a new one.

3. Clean the Inside

Remove the blower door and vacuum up dust.

Then inspect your air conditioner’s drain line—it’s a supple plastic tube. If it’s scummy, you can sanitize it by flowing thinned bleach through the tube to sanitize the line. Or you can buy a new tube.

Wash the drain port using a small, round paintbrush. Connect the drain tube and restore power.

Related: How to Keep Your Air Conditioner Running Well Through Fall

Don’t Forget About Maintenance Again

Annual air conditioner maintenance from Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning can make your system more efficient and help it last longer. We also have convenient service agreements, so you won’t forget to book your annual tune-up!