3 Springtime Maintenance Tips for Your Central Air Conditioning System

By following the subsequent springtime maintenance tips, you will learn how to clean and maintain your AC in order to keep it running smoothly. While these tips are relatively simple and suitable for all skill levels, you should still plan to set aside about half a day to run through everything in the safest and most effective manner possible.

1. The first tip for springtime maintenance is to clean your outdoor unit (if you have one, which many people do). Begin by turning off the 240-volt power switch found in the appliance shutoff box, which is usually outside somewhere near the AC unit. If there isn't a shutoff box, then turn off the power at the circuit breaker. Once you are sure that the power is off, you can clean the condenser coil of the unit. Inside the coil you will find a fan, which will have collected a sizable amount of dirt, dust and debris. Carefully clean the fins of the fan to increase airflow and efficiency. Keep in mind that this is something you might have to do weekly or monthly, depending on where you reside.

2. The second tip will take place after cleaning is completed. Switch the thermostat to its cooling mode and set your air conditioner's temperature so that the outdoor unit comes on. Once it has turned on, listen for any strange or unusual noises, such as rattling, which could indicate damage. Pull back the insulation on the insulated pipe and test it by making sure it is cool to the touch. If not, then your refrigerant level may be off and you should call a professional.

3. The last tip for springtime maintenance of your AC unit is to clean and inspect the indoor unit. The first thing to check on is the furnace filter, which may or may not be dirty. If it is, you must replace it to keep dust from collecting on the evaporator coil fins. Start by turning off the power before taking off the filter (replacement instructions should be printed on the old and/or new filter).

Following these three springtime maintenance tips for your central air conditioning system, will ensure that your machinery is running at peak performance, which will save you effort and money in the future. Many of these steps can be completed by all skill levels in a do-it-yourself fashion. However, if you don't feel comfortable working on your AC unit, there are a large amount of affordable services to meet your needs. You can look for HVAC contractors online, in the yellow pages, or by asking friends and family for references.