How to safely clear debris from your outdoor AC unit before it causes problems

You’ve had your AC unit checked before the summer arrived and got a perfect scorecard from the tech. But for some reason, the system seems to be acting less than efficient. If this sounds familiar, then it may be due to yard clippings getting trapped in your outdoor unit. This can happen from time to time after mowing or from a large storm. Thankfully, it’s pretty easy to remove yard debris from an HVAC system. You just need to do it safely, which is what we’re explaining how to do in this guide.

Signs Your Outdoor Unit May Have Debris

If you’ve been scratching your head these days after receiving abnormally high energy bills, you may not be imagining things. In the summer, one common cause for high energy bills (even with a perfectly functioning AC) is because there’s debris in the outdoor unit. If debris like leaves, sticks, grass, or other yard elements find their way into your outdoor system, it’s possible for them to block airflow that can cause your unit to work harder and faster, leading to the higher bills.

HVAC expert Ryan Gaddis says that, “The U.S. Department of Energy reports that even 1/20 of an inch (about 0.042 inches) of dirt or debris on condenser coils can reduce air conditioner efficiency by up to 21 percent. If coils aren’t clean, the heat transfer is adversely impacted and your system must work harder to maintain a cooler temperature inside your home. Over time, this extra work increases energy bills and reduces the AC unit’s lifespan.”

Other than pricey bills, there are other indicators that debris may be affecting the efficiency of your system, such as:

• Odd sounds or smells.
• Inconsistent run time or short cycles (the unit keeps turning off and on).
• The coils look dirty.

How To Safely Remove Debris From Your Outdoor AC Unit

While some HVAC troubleshooting requires the help of a technician, removing debris is something you can do yourself. According to Gaddis, the key is doing things safely by following these steps:

1. First, turn off the thermostat and disconnect the outdoor unit from the power source.
2. Remove the AC unit head.
3. Pick up debris by hand or with a handheld vacuum attachment from the unit’s bottom or pan.
4. Wipe off any dirt on fan blades.
5. Apply a coil cleaner to the unit’s interior walls, spraying at an angle so the cleaner can get inside the fins and reach the coils.
6. Let it sit for 10–15 minutes and use a garden hose at a low setting to wash away the cleaner from the walls and the pan to remove the soapy residue. Clean the unit’s exterior walls the same way.
7. Put the unit head back on.

Tip

Gaddis recommends always wearing safety gloves and goggles when cleaning debris out of the unit.

4 Common Mistakes To Avoid

• Never use a pressure washer to clean the outdoor unit.
• Do not forget to turn off the power first.
• Do not skip routine maintenance.
• Do not let dirt and debris build up around the unit.

When To Call A Professional

Though you can clean debris out of an AC unit yourself, there are other times when you need to call in the help of a professional, like when it’s time for your yearly maintenance check. An HVAC technician can not only clean debris out of a unit, but they can inspect your system to determine its overall performance and look for any issues.

As far as how often you should be inspecting for debris, Gaddis says you should aim to check the outside AC unit monthly, and after high winds, a large storm, or during the spring/pollen season.

Read the original article on Southern Living