One of the benefits of homeownership as compared to apartment dwelling is the fact that you can perform your own maintenance and cleaning on your own schedule.
Many people enjoy the sense of accomplishment they get from straightening out their garage, cleaning out a guest room and so on, even if they don't particularly enjoy doing the cleanup work. In fact, it can be quite satisfying to not only maintain the value of your home but to improve it simply by eliminating dirt, debris and other messes before they become a bigger problem.
As homeowners consider all the cleaning duties they need to perform on their building, they sometimes wonder whether there is a way that they can clean their own air conditioning unit. This question is not always easy to answer, as it depends on such factors as your physical ability, how much time you can devote to the task and whether you have sufficient knowledge of AC equipment to ensure that you will do the job efficiently and safely.
AC Cleaning Is Serious and Dirty Work
Because we rely on our air conditioning equipment to keep us comfortable during inclement weather, it's important to recognize the serious nature of doing your own cleaning work. You don't want to damage any vital components, for example, and you will want to make sure that you have done the job properly, so the equipment's performance is not compromised.
You should be aware that cleaning your own AC unit can be difficult and dirty work that is best left to the professionals.
Cleaning AC Units
What are the basics when it comes to cleaning AC units? Remember that you should allocate several hours to the project, especially if you are a novice.
First, you'll need to shut off the power to your air conditioner. You don't want to run the risk of injuring yourself or breaking the equipment.
On the outside of your home is the air conditioning system's condenser coil. Because the coil's fan is pulling air across the coil, you should expect that a significant amount of dust, debris and dirt will get sucked in with it. You might find lawn debris, such as clippings from your mower, fallen leaves and dead, dried up weeds that must be cleaned off.
Inside your home is the evaporator coil. Attach a soft brush to the end of the vacuum hose and use it to gently remove all the accumulated dust and dirt.
Many homeowners use a filter inside the home to capture dust, pet dander and other airborne contaminants. If you use replaceable filters, pull them out and put in fresh ones. If you have the kind of filters that are reusable, you'll want to remove them and then wash them with water, leaving them to dry off on your driveway in the sun.
You Still Need to Schedule Inspections and Maintenance for Your AC Unit
It's worth remembering that even if you do your own AC cleaning work, as a prudent homeowner, you will still need to arrange for professionals do perform regular inspections and maintenance work.
The tests they do on your system may require them to make certain adjustments that the average homeowner is ill equipped to perform. Since you already need to schedule maintenance and inspections, why not have professionals from David Gray Heating & Air do the cleaning as well, since they will already be there?
It's quite admirable for homeowners to want to do their own cleaning work when it comes to their air conditioning systems. They are typically interested in gaining a sense of accomplishment, as well as saving some money by doing it themselves. If you are not confident that you will be able to do a job that is equal to the work done by professionals, it's a good idea to consider having an experienced HVAC technician handle it for you.
The professionally trained experts at David Gray Heating & Air have the experience and knowledge to handle all your HVAC needs. For more information on taking care of your air conditioning equipment or to schedule an appointment for repairs, maintenance or routine cleaning, please feel free to contact us today.