Your central air conditioning system is made of two units and a lot of ducts. One of the units is on the inside and makes that familiar hum when the AC clicks on. The other unit is outdoors, and is essential to the eldritch process of “creating cold”, which is actually just removing heat. The heat needs somewhere to go and the outdoor unit takes care of that.

Of course, for good performance from your AC, you also need to take care of the outer unit. You may have noticed that your outdoor AC unit is full of leaves, dust, or overgrowth. If you want to clean your outdoor AC unit but are worried about causing damage, Pinnacle Heating & Cooling is here to help! 

Here’s a simple eight-step process to clean your outdoor AC unit the right way. If you are successful, your AC should run more efficiently and resist neglect-based repairs. 

1. Cut Power to the AC System

The first step for any appliance maintenance task is to cut the power. This is a safety measure for both you and the appliance. Start by turning off your thermostat so that it’s not trying to run any air system in the house. Next. look for the shut-off switch near the outdoor AC unit. Once found, unplug or switch to “off” so that no power is running through the outdoor AC when you’re cleaning it.

2. Landscape Some Space for Your Condenser Unit

Outdoor AC units need “room to breathe” with space for their air intakes so they don’t get clogged with leaves, growing vines, or fallen branches. Starting to clean your AC condenser unit, you may find yourself clearing away quite a bit of brush and debris.

One of the best ways to keep your outdoor AC unit in good condition and reduce your work for the yearly unit cleaning is to landscape around your condenser for clearance. Use a small section of fence, a pebble-covered flower bed, or paver stones to help keep a few feet of clearance from plant life around your AC’s outdoor unit.

3. Clear Away Outdoor Debris Wearing Gloves

With the area generally clear, put on gardening gloves or work gloves and pull out any debris stuck up in the outdoor unit’s vents or grate. Pull out leaves, branches, twining vines and runners, and anything else that has caught in the unit’s semi-open design. We advise gloves because you never know when a dry twig or vine will have an unexpected thorn or become the cause of an allergic reaction.

4. Use a Wet-Dry Vac with a Soft Brush Attachment

Anything you can’t reach by hand can be removed with the softest brush attachment on a sturdy wet-dry vac. Do not use an interior carpet vacuum, you need a vacuum that can handle large and potentially wet debris. Prepare your wet-dry vac and remove any damp leaves, dirt, or stubborn debris that otherwise would not come out.

5. Clean and Straighten the Cooling Fins

Next, use your garden hose to clean off the fins of the condenser unit. Hose it down from the inside out to drive the dust outside the unit and let it drain into the ground. Once the fins are clean, inspect them carefully and carefully straighten any that look bent. This will improve the performance and longevity of your AC.

6. Rinse Out or Replace the Air Filter

You can also use your garden hose to clean out the air filter. Most outdoor AC units have a reusable air filter that can be washed with a strong blast from the hose. Again, clean from the inside out to direct the build-up into the yard and not the unit.

7. Wipe Down the Fan Blades

Inspect fan blades inside the outdoor AC assembly and wipe them down. Gummed up fan blades can cause a fan to slow or stop spinning, which is bad news for your AC’s efficiency. Clean fan blades can improve the life of your AC unit. 

8. Clean Dust from the Condenser Coil

Finally, carefully clean out any dust or dirt from the condenser coils. You can use a special condenser brush coil cleaning solution, but be sure to use an approved method so that your condenser works properly when the maintenance round is done.

Does your outdoor AC unit need cleaning? Don’t sweat the details when you can leave it to the experts. Call Pinnacle Heating & Cooling for all your HVAC needs, indoors and outdoors.