A Comprehensive Guide: How to Clean Your Outside AC Unit

Cleaning your outdoor AC unit is crucial in maintaining its performance and efficiency. Learn why it’s beneficial and how you can clean your AC unit.

An outdoor AC unit, also known as a condenser unit, is part of a central AC system located outside of your home. Its main function is to remove heat from the refrigerant and then circulated it back into the indoor unit to cool your home.

This makes it critical to keep it in top working condition. While it’s best to have professional AC technicians like Air Worth to maintain and service your unit, it might come in handy to understand how your outside AC unit works and how you can do simple maintenance by yourself.

Why You Should Clean Your Outdoor AC Unit

There are several important reasons you should clean your outdoor air conditioner unit. Mainly, it helps ensure that it operates as it should as long as possible. Here are other reasons why you should clean your outside unit:

• Improved Efficiency: The outdoor unit can get clogged with dirt, debris, leaves, and other contaminants resulting in restricted airflow. This makes it harder for the unit to effectively transfer heat. Cleaning it makes it perform more efficiently and lower energy bills.
• Extended Lifespan: Regular maintenance of your outdoor AC unit can significantly extend its lifespan. When the unit is clean and well-maintained, it experiences less strain and wear and tear, reducing the likelihood of breakdowns.
• Preventing Malfunctions: Debris and dirt accumulation on the air conditioner unit’s components can cause various malfunctions. For example, clogged condenser coils can lead to the unit to overheat or freeze up. A clean unit has a lower chance of experiencing these issues.
• Better Air Quality: A dirty outdoor air conditioning unit can blow dust, allergens, and other contaminants into your living space, giving you poor air quality. Cleaning the unit and its air filter helps maintain a cleaner and healthier environment indoors.
• Avoiding Costly Repairs: Neglecting to clean your outdoor AC units can result in serious problems that may require costly repairs.
• Reduced Noise Levels: A clean AC unit operates more quietly. When the unit is dirty or struggling to function efficiently, it may produce more noise, which can disturb your sleep.

Understanding Your Outside AC Unit

The outside AC unit functions by removing heat from your indoor spaces and dissipating it to the outside environment through a refrigeration process. This process allows the AC system to cool and dehumidify indoor air, providing comfort during hot weather.

Here’s an overview of the different parts and how they work:

• Refrigerant Circulation: The heart of the outdoor air conditioning unit is the refrigerant, a special chemical that can easily change from a gas to liquid and back again at specific temperatures. The chemical absorbs heat from inside your home and carries it to the outside unit.
• Compressor: This is a vital component of the AC system of the outdoor unit. It pressurizes the low-pressure, low-temperature refrigerant vapor, which then becomes a high-pressure, high-temperature gas.
• Condenser Coil: The high-pressure refrigerant gas then flows through the condenser coil. It’s made up of a network of thin metal tubes called condenser fins. As the hot refrigerant gas passes through the condenser coil, it releases its heat to the surrounding air.
• Fan: The outside unit’s large fan is responsible for drawing in ambient air and blowing it over the condenser coil. This air absorbs the heat from the refrigerant, causing the refrigerant to condense into a high-pressure liquid.
• Expansion Valve: After the refrigerant has turned into a high-pressure liquid, it moves back inside the house through a copper tube and an expansion valve. The valve reduces the pressure of the refrigerant, causing it to become a low-pressure, low-temperature liquid-gas mixture.
• Evaporator Coil: The low-pressure refrigerant then enters the evaporator coil. As warm indoor air passes over the cold evaporator coil, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the air and evaporates, turning it back into a low-pressure gas.
• Air Distribution: The newly cooled and dehumidified air is then distributed throughout the house through the ductwork and vents, giving you a comfortable indoor environment.

Preparing for Cleaning Your Outdoor AC Unit

Before cleaning your outdoor air conditioning system, you need to prepare the following:

• A garden hose with an adjustable nozzle. This is for washing away dirt, debris, and dust from the unit’s exterior.
• A soft-bristled brush. You can use this to scrub away stubborn dirt and debris that the hose can’t reach.
• A vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment. This can be used to vacuum any loose dirt or debris that has fallen off the unit.
• A screwdriver: You need this to open the grill and access the fan.
• A mild detergent. The detergent helps break down grease and other stubborn residues that the brush can’t get rid of.
• A pair of safety glasses. You need to protect your eyes from any debris that may be kicked up while cleaning.
• A ladder. This may be necessary if the outside unit is mounted high up on a wall.

How to Clean Outside AC Unit: A Step-by-Step Cleaning Process

Turn off the power

For safety reasons, you need to turn off the power of the air conditioner as well as its circuit breaker. This also ensures that you won’t accidentally damage any electrical components while cleaning.

Clearing debris around the AC unit

Clear away any debris such as leaves, twigs, or other objects that can block the airflow. Then using a garden hose, spray water around the AC unit’s exterior. Use only a gentle stream so you don’t damage the AC unit.

Removing the top grill and fan

Next, use the screwdriver to remove the top grill of the outside AC unit to access the fan and blades. The screws are located around the AC unit. You’ll also need to unscrew the fan so you can clean it properly.

Cleaning the fan blades

You can then use a soft brush or vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment to get rid of any dirt that has accumulated on the fan blades.

Cleaning the condenser coils and fins

The condenser coils and fins are the most important parts of your AC unit. To clean them, use a soft brush to wipe away any dirt, dust, and debris that may have accumulated. You can also use a condenser coil cleaner for any stubborn dirt.

Make sure as well to check for any signs of damage or wear and tear on the condenser coils.

Straightening bent fins with a fin comb

If you find any bent condenser fins, you can use a fin comb to straighten them out. This will help make sure there’s no obstruction to the airflow.

Checking the condensate drain

To check if water is drained properly from the AC unit, pour water into the condensate drain. The water should flow freely if there aren’t any blockages or debris.

Additional Tips and Best Practices When Cleaning Outside AC Unit

Here are additional tips for cleaning the outdoor unit of your AC:

• Clean it regularly. This will help prevent dirt, debris, and dust from accumulating and blocking airflow.
• Avoid using harsh chemicals. Using harsh chemicals can damage the unit’s exterior and also affect the electrical components.
• Be careful not to bend the fins. The condenser fins are delicate and can be easily bent, which can cause problems with its performance.
• Call a professional: If you’re not comfortable cleaning the unit yourself, call a professional like Air Worth. You can leave it to the experts to clean the unit thoroughly and safely.

Seasonal Maintenance and Scheduling of Your Outdoor AC Unit

Here are additional tips for cleaning the outdoor unit of your AC:

• Clean it regularly. This will help prevent dirt, debris, and dust from accumulating and blocking airflow.
• Avoid using harsh chemicals. Using harsh chemicals can damage the unit’s exterior and also affect the electrical components.
• Be careful not to bend the fins. The condenser fins are delicate and can be easily bent, which can cause problems with its performance.
• Call a professional: If you’re not comfortable cleaning the unit yourself, call a professional like Air Worth. You can leave it to the experts to clean the unit thoroughly and safely.

Troubleshooting Common Issues of Outdoor AC Units

When it comes to outdoor units, here are a few common problems that you may encounter and how you can troubleshoot them.

Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings

According to data, 90% of Americans use AC units and consume 6% of the energy the country produces, translating to around $29 billion in expenses.

That’s a lot of money. The good news is, there are tangible benefits that you get from choosing the right HVAC system and regular maintenance

The Department of Energy estimates that keeping your air filter clean can reduce your energy use by 5% to 15%. The same data shows that using energy-efficient air conditioning systems can reduce energy costs by 20% to 50%.

Aside from cost savings, you also get the following benefits:

Have Your Air Conditioning Unit Maintained by Professionals

Although you can clean your AC unit yourself, it’s still best to have it serviced by professionals. And this becomes more important when you’re experiencing issues that you can’t troubleshoot.

Calling on Air Worth Heating and Cooling for regular maintenance or servicing is the best thing you can do for your peace of mind. With over 25 years of experience, we’ve built lasting relationships in Texas communities that trust us to keep their homes and workspaces comfortable.

Visit our website to schedule a visit now.