Air Conditioner Maintenance Checklist for Your Home
When the temperature heats up, it’s important to have your home’s air conditioner running at full strength. Some routine upkeep throughout the season or year can help your unit stay afloat and keep you cool. Our AC maintenance checklist below highlights keys tasks you can do heading into the spring and summer.
Change the Filter
Homeowners or HVAC technicians should replace air filters two to three months. Whether it’s capturing dust, dander or allergens, filters are key in keeping your home’s indoor air quality as healthy as possible. They also help extend the life of your air conditioning unit, so the air conditioner runs efficiently and doesn’t drive up energy costs. Make sure to look into the proper MERV rating best suited for your unit.
Check the Air Registers & Ducts
Check the registers and air ducts every three to four months to see if there is an accumulation of dust and debris. If there is indeed a buildup, use a shop vac or standard vacuum with a wand attachment to clear all this out. Cleaning this routinely ensures proper, healthy airflow throughout your home.
Clean Evaporator & Condenser Coils
Both the coils play a vital role in your AC unit. The evaporator coil removes heat and moisture from your home’s interior air while the condenser coil takes heat and releases outside your home. Clean both the evaporator and condenser coils at least once a year to ensure these crucial components keep operating at full strength. With the unit unplugged or turned off from the breaker box, remove dust with a stiff-bristle brush or a shop vac or standard vacuum with a wand attachment. Then, wipe the coils down with warm water, detergent and a soft cloth.
Before you conduct this project, check your air conditioner’s warranty to see if handling this maintenance could void the warranty. If that is the case, you should contact an authorized HVAC technician to clean both components.
Check & Clean the Drain Lines
The drain lines can get clogged over time and should be cleared as needed. It’s best to check these at least once a month and empty the drain pain, which is ultimately the source of clogging the lines. With the air conditioner unplugged or turned off from the breaker box, use a stiff-wire brush to clean out debris near the end of the line. Attach a wet/dry vac at the end of the line and seal it with duct tape. Then turn on the vacuum to suck out any debris to clear the clog.
Schedule Routine HVAC Maintenance
As we mentioned in our gas furnace checklist, you should consider scheduling routine checkups and preventative maintenance with an HVAC technician twice a year. This should be set up whenever the weather changes from hot to cold and vice versa. For instance, many service companies offer packages where they check your air conditioner in the late spring or early summer and furnace in the fall. This helps keep both units in peak condition during operation.
Most routine maintenance packages typically cover some of the tasks above in addition to:
- Cleaning and lubricating blower and condenser fans
- Wiring and electrical components
- Compressor inspection and cleaning