As you prepare your list of summer home maintenance tasks to embark on, don't forget to include cleaning the HVAC unit. The good news is you can do most of the cleaning chores yourself and save the extra money you would have spent to have an HVAC professional do them. Follow the HVAC cleaning procedure below:
Turn off power
Start by shutting off the electrical power to the exterior unit at the shut-off box near it. Also, turn off the power indoors at the breaker box.
Vacuum away all the debris
Remove the exterior unit's fan cage using a wrench or screwdriver and vacuum debris such as grass clippings and leaves from the interior.
Clean and straighten fins
Spray through them from the inside out using a garden hose with moderate water pressure. Carefully realign any crushed or bent fins with a butter knife.
Clear the area around the outside unit
Replace the unit's fan cage then remove any debris around your unit. Cut back any vegetation nearby. Leave at least two feet of clear space in all directions to promote airflow around your unit.
Clean the evaporator coil
You may have to remove a few bolts or screws and some duct tape before finding the coil. Dust it off with a soft brush then spray it with a no-rinse coil cleaner.
Clean the drain pan
Use hot water, some bleach, and soap to clean the pan. Next, pour a cup of 50-50 mix of bleach and water down the drain. If the solution doesn't drain easily, attach the hose of your vacuum to the end of the drain line. Switch on the vacuum for about three minutes to clear any biological matter.
Replace the filter
Open the door to your indoor unit's filter enclosure, remove the filter and install a new one. Close the door and restore power to your system.
Cleaning your HVAC system helps you extend its life and save money. For more HVAC cleaning tips, contact us at Air Assurance. We've been serving the Broken Arrow area since 1985.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HVAC cleaning and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.