A quick tune-up could save your summer—and your energy bill.
Cleaning your outdoor air conditioner unit may seem like a job for professionals, but it’s a task you can perform yourself—with considerable payoff. Not only will it help your air conditioner run and cool your home more efficiently, it will save you money in utility costs. Ultimately, regulating cleaning your outside AC unit contributes to the longevity of the appliance.
Below, our HVAC professionals break down everything you need to know about how to clean an outside AC unit. (Plus, when you should call in the experts.)
Meet the Expert
- Marco Radocaj, home performance expert and owner of Balance HVAC in Vero Beach, FL
- Jacob C. Darrah, marketing director with Bill’s Heating and A/C
- Alex Tisdall, president at Pioneer Heating, Cooling & Plumbing in Nashville, TN
- Micah Sherman, virtual HVAC expert at Frontdoor
The Importance of Cleaning an Outside AC Unit
The coil around the outside component of your air conditioning system (the condensing coil) removes the heat from the air being circulated in the home. “Unlike the inside evaporator coil, there is no filter to protect the coil from the buildup of dirt, dirt, and debris,” explains HVAC expert Marco Radocaj. This makes routine cleaning vital.
According to Radocaj, if the condensing coil gets too dirty, it becomes less effective at removing the unwanted heat due to restricted airflow. Eventually, this excessive heat will impact the cooling performance inside the home. This can compromise the operation of the compressor and, as a result, could call for costly repairs…