Summer is knocking on our door. As we get into this spring season we need to be thinking about preparing our AC unit for the summer heat. The more attention you show now can help avoid frustrating breakdowns in the heat of the summer.
Before you begin maintenance on the unit be sure to shut off all energy sources. starting with the breaker in the house, the circuit breaker outside, and also if there is a switch on the unit. Allow about 40 minutes after disconnecting the power to give the capacitor time to lose its charge.
The first place to start is cleaning around the outside unit itself. Making sure to clear away build-up and debris that may have accumulated over the long cold winter season. Use a shop vac to vacuum out the filter areas, best to start the season out with all-new filters. You can spray from the inside out of the condenser to ensure that you have cleaned out all the dust and dirt but be sure to avoid spraying the electrical components and allow plenty of drying time before restoring power to the unit. Hire an HVAC professional to inspect your thermostat, compressor and to recharge your freon. After all this, you should be ready to take on the heat.