The outdoor unit of the air conditioner may not always be in front and center of your eyes, but that does not mean it serves no purpose and requires no care. The outdoor unit of the AC is known as the compressor unit, and it is an integral part of your AC. It pulls in the air from the atmosphere to draw away heat and cool your home. The operating efficiency of the outdoor unit depends, to a very large extent, on its cleanliness. Since the compressor unit is always installed outdoors, it is normal for dust and debris to accumulate around and over it. Keeping the outdoor air conditioning unit free from debris should, therefore, be every homeowner’s top priority.
Why Keep The Outdoor Air Conditioning Unit Free From Debris
The dust and debris accumulating over and around the compressor unit restrict the flow of air over the condenser coils that are inside. As a result, it fails to draw away the absorbed heat and provides insufficient cooling inside the house. Keeping the unit clean is the only way to ensure that the air moves freely through it.
How To Keep The Outdoor Air Conditioning Unit Free From Debris
Now that you know why it is necessary to keep the outdoor unit clean, let’s see the different ways in which one can achieve this purpose.
1. Do Not Allow Shrubs And Trees To Grow Around It – Trees and shrubs growing in close proximity to the condenser unit are often the biggest cause of accumulations. Dried leaves and twigs along with broken branches collect around the outdoor unit forming piles that restrict the airflow. A good practice is to ensure that there are no plants, shrubs, or trees growing around the AC unit. If there are any, you would want to keep them short and trim so that they do not interfere with the working of the air conditioner. You can either do this yourself or ask your gardener to maintain them.
2. Cage It Or Put A Fence Around It – A cage or a fence around the outdoor AC unit not only ensures its safety but also serves the purpose of keeping accumulations at bay. Even windblown trash and other materials will not find its way inside. If they do, it would usually be in small quantities and not large enough to cause any harm or damage. Nonetheless, it does not mean that if a cage or fence is set around it, you can go back to ignoring the outdoor unit. It just means that the homeowner does not have to worry about cleaning it constantly. You can simply follow a once a quarter cleaning schedule, which would otherwise have been monthly.
3. Regularly Clean The Unit – Make a routine of cleaning the outdoor unit. Please don’t wait for it to become filthy before taking action. Regularly cleaning the unit means that it will never get dirty enough to hamper the smooth functioning of the air conditioner. Being proactive will hold you in good stead and allow you to enjoy the cool confines of your home. Keeping the outdoor AC unit clean is very easy. All you need are a few dry rags and a brush with soft bristles. Use the brush to gently dust the exterior of the unit along with the fins and use the rags to clean the loosened dust. Always switch off the power supply to the AC prior to undertaking its cleaning.
4. Covers – During the season, you can use PVC screens coated with polyester mesh to keep leaves, grass clippings, and trash out of the outdoor unit. Similarly, during the off-season or at that time, when the AC is not in use, you can cover the unit with a water-resistant fabric. It provides comprehensive protection to the condenser unit.
5. AC Maintenance – As a part of the air conditioners maintenance, the outdoor unit is inspected. Along with an intensive once over, it also gets a professional cleaning. This cleaning is important because it thoroughly cleans the unit, which is something that homeowners cannot do. At best, the homeowners can just give it a basic superficial cleaning. Only professional HVAC technicians have the know-how and tools to give the condenser unit a proper cleaning. So give due importance to the AC maintenance or tune-up schedule. Don’t skip on it.
What Happens When The Air Conditioning Unit Is Not Kept Free From Debris?
As we mentioned above, when there is dust inside the unit and accumulations around it, the flow of air becomes, at best, sluggish or restricted. Now think of your AC as the home’s breathing mechanism. When it cannot breathe freely, it is bound to develop problems. These problems manifest themselves in different ways, like:
- Uneven cooling
- Poor flow of air indoors.
- Freezing of the coils.
- Overheating of the system.
- Frequent tripping of the circuit breaker.
None of these occurrences are good for the well being and longevity of your home’s cooling system. At worst, they can make your air conditioner unit go belly up in the middle of the season. Now that is a completely unacceptable thing.
Conclusion
Though cleaning may sound like a regular and not so important job, it is entirely the opposite. Keeping the air conditioning unit free of debris is very important if you don’t wish to spend on unwarranted repairs and replacement. A regular cleaning schedule will keep the cooling unit humming in pleasure. In spite of that, one needs to adhere to the annual maintenance schedule, so that the unit gets a proper examination and professional cleaning.
Your air conditioner is an expensive investment. Keeping it in good health through timely repairs and maintenance is a wise choice. If you wish to schedule an AC tune-up or repair, call the air experts at Aztil Air Conditioning. We are an elite team of professional air experts, serving in the West Palm Beach area. Our aim is to ensure the well being of your heating and cooling system. We also offer 24/7 emergency services so you don’t have to suffer anymore. To book an appointment call anytime, at +1-888-729-8452.
