It's HOT Outside... Please Stop Torturing Your Air Conditioner!

If you've stepped outside this week, you've probably noticed it's hot. Not “grab another glass of lemonade” hot. More like “I walked to the mailbox and now I need a shower” hot.

Homeowners remember all kinds of maintenance—lawns, cars, dogs, even houseplants—but the air conditioner often gets ignored until it quits. And on the hottest days of summer, that can get expensive fast.

Your Outdoor Unit Needs to Breathe

The outdoor condenser has thin aluminum fins designed to release heat from inside your home. When those fins get coated with dirt, cottonwood fuzz, grass clippings and pollen, the system has to work harder and run longer to do the same job.

Think of it as trying to run a 5K in a winter coat with a pillow taped to your chest. You might finish, but nobody involved is going to enjoy the experience.

A Little Maintenance Goes a Long Way

With the power to the unit turned off, gently rinse debris from the condenser coils with a garden hose. The important word is gently. A pressure washer can bend the fins and make airflow worse, which is the exact opposite of what we're trying to accomplish.

Keep bushes, weeds and ornamental grasses trimmed back so the unit has room to move air. Then head inside and check the furnace filter. A dirty filter can restrict airflow just as effectively as a dirty condenser.

Houses Are a Lot Like Cars

Most expensive failures don't happen because one part suddenly woke up angry. They happen after lots of small maintenance items get ignored until something finally waves the white flag.

Fifteen minutes of basic condenser maintenance once or twice during cooling season can help your system operate more efficiently and may reduce unnecessary wear. That's a pretty good return for a garden hose and a little elbow grease.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to stand directly in front of an air-conditioning vent for a few minutes and reconsider every life choice that involves being outside in July.

This article is for general information purposes only. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for your equipment and use a qualified HVAC professional when service or repair is needed.