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Today's News and Features

Simple Tips to Keep Your A/C Chillin' All Summer Long

Friday, May 18, 2018

By John Voket Once the summer heat is upon us, there is no cool time for an air conditioner to quit. Here are few tips to keep your central and window air conditioners in tip-top shape.

For central A/C systems, Don Vandervort, blogger for HomeTips, advises scooping leaves and debris out of the base of the condenser, and, if it has a drain, make sure the drain is clear. He says to use the vacuum and a rag to clean the blower's fan blades. Then, tighten any loose mounting bolts, and, if the fan motor has oil ports, put a few drops of lightweight oil or spray WD-40 into the ports for lubrication. Mop up any excess water inside the unit, and then reassemble the condenser.

When it comes to window units, Ashley Eneriz at The Hartford, an insurance company, says investing 20 minutes at the beginning of the summer will help keep your air conditioners running efficiently.

First, she says, unplug your unit and clean the filter. The filter is located right behind the front grill that blows air into your room.

If it's a paper filter, replace it, and if your window unit has a mesh filter, clean it with warm, soapy water and let it dry thoroughly. If you notice any mold on the filter or grill, wash it in a solution of bleach and water.

Then, clean the evaporator coil and condenser coil with a soft vacuum brush. The evaporator coil is behind the filter and the condenser coil is behind the compressor.

Finally, Eneriz says wipe down the outside of the unit and check the window seal for cracks or wear. If there is a gap, add adhesive-backed foam weather stripping inside the gap to ensure a proper seal.

Depending on how often you use your window A/C during the summer, Eneriz says you should clean the unit once or twice more before autumn.

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