While annual AC maintenance from an HVAC professional is essential to keep your air conditioning unit operating effectively and efficiently, a few maintenance tasks are easily done on your own. Here are some DIY AC maintenance tips we recommend to St. Louis homeowners interested in tackling minor issues with their AC promptly and saving money on professional AC repair.
If you would rather leave AC maintenance to us, we suggest you sign up for our HVAC maintenance agreement, which assures you regular maintenance as needed year round. For more information, please call us at 314-993-1110. If you would like to book your HVAC maintenance service today, reach out online.
Beginner-Friendly AC Maintenance Tasks
There are few DIY AC maintenance tips as an air conditioning unit is a complex system with many moving parts that must be handled by a trained HVAC technician. A professional AC technician wears protective gear, uses the proper tools, and handles refrigerants in a safe and responsible manner.
Attempting challenging technical maintenance on your AC comes with risks to your safety and your AC unit, which may be damaged during DIY repair, leading to a voiding of the unit’s warranty. Therefore, we suggest attempting no more than the simple AC maintenance tasks explained below:
Replace Air Filters
Air filter replacement every 1-3 months helps maintain your unit’s cooling efficiency and prevents airflow obstruction. AC air filters are placed in a return air grille, either in the ceiling or on a wall, within the system, or in a filter box connected to the system. Some air filters are replaceable, while some can be cleaned and used again.
Read the manufacturer’s instructions for filter cleaning, which may vary depending on the type. Generally, these are the steps to clean an AC filter:
- Turn off your AC.
- Vacuum dust and grime from the filter.
- Soak the filter in a solution of one part water and one part vinegar. After an hour, rinse off the solution with fresh water and let the filter dry fully before returning it to the AC unit. If the filter is big, wash it with a garden hose but don’t use pressurized water as it may damage the filter.
- If the filter has holes or tears, replace it with a new one.
Learn more about how to change air filters.
Check Connections
Visually inspect the connections of your home’s AC to check that there aren’t any loose connections or screws or damaged wires. Listen for any weird sounds from the unit and ductwork.
- A buzzing or hissing sound can indicate a refrigerant leak, an issue with the condenser fan, or an electrical problem.
- A rattling can mean a loose part within the unit or that the motor needs lubrication.
- A squealing sound can be due to worn-out moving parts.
- A high-pitched whistling sound is typically caused by blocked airflow.
- A loud banging indicates that something is broken within the unit and needs repair.
Remove Dust
As far as DIY AC maintenance tips go, wiping off dust and cleaning the exterior surfaces of your AC every few months is both simple and risk-free. Use a wet rag to clean the following surfaces, which can accumulate dust or dirt with time:
- Thermostat
- Return duct grill
- Condensate drain pipe
- The surface of indoor AC unit
Before you begin cleaning your AC indoors, be sure to turn off the power to the unit to ensure safety.
Clean the Outdoor Unit
If the AC system in your St. Louis home has an outdoor unit, it can get dirty due to exposure to the elements. Clean it every few months to prevent debris from building up inside the unit. Here are the steps for proper outdoor AC unit maintenance:
- Turn off the power to your AC unit.
- Remove leaves, twigs, or other debris around the unit.
- Take off the cover of the unit to access the interior.
- Using a soft brush or fin comb, remove any built-up dirt from the fins
- Spray the coils with a hose to wash away dirt and debris. If the coils are dirty, use a commercial AC coil cleaner. For best results, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the coil cleaner.
- Check the drain line for any blockages and clear them, if necessary.
- Reassemble the unit and restore power.
Check out our blog for more DIY AC maintenance tips and perspectives.
Contact Us for AC Maintenance in St. Louis
Learning how to perform basic AC maintenance will save you money in the long run and allow you to address minor issues promptly to avoid costly repairs later. Anything more than the DIY AC maintenance tips explained above should ideally be done by an HVAC technician. Galmiche & Sons is the HVAC company St. Louis home and business owners trust for quality work and friendly service. If you have a need for AC maintenance, call our heating and air conditioning professionals at 314-993-1110 or request a free quote online.
