Once you complete the maintenance and reassemble the unit, restore the power.

Remove Debris

Once a month, head to youroutside unitand visually inspect the area around it.

Remove any debris on and around the unit, including mulch, leaves, sticks, and more.

air conditioner tips

Capelle.r / Getty Images

As this debris builds up, it can block the unit’s airflow, which will compromise performance.

If specified, rinse off the cleaner.

After cleaning the coils, use a fin straightening tool to gently straighten the fins.

It may take a few passes to straighten severely crushed fins.

Over time, the condensate drain can get clogged and it must be cleaned out.

Take time once every few months to inspect the condensate drain and do a light cleaning.

Some AC condensate drains are fitted with a tee for easy cleanout.

Just like the outside coil, the evaporator coil should be inspected and cleaned about every three months.

You may need to remove another interior cover to see the evaporator coils.

Use a flashlight to inspect the coils and gauge how dirty they are.

After cleaning the evaporator coil, clean the entire area beneath the coil and unclog the drain.

Want more home reno project tips and inspiration?

Additionally, handling refrigerant requires licensing in many regions.

The frequency with which these tasks should be completed will vary from household to household.