by Shawn Chesney | May 17, 2016 | Shawn Chesney Home Inspections Blog
Air-Conditioning Systems A building’s central air-conditioning system must be periodically inspected and maintained in order to function properly. While an annual inspection performed by a trained professional is recommended, homeowners can do a lot of the work themselves by following the tips offered here. Clean the Exterior Condenser Unit and Components The exterior condenser unit is the large box located on the side of the house that’s designed to push heat from the indoors to the outdoors. Inside of the box are coils of pipe that are surrounded by thousands of thin metal “fins” that allow the coils more surface area to exchange heat. Follow these tips when cleaning the exterior condenser unit and its inner components — after turning off power to the unit, of course. Remove any leaves, spider webs and other debris from the unit’s exterior. Trim foliage back several feet from the unit to ensure proper air flow. Remove the cover grille to clean any debris from the unit’s interior. A garden hose can be helpful for this task. Straighten any bent fins with a tool called a fin comb. Add lubricating oil to the motor. Check your owner’s manual for specific instructions. Clean the evaporator coil and condenser coil at least once a year. When they collect dirt, they may not function properly. Inspect the Condensate Drain Line Condensate drain lines collect condensed water and drain it away from the unit. They’re located on the side of the inside fan unit. Sometimes there are two drain lines—a primary drain line that’s built into the unit, and a secondary drain line that can drain if the...
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