What maintenance does our central air conditioning unit need prior to the cooling season?
“Maintenance of both the exterior and interior portions of your central air conditioning system is important,” said Gene Meyer, extension mechanical engineer at Kansas State University. “Checking its operation prior to the cooling season can prevent system failures and also improve your unit’s efficiency. Meyer offered the following tips for exterior maintenance: • Shut off the electrical power to the unit. • Check the manufacturer s recommendations for owner maintenance. • Check the condensing unit for accumulation of grass clippings and tree “fuzz” or debris. • Clean the condensing unit as needed, taking care not to damage the fins. • Check for damaged or bent fins on the coil. Some units have guards over the fins, but lawn mowers, hail and children can damage unprotected fins. Use a coil comb, available at hardware stores, to straighten bent fins. For interior maintenance, he suggested these tips: • Oil the blower and motor of the interior unit (blower section). • If belt driven, ch
