It will soon be time to run the air conditioner. Is yours ready? (May 28, 2002)

It will soon be time to run the air conditioner. Is yours ready?

Now is the time to get your air conditioner ready for this summer’s heat and humidity. If you have central air conditioning go outside and make sure your cooling unit (condenser) doesn’t have a bunch of leaves and debris around it. If you have planted bushes or other plants around it make sure they are trimmed back and give the unit plenty of air. Get coil cleaner and clean the coils and fins well. If the fins are bent, get a fin comb or use a plastic knife and straighten them. It’s very important that the cooling unit gets plenty of air and you are not overworking the air conditioner because of lack of air movement.

Now lets go to the furnace and change the furnace filter. Make sure you keep a good clean filter in the furnace. Just a reminder, the arrows on the filter go towards the fan motor. You should have a hose that drains the condensation out of the furnace. This usually goes to a floor drain. Make sure the hose is open and that the water can drain freely.

If you have a window unit go outside and make sure the cooling fins are clean and open. If they are bent, use a coil comb or plastic knife to straighten out. Clean the coil well with coil cleaner and make sure the drain hole in the bottom of the unit is open and clean. Now go inside and clean or replace the filter. Make sure the fins on the cooling coil are clean and not bent. Stay cool this summer! If you have a question just email The Hardware Guy and watch for an answer.

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