Consists of the outdoor airside, the indoor airside (air cooled and water cooled), and electrical components.
Indoor Unit
The indoor airside will be filter, evaporator and motor maintenance. The filter is very important. It not only cleans your air, but also protects your units evaporator “a coil“. The evaporator works below the dew point temperature so the moisture in the air collects on it, and is carried away through the condensate drain. This is how it dehumidifies the air. The evaporator will stop up if the filter is not cleaned are replaced regularly. Causing low air flow, and freezing up. Not to mention high electric bills. Keep your filter clean or replaced more often when your unit runtime is longer “during hotter weather”.
Blower Motor and Blower Wheel Housing
Blower motor and the blower wheel are located in the inside unit. Turn off all power to the unit. Lock it so it can not be turned on while you are working on it. Vacuum all the dust, dirt and lint from the motor. Cleaning the motor will help it run cooler and last longer. The blower wheel is round with blades. Vacuum it off the best you can. This will help the air flow and lower the amperes that the motor uses “less electricity”. if your motor has plugs on each end at the top remove the plugs and oil with no more than two drops. Electric motor oil is available with a zoom spout “spout pulls out to reach hard to get to places” from most hardware stores.
Evaporator Behind Panel Where the Refrigerant Lines Enter Cabinet
The evaporator is located in the inside unit. Located by where the copper refrigerant lines enter the cabinet. I recommend using the aerosol no rinse coil cleaner available at most hardware/lumber stores. Remove the necessary panels to see both sides of the evaporator coil. If you can only get to one side clean it several times from that side. The condensate will rinse the evaporator as the unit runs. So keep an eye on the condensate drain that it does not stop up from debris cleaned from the evaporator. Follow the directions on the cleaner, apply it. Install all the panels you have removed. Turn the power back on and run the unit.
Outdoor Unit
The outdoor airside maintenance will consist of cleaning the coil. Turn off all power to the unit. Lock it so it can not be turned on while you are working on it. Follow the directions on which ever type of coil cleaner you use. Disconnect the fan motor wires. Discharge any capacitors by touching the terminals all at once with a screwdriver and disconnect. Label all wires and connections as well as write them all down. So you hook them up in the right place. Remove the screws holding the top and then the top. Test your cleaner on one spot to make sure it does not remove the paint. Soak the coil from the outside all the way to the core. Let set as per the directions for that cleaner. Wash from the inside pushing out to the outside ”backwash” with water hose and gentle sprayer “making sure you don't bend the coil fins”. Repeat until you can see light through the coil and it looks clean. Set the top back in place routing the wires the way they were ”not pinched are in way of the fan” put all the screws back in, and hook the wires back up according to your notes and labeling. Let dry, turn the power back on and put back in operation.
I will be writing more air conditioning tips and information in later articles. If you have any questions leave them as comments. I will write a more detailed article on that particular subject. This article is to help your equipment last longer, and reduce your electric bill.
