Cleaning the outside coil:
The outside condenser coil needs to be cleaned at least every other year; once a year if you live in an area where there is a high dust problem.
All is required is to take a water hose and a power wash nozzle; start at the top of the coil and in a left to right motion begin flushing the coil working your way down to the bottom. This should be done until you see clean water coming out of the coil.
Some systems have a metal shroud around the coil and may not be accessible if this is the case with your system. It is recommended to let a trained service person do this maintenance procedure.
The area around your heating and cooling system:
The majority of this article has revolved around the split heat pump and or gas systems; much of the maintenance of these systems is the same for package systems. A package heat pump or gas unit is one that is built into one cabinet for heating and cooling and sits outside with the air duct system tied to it.
It is best when mowing around the heating and cooling equipment to always blow away from the system. This will help keep the outside coil from getting dirty as quick and will prevent any foreign objects from hitting the coil and causing a leak.
Keep the grass well trimmed around the unit and free from leaves as well.
It is best if all possible to keep at least a three foot area around the heating and cooling equipment free from clutter. This will allow for servicing the system. The indoor air handlers need a three foot clearance in front of the service panels as well (This is a standard HVAC code in most states). This is for the removal if necessary of large parts like the fan motor or indoor coil.
Having your equipment professionally serviced:
The tips in this article are to help you keep down the cost of repairs for your system. Much like an automobile service is the life of the equipment. The tips stated here are not for the purpose to neglect having your heating and cooling equipment serviced by train service professional but to aid you in keeping down any service related problems due to the lack of maintenance. Some service calls can be avoided by proper maintenance.
Even though you may be doing these few service tips it is still best to have your equipment serviced every other year. Electrical connections need inspection and refrigerant charges need to be maintained and several other components need inspection and replaced before they go bad causing other expensive repairs. With gas or oil systems there needs to be safety checks on the vent system and the heat exchangers to avoid any possible carbon monoxide exposure.
