How To Clean Your AC Condenser

Air conditioning is a modern luxury that is hard to live without, no matter how complicated it can be. Each part of your AC, from the ductwork and vents to the drain line and AC condenser, is vital to its operation. However, many common AC problems come from the outside condenser unit. Understandably, you may struggle with how to clean your AC condenser.

Turn off your AC condenser unit and clear the area around it before you clean it. Next, you must take out the screws and remove the panels. Turn on a hose, keep the pressure low, and spray the condenser fins. Finally, you must use an AC fin brush or dish brush to remove dirt, dust, grime, and debris from the fins.

Never attempt to clean your AC condenser unit without turning the power off, as that is quite dangerous. Keep track of the screws and the order of the panels, or else it will be hard to put the unit back together. Follow along as we explore how to clean your AC condenser unit.

What Happens If An AC Condenser Is Dirty?

A dirty AC condenser cannot properly transfer heat as it’s supposed to. Once this happens, the condenser will stay hot, and cold air won’t circulate throughout your home. Not only does this render the system ineffective, but it can also cause long-term damage.

Your return registers may not blow cold air, but you’ll still spend as much to run your AC. That’s why you must clean your AC condenser unit right away before the problem gets worse. Otherwise, your HVAC system will work unnecessarily hard, and it can shave years off its lifespan.

How To Clean A Condenser Unit

1. Turn It Off

You must turn off your AC’s outside unit before you clean the condenser. Otherwise, you risk suffering a dangerous electric shock. The easiest way to turn your AC condenser off is to flip the switch on your HVAC disconnect box to the “off” position.

This box is typically located on an exterior wall near the condenser unit. Otherwise, you can turn it off via the circuit breaker in your home.

2. Make It Accessible

Once the power is off, you must take a few steps to make your AC condenser accessible. First, you must remove the screws from the outside of the condenser unit. The easiest way to do this is with a drill, but you can use a screwdriver as well.

Place the screws in a small bag or even in your pocket to keep track of them, as you’ll need them later. Next, you must move to the back of the condenser unit and carefully remove each of the panels. It helps to set the panels down in order, so that you can easily put them back on later.

Exercise caution during this step, as you can damage the condenser unit’s fins. Your AC will only cool your house properly if the fins are clean and intact.

3. Clear The Area

Before you clean the condenser fins, you must clear the surrounding area. After all, condenser units often get dirty because of leaves, debris, and nearby plants. Rake and remove leaves near your condenser unit and remove any debris you find.

It’s also a great idea to trim branches near the condenser unit. Otherwise, sticks and leaves will continue to fall into the unit and disrupt your HVAC system. Pull nearby weeds and spray the area with a weed killer if weeds frequently grow near your condenser unit.

4. Inspect The Unit

It’s important to inspect the inside of your AC condenser unit before you clean it. This can tell you how badly in shape the unit is, and whether or not it’s even worth cleaning. AC condenser units last an average of 15 years or between 10 and 20 years.

Condenser units are sometimes prone to mold and mildew, but this usually happens when they are old. It’s not worth it to clean your AC condenser if it’s 15 to 20 years old and full of mold. This makes the air in your home dangerous to breathe. You’d only be able to keep the unit for a few years at most if you clean it when it’s that old.

5. Wash The Fins

Now it’s time to wash your condenser fins if the unit is in good shape and isn’t too old. This is often the first step when HVAC technicians make service visits to their customers’ homes for condenser problems. Attach a gentle nozzle to a hose and keep the water pressure low so you don’t damage the fins.

Carefully spray the unit and take breaks as you go so you don’t oversaturate them. This will wash away and loosen a lot of the grime on the fins. Once the grime and debris are loose, you must turn off the hose and switch to a brush.

Keep in mind that you must spray the water into the unit from the top. Don’t spray the fins directly, or you will create a mess and may damage your AC condenser unit.

6. Use A Brush

Today, you can find cheap AC fin combs meant specifically for cleaning condenser units. That said, you can use a brush meant for scrubbing dishes, and it’s nearly as effective as an AC fin comb. Make sure to make vertical strokes going up and down.

Horizontal strokes aren’t nearly as effective, and they can scatter debris throughout the unit. Wipe the brush off with a towel after every few strokes. Otherwise, you may continually spread old grime back onto the condenser fins.

7. Dislodge Debris

There’s a strong chance that your AC condenser unit is full of debris, especially if you haven’t cleaned it recently. Place a bucket or yard waste bag by the unit and put on a pair of thick gloves. Reach into the unit and carefully dislodge as much debris as you can reach.

This is just as important as cleaning the fins, as debris can make your AC condenser run poorly. You may even need to use a shop vacuum to dislodge stubborn debris. Take the opportunity to inspect and straighten the fins if they appear bent and damaged.

8. Put The Unit Back Together

Now it’s time to put your condenser unit back together. Hopefully, you kept track of the screws and panel order, or else this may take some troubleshooting. The panels for condenser units are like puzzles, in that you must put each piece together in a specific order.

Carefully put the panels back together in the opposite order that you removed them. Put the screws in place as you put each panel back, then secure them when they are all there. Finally, you can turn your AC’s power back on and run your HVAC system as usual.

How Often Should You Clean Your AC Outside Unit?

Ideally, you should clean your AC outside condenser unit twice per year. That’s especially true if your yard has many trees and plants that produce a lot of pollen. Because of their location, outside units are also prone to pest infestations, whether it be bugs or rodents.

DIY-savvy homeowners can clean their AC condenser units without professional help. It typically costs $250 to hire a professional to clean your AC’s outside unit. However, you can expect to pay more if it is severely dirty and damaged.

Summing It Up

Shut off your AC’s power, unscrew the top of the condenser unit, and remove the panels starting from the back. Next, you must spray the fins with low-pressure water and scrub them with an AC fin brush. Put on gloves and remove debris or use a shop vacuum to suck leaves and twigs out of the unit.

Related Guides:

• Why Is My AC Not Blowing Cold Air?
• AC Condenser Fan Motor Replacement Cost