How Summer Yard Work Affects HVAC Systems

The outdoor component of your air conditioner is built tough. It’s designed to withstand the forces of nature, including snow, wind, hail and driving rain. But that doesn’t mean it can’t benefit from a bit of A/C maintenance. Here’s how to include it in your regular yard work duties.

Cleaning Up Around the Condenser

1. Your outdoor condenser needs good air flow to do its job properly. Remove all obstructions around the unit. Cut grass and weeds; trim shrubs, leaving a two-foot area around the condenser. Prune any overhanging branches that might fall on the unit during high winds. Keep yard furniture away from the unit; likewise, do not leave tools or any other equipment where it might block airflow.

2. Whenever you’re cutting the grass around the unit, make sure the mower is positioned so that grass is being distributed away from the air conditioner fins. You don’t want grass clogging the fins.

3. If you have landscaping with pebbles and rocks around the condenser, remove weeds and other overgrown vegetation by hand. A mower or weed eater might hurl the pebbles into the unit, causing damage.

4. Make sure no twigs or other debris fall into the housing of your outdoor unit that could damage fan blades. Damage to fan blades could cause your condenser to stop working, necessitating extensive repairs.

5. Inspect the concrete slab that the unit sits on. The concrete should be level. Inspect it for cracks and other damage. If it is damaged or uneven, it should be repaired.

6. Spring yard maintenance might also be a good time for you or your HVAC tech to have a look inside the condenser. If you’re comfortable removing the housing, you might examine the unit’s sides for grass or other possible obstructions. Spray the coils gently with a garden hose. Use a vacuum and a soft brush to clean coils and fins. You can use a fin comb to straighten any bent fins.

For more on how your A/C should figure into your yard work, contact C.R. Wolfe Heating and Air Conditioning of Middletown.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Middletown, New York about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about summer yard work and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 845-367-4482.