Spring Cleanup: Protect Your A/C Unit from Damage
Protect your A/C unit from damage
Spring is in full swing. Everything is blossoming, and the grass is growing like crazy! How does your air conditioning unit look? Is it able to “breathe”? If your AC unit is covered in dust, pollen, leaves or grass clippings, it might be struggling for air. If air can’t easily be drawn into your AC unit, then it will not function as efficiently as it should. Here are some common issues that interfere with your AC unit’s ability to work properly:
- Dirt, seeds or pollen clogging the exterior or coils
- Grass clippings blown into the AC unit, clogging coils and preventing proper air flow
- Overgrown shrubs or plants touching the AC unit and blocking air flow
- Rocks or sticks jamming the fan
- AC electrical line clipped by a weed eater, cutting power to the HVAC system
You can take some minor precaution to prevent major damage or disruption to your air conditioner. Trim shrubs and plants away from the AC unit using some gardening shears or a pruning tool. Remove and/or transplant plantings that have outgrown the space near your AC unit.
When mowing or using a weed eater to trim grass or weeds within a few feet of your AC unit, temporarily cover the unit and its electrical line with a tarp. Remove the tarp as soon as you’re finished so that the unit can “breathe” again.
If dirt or pollen is visible on the AC unit’s exterior and just inside it on the coils, you can clean some of this off yourself. First, shut off the power to the AC unit. Gently remove pollen or dust with a dry, soft-bristled paintbrush so as not to crush the delicate coils. Hose off the exterior of the unit using a gentle spray of water to remove dirt from the exterior metal casing. If any large pieces of debris are lodged in the coils, give us a call to remove them and to check the coils for damage.
Next winter, cover the top of your AC unit with a loose piece of plywood or a breathable material to keep icicles and piles of snow out of your AC unit. No need to tarp it. Don’t forget to remove the plywood in the spring, before you begin using your air conditioner again.
Give Hillside HVAC a call today so you can be prepared this summer! DE: 302-738-4144. In MD: 410-398-2146
If you notice warm air blowing or frost and ice on your central air conditioner lines, those may be symptoms of low refrigerant. Sometimes a central air conditioner needs a charge of refrigerant, most commonly called Freon. Even though units sometimes require a refrigerant refill, this does not mean that your central air conditioner “uses” refrigerant. The refrigerant is the primary product that a system uses to transfer heat from inside to outside your home. When the refrigerant is low that means there is a leak somewhere in your system. The outdoor portion of your A/C system is susceptible to wear and tear from outdoor elements and critters. Most times these leaks are minuscule and not visible to the naked eye.
As we move further into spring, the outdoor temperature fluctuations that cause us to flip-flop the thermostat between “heat” and “cool” are occurring less frequently. Let’s get ready for full-time cooling. First, change that filter, then go outside and hose off the air conditioning unit, if needed, to clear it of excess pollen or leaves that have collected there. This will allow your A/C unit to “breathe.” Or better yet, let Hillside 
Spring 2014 Contest – Win a Central A/C Tune-Up
Most of us got a taste of the summer to come this past weekend. As gorgeous as it was outside, it was apparent that the hot and sweaty days are just around the corner. We’re not crazy, just planning ahead. Schedule your central air conditioner tune-up now and be fully prepared for that first 90-degree day. Oh yeah, it’s coming. Hillside HVAC does air conditioner tune-ups for just $99. We will clean the condenser coil and the indoor coil (where accessible), oil and inspect motors, inspect wiring and tighten electrical connections, clear the condensate drain line, check supply and return air temperatures, and more. Don’t get caught off-guard when warm weather arrives. Give us a call, and we’ll make sure you’re ready.
Hillside has had several people this summer already receive referral credits by referring neighbors, friends, or family to Hillside. Even though it seems like an odd time to think about heating your home, now is the best time, be prepared so the heating season does not take you by surprise. Our referral program is a simple one…refer someone for our heating oil services and receive $50. A referral for a heating and/or air conditioning installation pays $100. Keep Hillside and our referral program in mind the next time you are talking to neighbors, friends, or family members. All the details are found 
