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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
Not every broken air conditioner needs to be replaced
Comment cards are a staple in the service industry. There are 100 reasons why companies ask for comments. The company is trying to find out what we are doing right, what we are doing wrong, and bottom line, how we can service the customer better or more effectively. We are attempting to provide customers with the best possible service. Getting feedback from customers can go a long way toward retaining future business and hopefully gaining positive referrals. Recently Hillside received a comment card that we are extremely proud of. A customer’s heat pump/air conditioner was not performing properly. Hillside’s service manager, Jerry, was called out to give a free estimate on replacement. Jerry informed the customer that the unit may not need replacing, simply some minor repairs and adjustments. Our customer’s comment was:
“I value honesty by Hillside!”
Our customer was happy that Jerry was upfront and honest with him, and not simply trying to sell a replacement unit. Many companies feel that the only repair option is a replacement. Rather than send a technician, some companies first send a salesman to give a price for a replacement. This does not seem like the best way to service customers. And this is also why Hillside will continue to leave behind comment cards at all service and installations. Thanks for your time and please keep Hillside in mind if you, family, or friends are in need of any heating or air conditioner service, installations, and replacements.
Hours:
Monday—Friday: 7:30AM–4:30PM
Saturday: 9:00AM–1:00PM (Winter)
Open daily in case you need us.
