Diagnosis
Annual cleaning of two key components is mandatory for efficiency and to prevent errors: the air filter and the condenser coil.
How to Fix It
Clean the condenser coil. This has the biggest impact.
- Turn off power at the breaker.
- Remove the front service panel.
- Use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment to remove surface dust from the aluminum fins of the condenser coil (the one with the thinner fins).
- For heavy dirt, apply a non-acidic, no-rinse coil foam cleaner. Let it sit and foam, then wipe away.
- Vacuum or wash the reusable air filter and let it dry completely before reinstalling.
If That Didn't Work
If performance is still poor after cleaning, check the evaporator coil (the colder, bulkier coil) for a mat of dust. It's harder to access but can be carefully vacuumed.
Heads Up
Never use a metal brush or high-pressure water on the coils—you'll bend the fins and ruin airflow. The evaporator coil gets wet during operation, so it's mostly self-cleaning. Focus 90% of your effort on the condenser coil.