An air conditioner is a valuable piece of equipment, so you want to take precautions to protect it from damage. This presents particular challenges when it comes to your outdoor unit. Neglecting the following could lead to more visits from your HVAC contractor for repairs.

How to Maintain Your Outdoor AC Unit

1. Be Careful With Lawn Equipment

If you’re mowing or weed whacking in the area of your air conditioner, be careful and give it space. You don’t want to throw debris into the vents—and you especially don’t want to damage the outer casing enough to interfere with the moving parts and electronics inside.

2. Trim Branches

If there are plants or bushes around your air conditioner, make sure to trim them frequently to keep them several inches back from the equipment. Leaves and twigs can grow into the vents of your unit, clogging up filters and leading to lower efficiency. 

3. Keep Animals Away

Similarly, mice or birds nesting inside your air conditioning unit or pets making messes on or near it can quickly clog up the works. Keep your pets away from the area and check frequently for wildlife, especially in the spring as animals may have taken up residence there during the winter. If you do have animals inside your unit, call an exterminator first and an HVAC contactor second to repair the damage.

4. Cover It in the Winter

Over the course of a season, snow and ice can accumulate in and on your AC unit, causing rust, corrosion, and freezing damage. To avoid this and discourage animals, tightly cover the unit after you stop using it in the fall. If you’re unsure how to do this or what products to use for coverage, ask your HVAC contractor for assistance. 

5. Wash as Needed

Thankfully, your AC unit is designed to stand up to normal weather conditions, which includes rain. If it hasn’t rained in a while, give your unit a rinse to get rid of any dirt and dust buildup that might get into the machinery.

In addition to DIY maintenance, you should also have an HVAC contractor perform an inspection and any needed air conditioning repairs at least once a year. To schedule, call All Star Heating & Air Conditioning Services in Circleville, OH. This reliable, affordable HVAC contractor offers everything from air conditioning installation to furnace repairs for any brand of equipment in Pickaway County. To take advantage of their 24-hour service, call (740) 477-8778 or get in touch online.