As a responsible homeowner, you’re likely concerned with the longevity and health of your air conditioning system. As you go to do your regular maintenance on the outdoor compressor, you may be thinking that the easiest route to clean it is to use a power washer. It’s important to think again.
A Power Washer Will Lead to Unintentional Damage
A power or pressure washer provides an immense amount of pressure to the area that you’re washing. Your air conditioning system is composed of some soft metals like copper and aluminum. These types of metals will easily bend under a stream of high-pressure water. These metals have even been shown to create pinholes under significant water pressure.
More specifically, the fins and the coils located inside of your outdoor compressor unit are going to be the most sensitive to high-pressure water. While it’s completely possible to use your power washer to clean the outside of the compressor unit, it’s not highly recommended for the simple fact that you may end up accidentally hitting one of these sensitive internal components while doing so.
How Should Your Unit Be Cleaned?
When it comes to your outdoor compressor unit, you want to be very mindful of how it gets cleaned. The condenser coils, fins, and other interior components should only be cleaned by a licensed air conditioning professional. They will have the knowledge, tools, and expertise to ensure that each component is cleaned correctly and avoids damage in the process.
As a homeowner, it’s imperative that you make sure that you’re trimming back any overgrown shrubs, tree branches, or anything else within a three-foot radius of the compressor unit. Any vegetation or obstructions can reduce the efficiency of your air conditioning system. If the exterior grille cover on your compressor unit becomes filthy, you can clean it with a garden hose and mild detergent.
However, make sure that you turn off the power to the outdoor unit before applying any water to it. While there are many electrical components inside the compressor that do experience rainwater from time to time, they can become damaged in the event of a large influx of water.
Top Reasons to Have Your Condenser Unit Cleaned By a Pro
Since your compressor unit is located outside, it’s very susceptible to accumulating unwanted debris like dirt and leaves. As this debris gets passed on to the condenser coils and the fins, it makes them much less efficient at doing their jobs. For example, the fins on your compressor unit are meant to disperse heat that was transported from the inside of your home to the outdoor compressor unit.
When your fins are all covered with dirt and debris, it can be difficult for that heat to be dispersed into the air naturally. This can cause your system to not be able to remove the majority of the heat from the inside of your home. This will not only leave your family feeling uncomfortable but will have you running your air conditioning system constantly and racking up a high energy bill during the summer. When your compressor unit gets cleaned on a regular basis, it helps to get rid of that unwanted debris before it causes any long-term damage to the components of your compressor unit.
Many homeowners are surprised to discover that the warranty contracts on their air conditioning systems require them to get annual maintenance. Whenever you need warranty work performed, you will need to be able to show proof that a licensed professional serviced your unit each year. Additionally, this service will drastically reduce your risk of experiencing an unexpected breakdown over the hot summer months.
If your unit is left to go without regular cleaning, it can become the perfect environment for unwanted biological growth. You can end up getting mold, fungi, and mildew all over your system’s components, which can decrease their efficiency and overall life expectancy. Not to mention that this unwanted biological growth can spread to the areas surrounding your compressor unit, like shrubs, rocks, soil, and so forth.
Professional AC Services
Texas Pride offers professional air conditioning services for the whole Houston, TX area. We can also help with all of your heating, commercial, indoor air quality, and air purification needs. Call us today to get a technician on the way to your home.