Outside AC Unit Maintenance Frequency To keep your outdoor air conditioning unit running well, you should do regular maintenance once a year. This is usually in the spring, before it gets hot. You'll need to clear debris, clean parts, and check for problems.
Because your air conditioner's condenser unit is located outside, it's important to take good care of it and protect it from buildup of dirt and debris. The best thing you can do to keep your outside air conditioner unit running efficiently is to have annual maintenance performed by Hydes.
Though there can be a bit of wiggle room, generally speaking, you should have your air conditioner serviced twice yearly: once in the fall and once in the spring. This is to ensure that it's clean, that its parts are in good shape and that it's operating as optimally as possible.
Your outside condenser should be cleaned at least once if not two times a year depending on how hard your air conditioning unit works. Your HVAC professionals or service technicians should do this for you, but it is a relatively simple project any able bodied homeowner can handle.
The outdoor unit gets grubbier than the indoor unit so spraying it with water to clean it is recommended. Both units should be kept clean and dirt-free. If spraying water on your AC units makes you nervous, it's probably because the standard line is that electricity and water don't mix—with good reason.
Unlike furnaces, air conditioners are often outdoors and exposed to extreme temperatures throughout the year, which shortens their life expectancy. Modern air conditioners can last between 15-20 years, and older air conditioners last around 10-12 years.
The AC coil cleaning cost is around $100 to $400 as of 2024, according to Homeguide (for an evaporator coil), and up to $700 to remove and clean the coil. Cleaning the condenser coil costs $75 to $230. ¹ However, there are many ways paying these costs can save you money.
You can absolutely spray water on your air conditioner to clean it. You can use your reliable old garden hose, and you don't even have to be gentle with it. Simply set it to a hard stream and run it over the unit from top to bottom for a thorough cleaning.
Air conditioners can be tricky. It takes a fair bit of experience to diagnose problems. But if all you are doing is routine maintenance like cleaning the outdoor unit of dirt and debris, changing filters and cleaning vents, no special knowledge is required.
Air conditioners are designed for outdoor installation, so an AC unit is made to be able to withstand all types of weather, including harsh winter weather conditions – rain, snow, ice, and other forms of moisture. AC covers are not necessary to protect this equipment as it is sidelined over the winter months.
Regularly cleaning AC coils is a crucial part of air conditioning maintenance. It not only improves the system's efficiency and cooling performance but also contributes to energy savings. Depending on usage, environmental factors, and specific health needs, cleaning the coils every two to six months is recommended.
It's perfectly fine to hose down an air conditioner unit, and it's recommended on a regular basis. A condenser's main function is to draw in air from outside. It also brings in pollen, dirt, leaves, dust, and grass. You can just rinse the unit with running water, rinsing the machine from top to bottom, and it'll work.
Budgeting for AC Coil Cleaning
Along with regular inspections, coil cleaning is a core aspect of regular AC maintenance. Expect to pay $100 to $400 per cleaning. You should get the coils cleaned by an AC pro at least once a year, or more frequently if you live in an area where they accumulate dirt easily.
The outdoor AC unit is one of the system's most important components. You may not think it always running is a bad thing. But if you're asking, “Does the outside AC fan always run?” the answer is “No.” It should not run non-stop.
Cleaning the air conditioner's outside unit is just one of many tasks that need to be done to maintain your system's energy efficiency. To keep your air conditioner clean and energy efficient all season long, schedule professional AC maintenance every spring, which includes cleaning the outdoor condenser unit.
Dirt will make your AC less efficient, which means you'll have higher energy bills each month. Dirt buildup on your AC coils will make it difficult for the system to absorb and dump heat, causing the system to be less efficient. You may even start to feel like your AC is running constantly.
First, check your filters and coils for dirt and debris that may be impeding airflow. Once you've cleaned the filters and coils, run the air conditioner with just the fan so that the ice accumulation can melt off. If the AC still doesn't blow cold air, it could be that refrigerant levels are too low.
Most HVAC technicians recommend that you should never power wash or pressure clean your AC unit in order to prevent any issues caused by debris being kicked up during the process and sprayed over the system. The power of the AC jets can bend fins and coils and breach seals.
The average cost to replace just the outdoor AC unit is around $6,000, but the price could be as low as $4,000 or as high as $15,000 to $20,000.