Tip of the week: How to prep an air conditioner for summer

Change the filter; Clean everything else; Check for leaks

Change the filter. The filter on an AC unit is supposed to be changed once a month anyway. On a central-air system, you typically have to remove a metal panel to get to it. A window unit sometimes has a permanent filter that should be cleaned with a mixture of vinegar and water.

Clean everything else. Check that the condensation drain isn’t blocked, and use an algaecide if needed. Turn off power to an outside unit and clean the coils with a hose or a commercial coil cleaner if the unit’s particularly dirty. Wipe the fins off with a soft brush and remove any plants or debris blocking air circulation. If you have a foil-wrapped evaporator located above your furnace, clean that too.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up
Latest Videos FromThe Week