To understand why youll want a clean condenser its important to know precisely what the condenser does. The job of the condenser is actually easy to understand, in easy terms it facilitates heat transfers.
In many air conditioning systems, the condenser is often located outside the house or condominium. Because of the location, condensers often have problems with gathering dirt and debris from the environment. A fan is located in the condenser whose job it is to move air across the coil. One of the things you should do is clean the coil on the intake side. Before you power down the air conditioner, check to see which direction the air is moving across the coils For Info .
For your condenser to work properly, the space needs to be cleared around it. You can easily use grass shears or pruners to cut down any grass, weeds or any other natural material that is close to your condenser hampering air flow. As a rule of thumb, its good to have at least 2 -3 feet of unobstructed space around your unit.
Clean The Condenser with commercial grade cleaner. You can easily purchase commercial coil cleaner at most fridge supply stores and the directions are marked plainly on the back of the bottle. Make sure you flush the coil clean and not use a hose. After cleaning, let dry.
Brush the fins once the coils are clean making use of a soft brush to wipe off any accumulated dirt that has collected on the fins. Oftentimes youll have to remove a protective covering to gain access to the blades. Avoid using a hose since the water can easily turn the dirt into sticky grime and compact it between the fins. Because fins are made of light gauge aluminum and they are easily damaged, make certain you do this very carefully. Fin combs can be found at most major appliance parts stores. Even while making use of the fin comb, be extremely careful so as not to damage the fins.
Check the pad your condenser sits on. With a carpenters level, make sure the pad is totally level. An uneven pad can easily create severe issues. If its unleveled for any reason, lift the pad with a pry bar and put rocks, gravel or even a piece of 2 x 4 to level it off again.
Your condenser needs to be safeguarded in the fall and winter from leaf blockage and ice damage. During off seasons, cover the condenser with a sheet made to fit the form of your specific unit. Oftentimes heavy plastic with a tough cord can do the trick.
For compressors that need more than a cleaning or that have serious issues such as faulty electric motors or any kind of damage to the compressor, its smartest to contact a qualified repairman.