DIY AC Maintenance: Top Tips and Tricks

When temperatures heat up, homes all over Los Angeles and the surrounding counties rely on their central air conditioning to stay cool. One of the best ways to ensure your cooling system is operating efficiently is to perform DIY AC maintenance. Even though professional maintenance is available, you can have the luxury of completing simple air conditioner upkeep on your own.

From simple repairs to new installations, our technicians at Monkey Wrench are experts at working with air conditioning systems. In addition to performing advanced maintenance on ACs, we also share do-it-yourself (DIY) tips that homeowners can use to maintain their cooling systems.

In this article, we’ll highlight tips and tricks for DIY AC maintenance, including:

• Replacing air filters
• Cleaning surfaces
• Inspecting connections
• Cleaning outside unit

After reading through the different maintenance tips, you’ll know how to care for your AC and keep your home cool during hot weather.

Ready? Let’s get started!

What Maintenance Should I Do on My Air Conditioner?

DIY AC maintenance is limited to a few services due to the difficulty and expertise required to perform more advanced maintenance that only professionals can complete. Homeowners who attempt to do more technical maintenance on their ACs risk accidentally damaging their units and possibly voiding their warranty.

Aside from damaging parts within a cooling system, homeowners may injure themselves if they attempt to perform more challenging maintenance on their air conditioners.

Still, most homeowners can complete a few beginner-friendly maintenance services on their own, starting with air filter replacement.

Air Filter Replacement

One of the best preventative maintenance measures you can take is replacing your cooling system’s air filter. It’s recommended that air filters be replaced every one to three months. Replacing air filters helps air conditioners maintain cooling efficiency and prevent airflow obstruction.

Air filters can be found along walls, ceilings behind a removable grill facing a room, within the system, or in a filter box connected to the system. Some filters are replaceable, whereas others are reusable and must be washed clean. All air filters use the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) ratings that demonstrate how effectively they stop tiny particles from passing through.

Here’s a look at the six different types of air filters available.

• HEPA: High-Efficiency Particulate Air filters, or HEPA filters for short, can remove 99.7% of pollutants. These specialized filters are great for people with respiratory conditions and sensitive allergies. They have a longer lifespan and can last 6 to 12 months, requiring replacement once or twice a year.
• UV: Ultra-violet air filters are more of an addition to heating and cooling systems because they use UV lamps to kill off bacteria, viruses, and bacterial growth. The UV lights need to be replaced every 9 to 14 months. The only downside is that they can cost extra to install, and AC units will still need a traditional air filter to capture physical contaminants.
• Pleated: Using polyester or cotton folds, pleated air filters can provide a wider surface area to capture more pollutants. Pleated filters should be typically replaced every one to three months.
• Fiberglass: These air filters are made of woven glass. They are inexpensive but can capture dust, dandruff, and other debris. It’s recommended that they be replaced monthly.
• Electrostatic: Reusable and washable, these air filters use paper and cotton to generate electrostatic to attract debris. They can be cleaned every three to six months and reused for years.
• Media: Thicker than other air filters, media filters help prevent airflow obstruction by capturing plenty of dust and debris with their greater surface area.

Regardless of which air filter you choose, one thing is certain: Neglecting to replace your air conditioner’s air filters can result in problems with your cooling system. As dust and debris accumulate, the central AC can experience problems with internal parts and early breakdowns.

Air filters are highly effective at capturing plenty of contaminants and debris, but the dust can still appear on the unit. Luckily, cleaning the surfaces of your central AC system is another excellent example of DIY maintenance.

Wiping Surfaces

Homeowners can also wipe off dust and clean the visible surfaces of their AC units every few months. As people come in and out of a home, the surfaces of air conditioners will get dusty. Luckily, with an old wet rag or a cleansing wipe, homeowners can clean the following surfaces of a central AC system.

• The return duct grill that covers the air filter
• Thermostat
• The surface of the indoor AC unit, if accessible
• Condensate drain pan (helps prevent mold buildup)

Always be gentle when cleaning the AC unit to avoid accidentally using excessive force and damaging parts. When using any wipe or wet cloth, be sure to let the surface dry and avoid any electrical components.

As you’re cleaning your air conditioner, you can simultaneously complete another AC DIY maintenance by inspecting the connections and condition of your cooling system.

Checking Connections

You can visually inspect the connections of your home’s central cooling system to ensure there aren’t any damaged wires or loose connections and screws. Besides visual inspections, you can also pay extra attention to any strange sounds from the unit and ductwork.

Be on the lookout for any water leaks or bad odors coming from the air conditioner that could indicate mold. If you find any possible issues, take pictures and video to show a technician when they come to investigate any problems with your central AC.

Even if no issues are found, it’s important to continue inspecting and documenting any questionable problems with your cooling system.

One last DIY AC maintenance tip is to dedicate time to cleaning the outdoor unit.

Cleaning the Outdoor Unit

Most air conditioning systems in Los Angeles may have an outdoor unit that should be cleaned every couple of months. Because of their exposure to the outside, these ACs can become dirty more frequently. As a result, homeowners need to clean them so debris doesn’t build up inside the unit.

Outdoor AC units have an operating condenser fan inside that dissipates heat. If a homeowner neglects cleaning that component, it can affect the fan’s performance and may cause the air conditioner to overheat.

DIY AC Maintenance Next Steps

A little care can go a long way in preventing early breakdowns and failure with your central AC. Now that you know what DIY AC maintenance consists of, you can help extend the lifespan of your air conditioner and avoid having to rely on small fans to keep an entire home cool during hot weather.

Since 2007, we at Monkey Wrench have helped homeowners maintain their ACs by giving them maintenance tips and offering professional tune-ups. We understand how hot it can get in Southern California and know the importance of an operating cooling system, so we’ve repaired hundreds of AC units in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas.

To learn more about air conditioning maintenance, contact us using one of the buttons below. You can also book an appointment directly through our online scheduler.

DIY AC maintenance is essential for all air conditioners but is not the only available maintenance. Read this article to learn more about how DIY AC maintenance compares to professional care from a technician.