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Keep vegetation at least two feet away from your outdoor unit on each side and above. Aim grass clippings away from the unit when mowing the lawn. During the fall, keep the fan grille free of leaves. You can also lubricate the condenser fan motor once a year if it has oil ports. (They're usually plugged with rubber or metal caps). Use non-detergent lightweight SAE 20 oil and add no more than 10 drops per port.
If possible, shade the outdoor compressor unit. Air in shaded space is typically five to six degrees cooler than the surrounding air. Proper shading can be up to 10 percent more efficient over a cooling season.During the winter months, protect the condenser unit with a form-fitting cover. To avoid damaging the compressor, don’t operate the unit when it’s below 60 F outside.A dirty indoor evaporator coil will hinder the unit's ability to cool the air moving through the unit. To clean the evaporator coil, remove the front panel of the air handler/ furnace to expose the coil. Ensure that the coil is dry. Use the soft brush attachment on you vacuum cleaner to gently remove any dust or debris from the coil. Check and make sure that coil fins are straight. If not, straighten them with a fin comb available from refrigeration supply dealers. Warm indoor air contacting the evaporator coils will condense causing moisture to collect and drip. In most units, a plastic pipe carries the water outdoors or to a floor drain. Algae and bacteria growth can clog the pipe. When this happens, backed-up water can puddle, causing rust or other damage. To clean the evaporator drain, remove the plastic tape holding the trap to the pipe elbow. (It may be necessary to saw through the pipe at the elbow). Flush the trap with water from a hose, and then disinfect using 1 tbsp of chlorine bleach. Reattach the trap to the pipe with new tape. Raise your temperature settings. Each degree of temperature can represent up to 9% savings in cooling costs.
RESOURCES :
Chiller System Services Inc.
1510 Swadley St.
Lakewood, CO 80215
Telephone: 1-303-275-6250
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