Air Conditioner Overheating? It May Need To Be Cleaned

About Me
The Importance Of HVAC System Efficiency

Having the right heating and cooling system in a home or business can have a huge impact on the energy costs associated with HVAC systems. Units that are too large or too small are unable to properly heat or cool a building at maximum efficiency. Hello, my name is Roland, and if you're interested in learning everything you can about HVAC systems, you'll find the information you need in this blog. I belong to an environmental organization that helps homeowners and business owners learn how to reduce their energy costs. Our organization helps people save money on their energy bills, and while doing so, this also helps the planet. I've written this blog to help others learn about HVAC systems and how qualified HVAC contractors can help them save money and help the environment.

Air Conditioner Overheating? It May Need To Be Cleaned

16 September 2022
 Categories: , Blog

Do you have a problem where your air conditioner's condenser kicks on, but then shuts down right away while the thermostat says the unit is still on? This is a common sign of the condenser overheating. The unit turns off as a safety mechanism, even though the thermostat thinks that it's running and producing cold air. Thankfully, this problem may be easy to fix by cleaning the outdoor condenser. Here are some tips on how to do it. 

Shut Down The Power 

It's important to always shut down the power to the condenser when you are servicing it. This can be done by turning off the circuit breaker that powers the air conditioner since it ensures that all power has been cut off. It's also a good idea to shut the system down at the thermostat just to be safe. 

Remove The Grill

The top grill of the condenser will need to be removed, which can typically be done by taking out the screws. When you lift the grill off, be careful if the fan is still attached to the grill. There could be a wire that is connected to the fan, which you do not want to break. 

Remove The Debris By Hand

The first thing to do is remove as much debris from the condenser unit by hand. You can scoop the leaves and other debris directly into a bucket or yard waste bag to prevent you from making a mess. If you have a shop vacuum, you can use that to remove the debris that is hard to reach at the bottom of the condenser unit. 

Clean The Fins

The best way to clean the fins of the condenser unit is to use a hose to spray the fins from inside the unit. This will cause all of the debris to spray to the outside, rather than pushing it back inside the unit. You may be surprised at how much debris is stuck in there.

If there are bent fins making it difficult to push out the debris with water, you may need to straighten out these fins to create a large gap. Your local home improvement store will sell a special tool called a fin comb, which is designed for fitting between the metal fins and restoring the large gap that should be there.

Having trouble with cleaning your air conditioner to prevent it from overheating? Reach out to an air conditioning service.