If you're like most homeowners, you already know certain basics of maintaining your household air conditioning units. For instance, you're probably already aware that keeping your air conditioner's filter clean and changing it on a regular basis is an essential part of ensuring that your unit remains as trouble-free as possible. Here's what you need to know about prepping your unit's condenser at the start of the season. 

Your system will be more efficient and run cooler if you keep the coils clean, lubricate the fan if necessary, and keep the area outside of the condenser clean and free of weeds. The best time to do this is before you start to use the system on a regular basis during the warm season. Bear in mind that one of the major reasons for service calls on air conditioning units occur during the season's first heavy heat waves, and this is primarily due to the system being unprepared for being overworked. Getting it primed and ready before the heat sets in for the summer reduces your chances of sweltering in your home while waiting for a very booked-up service person to make it to your house. Here's what you need to do:

• Your central air conditioner's condenser unit is most likely located in an out-of-the-way spot in the back of your home. There will be a main shut-off switch on the front of it -- always shut this off before removing the access panel to the unit's interior. 
• You'll have to remove the system's fan assembly in order to access the condenser coils, so take this opportunity to thoroughly dust off the fan. If your owners' manual indicates that the fan requires lubrication, perform this task according to the manual's instructions. Most modern units, however, are lubrication-free.
• Using a whisk broom or a stiff brush, thoroughly remove any dust, debris, or other material from the unit's condenser coils. If stubborn dirt or grime is a part of the picture, use water or a foaming cleanser to remove it. 
• Replace the unit's access panel when you're finished and turn the power back on. This is also a good time to cut away any existing weeds and otherwise remove any vegetative debris that may have accumulated over the course of the winter. Because this area usually has low visibility in the average backyard, it often gets neglected.

Please feel free to reach out to your local air conditioner repair company such as Universal Refrigeration for more information on getting your unit off to the best possible start before the heat sets in.