Waukesha County Home

Dear Jim: Are there any do-it-yourself tune-up things I can do to my central air conditioner between professional service calls to keep it running at maximum effi- ciency and cooling output? — Randy P. Dear Randy: With just a few hand tools, there are some things you can do, but don't think this will allow you to skip regular professional service calls. A central air con- ditioner has many moving parts and refrig- erant systems which must all work togeth- er. Without the proper test equipment, you cannot check or adjust everything yourself. There are some things you can do your- self to keep your central air conditioner running at maximum efficiency. Keep in mind though, it is a complicated piece of equipment so you still regular professional service calls. There are many pressure set- tings you are not able to check yourself. ■ Before doing tune-up things, try setting the thermostat a couple degrees higher during peak afternoon heat. Installing a setback thermostat is best for this purpose. They are available at hardware stores and are not difficult to install. This does two things. First, air condition- er efficiency and cooling output drop as it gets hotter outdoors, so the cooling is more expensive. Second, setting it back reduces the peak electricity demand for the utility company and this reduces long-term elec- tric rate increases and greenhouse gas emissions. ■ The most important factor for efficient air conditioner operation is to get maxi- mum air flow through the outdoor condens- er coils. This air flow is what carries the heat away from the refrigerant which flows into your house. Make sure the area is clear on the side of the outdoor unit where the coils are exposed. Landscaping, shrubs and weeds may have grown up around it. Cut plants and branches back to provide at least two feet of clearance. Similarly, don't rest gar- den tools against it or on top of the fan out- let. Look through the grille into the unit. It is normal to see some debris and they are designed for this. If there appears to be a lot and it may impede the air flow, it is wise to clean it out. Before doing anything inside the cabinet, switch off the indoor circuit breaker and outdoor disconnect. ■ Remove the sheet metal screws and the cabinet access cover. Remove as much debris as possible, but it does not have to be spotlessly clean. Check the fins on the coils and gently straighten any bent ones. The tip of a kitchen knife is effective for this. They don't have to be perfectly straight. When reinstalling the access cover, make sure to get all the screws tight. Any gaps around the edges allow air to come in and bypass the coils. Even if you do not have to remove the cover, check the screws for tightness. ■ Air flow over the coils in the indoor unit is also important. Make sure the cir- cuit breaker is still off. Remove the indoor access cover over the coils and blower motor. Clean off as much dust and dirt as possible. Start with a vacuum cleaner brush attachment and then wipe any stub- born spots. ■ Change the furnace filter regularly. Many are actually more important for keeping the coils clean than for cleaning the room air. If the filter is extremely dirty, it can block efficient air flow. If you see or feel any leaky duct joints, seal them with black Gorilla duct tape or aluminum tape. Dear Jim: I have an older house with real plaster walls that are wallpapered. I want to remove the wallpaper and paint them so that the room is brighter without many lights on. How can I remove the wall- paper? — Elle H. Dear Elle: Old dull wallpaper does not reflect much light. On most walls, a steam- er makes the job easy, but be careful on old plaster walls. Test the steam method in an obscure corner to make sure it does not damage the wall. A safer method is to spray the wall with warm water from a weed-type pump sprayer. To speed up the job, most hardware stores sell stripper additives. These usually use enzymes to break down the old adhe- sive faster. (Send inquiries to James Dulley, The Free- man, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.) HOME MAY 2021 4 JAMES DULLEY DIY air conditioning tune-ups for spring James Dulley After the electric power is switched off to the unit, remove a side cover and clean out debris. James Dulley Clean leaves and other debris from the top of the central air conditioner or heat pump even though many will blow away by themselves when the unit starts.

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