If your air conditioner's condenser is going to fail this summer, chances are that it will be on a blistering hot day according to Murphy's Law. Thankfully, some preventative maintenance can decrease the chance of this happening on a day when the temperature hits 100 degrees. Try following these 3 steps to keep the condenser in working order.

Clean Your Condenser

Condensers are designed to be outdoors, but they do get filthy. The small fins surrounding the unit can get filled with debris, which will restrict airflow going into the unit and potentially cause it to overheat. Cleaning a condenser is an easy job that you can do all on your own.

Start by turning off the electricity running to the condenser, and open up the top of the unit by removing the protective grate over the fan. Spray out any debris with a garden hose from the inside and force the debris out of the unit. You can use a soft brush to clean out any dirt that seems to be stuck and a flathead screwdriver to straighten out any fins that appear to be bent.

When the unit is clean, put the protective grate back on the condenser, and turn the electricity back on.

Check The Drainage Tube

Your condenser generates water when it is operating, which will need to leave the condenser through the drainage tube. It's possible that this tube becomes blocked after years of use, and you'll need to have the clog cleared to get water draining properly. Leaving the tube clogged will cause water to back into the home, which can damage the air conditioner, stain ceilings, or damage floors.

You can tell if you have a clogged drainage tube by monitoring your air conditioner while it's in use. If you notice water accumulating around the condenser's base, you have a problem with your drainage tube. Contact an HVAC repair technician from a business like A/C Repairs, Inc to help you fix a problem like this.

Once your drainage tube has been cleared, you'll want it to stay that way. You can prevent mold from building up by pouring 1 cup of bleach down the drain. Bleach is very effective at killing mold spores so clogs can't form. Repeat the process every summer to ensure it stays clean, and do it more often if you are located in a very humid climate.

An air conditioner can make the summer months bearable when the weather is hot. Do not take the chance that the air conditioner will make it through the summer problem free. By doing a little bit of preventative maintenance, you'll be doing all you can to keep it running.