During the cottonwood season in July, air conditioner housings can clog with debris, like cottonwood seeds. When this happens, it can be impossible for the fan to draw enough air in to cool your house. WordofadviceTV has shared a video featuring an easy fix for dirty condensers. The only tools needed for this repair are a screwdriver and a garden hose.
The following is a quick AC repair for a dirty condenser.
Using a screwdriver, remove the screws holding the fan unit in the condenser unit.
Disconnect the fan at the breaker, then flip the fan up and out of the way, displaying the condenser fins for visual inspection. They will appear clogged with debris at this point.
With a garden hose, wash out all the debris you can dislodge with the hose stream. Once all the cottonwood seeds the hose stream can get are flushed from the unit, use the sprayer nozzle or put your thumb over the nozzle to spray all remaining debris away.
Once the condenser fins are clean, with no visible debris, the repair is complete. Return the fan to its original place, tighten the screws to finish the repair, and turn the power back on.
