How can I clean my air conditioner's outdoor unit?

Whether your air conditioner’s outdoor unit—the condenser--is on the roof or in the back yard, you should clean it every year. A year’s worth of dirt, fallen branches, overgrown shrubs and debris can clog the unit’s cooling fins and keep it from operating efficiently.  

Here are five ways to keep your outdoor unit problem-free.

1. Schedule an annual inspection by a heating and air conditioning specialist, who will come to your home and clean the condenser coils and alert you to any problems-in-the-making.
2. Check your hose connections and inspect them for cracks or leaks that you might need to have repaired.
3. Clear overgrown plants away from the unit. Keep them at least a foot away from the condenser. Trim trees so they’re not hanging directly over the unit and dropping leaves and branches onto it.
4. Clean dirt and dust off of the unit.
5. Cover the outdoor air conditioning compressor during months when you don’t use it to prevent it from corroding or being damaged by falling branches. Avoid plastic covers; instead, cover it with plywood.