HH Homeowner's Handbook
Home / HVAC & Air Quality / Clean AC condenser (outdoor unit)
TASK NO. 002 Preventive

Clean AC condenser (outdoor unit)

HVAC & Air Quality
Trigger
Spring, before cooling season
Who does it
DIY
Est. time
30-45 min
Est. cost
$0-15
Difficulty
●●○○○
Step by step

  1. Shut off power at the outdoor disconnect and breaker.

  2. Remove leaves, grass clippings, and debris from around and inside the fins.

  3. Gently rinse the fins from the inside out with a garden hose (low pressure).

  4. Straighten bent fins carefully with a fin comb.

  5. Trim back plants/shrubs to keep 2 ft of clearance on all sides.

Video guide
Search: 'how to clean an AC condenser unit'
Watch this guide
This link is a suggested starting point and hasn't been individually re-checked recently — search the title to confirm it still matches before relying on it.
Community editing (coming soon)

See a better technique, a broken link, or a regional building-code note? Contributions will work like a wiki once accounts and review are live.