Wind, Dust and Your Outdoor AC Unit
The Truckee Meadows is windy throughout the year; locals have long talked about the Washoe Zephyr. Wind and dust are hard on outdoor units.
Request an HVAC technicianClogged fins
Dust, seed fluff and leaves pack into the coil fins, cutting airflow and efficiency.
Gentle rinsing
With the power off, rinse the coil from the inside out if you can, or from the outside with gentle water. No pressure washers.
Weeds and tumbleweeds
Keep weeds cut back and clear any debris that blows against the unit.
Placement
Where possible, place units out of the strongest prevailing wind and away from dusty driveways.
Coil guards
Guards and fences can protect units, but they must leave enough space for airflow.
Pads
Units on sandy soil can settle and tilt. A level, solid pad keeps refrigerant lines from straining.
Filters indoors
Windy months mean dustier indoor air too. Change filters more often in spring and fall.
After storms
Check the unit after big wind events for bent fins or debris.
Yearly cleaning
A technician can deep-clean the coil during a spring tune-up.
More
See AC maintenance.
Cottonwood season
Cottonwood fluff can coat a coil in days in late spring. Check the unit and rinse it gently when you see it.
Don't block it
Fences and screens should sit at least two feet from the coil and leave the top open.
Inside the unit
Dust also builds up on the fan blades and inside the cabinet. A technician can clean these during a tune-up.
Indoor clues
A dusty film on furniture soon after cleaning can mean leaky return ducts pulling in attic or crawl space air. Sealing them helps both comfort and cleaning.
More air conditioning and heating guides
Request an HVAC technician
Repairs, replacements and new projects. Tell us what you need and we'll pass it straight to an HVAC contractor, who will call you to go over the job and give you a quote.
- AC, furnace and heat pump repairs, replacements and new systems
- Reno, Sparks and the valleys around the Truckee Meadows
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