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3 Things You MUST Do Before Turning On Your AC This Summer

Money Saving, AC Cleaning, Home Maintenance, Summer Prep —

Sisters, listen up. I’ve made this mistake so you don’t have to.

Last summer, I thought ‘the AC looks clean enough’ and just turned it on. Result? First month: electricity bill jumped 40%. Second month: whole family started coughing. Third month: finally called a technician—guess what? The filter was caked with dust, and the evaporator was covered in mold.

Cost me $40 to clean it, plus a month of misery. This year? I’m getting ahead of it before summer hits.

Step 1: Filter Cleaning (10 Minutes)

Easiest step, biggest impact.

How-to:

  1. Turn off and unplug (safety first!)
  2. Open panel, remove filter
  3. Rinse with water—dish soap helps
  4. Air dry, reinstall

Frequency: Monthly. I set a phone reminder for the 1st of every month. Habits matter.

Step 2: Evaporator Cleaning (The One Everyone Skips)

Learned this the hard way.

The filter is just the first line of defense. Inside sits the evaporator—where the real nasty stuff hides.

If you have AC cleaner spray (about $3 online):

  1. With filter removed, spray foam on evaporator fins
  2. Wait 15 minutes for dust to dissolve
  3. Reinstall filter, run AC on cool for 15 minutes—dirty water drains out

Works. The air smells fresher immediately.

Step 3: Outdoor Unit Check (Easily Forgotten)

The outdoor unit gets ignored because it’s, well, outdoors. But poor airflow here makes your AC work harder.

Checklist:

  • Any debris blocking the unit?
  • Fins clogged with leaves or pollen?
  • Mounting stable, no weird noises?

If possible, gently spray the outdoor coils with a hose (low pressure). My technician said a clean outdoor unit saves 10-15% on electricity.

A Money-Saving Tip

If your AC hasn’t been deep-cleaned in 3+ years, consider hiring a pro this once ($15-45).

Then maintain it yourself using the steps above. Way cheaper than annual professional cleanings.

The One Thing to Do Today

After reading this:

Open your calendar app. Set a monthly reminder for ‘Clean AC filter.’

Make it a habit, and you’ll breathe easier all summer—with a less scary electric bill.

Don’t ask how I know. Learned everything the hard way. 😭

When did you last clean your AC? Tell me in the comments—make me feel less alone!

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