There are millions of homeowners watching videos online trying to figure out how to clean their own air conditioner.

And I understand why.

If your outdoor AC unit is dirty, cleaning it can help the system breathe better and operate more efficiently. So if somebody on YouTube shows you how to do it yourself and save a service call, it can look pretty tempting.

I recently came across a DIY AC cleaning video with millions of views showing homeowners how to open their outdoor unit, clean the condenser coils and put everything back together.

So I decided to react to it.

And I'll tell you right up front: there's actually a lot in this video that I agree with.

​But there are also a few things I want homeowners to think about before grabbing a screwdriver, coil cleaner and water hose.

Yes, Your Outdoor AC Coil Needs to Be Clean

Let's start with something the original video gets right.

Your outdoor AC unit doesn't have to look filthy to be dirty enough to affect its operation.

The condenser needs to move a tremendous amount of air through those thin metal fins surrounding the coil. Dirt, grass clippings, leaves, dust and other debris can begin restricting that airflow.

And when the system can't move the air it needs, it has a harder time getting rid of the heat that your air conditioner removed from inside your home.

That's why keeping the outdoor coil clean is an important part of maintaining an air conditioning system.

Don't Judge the Coil Just by Looking at It

This is one of the misconceptions I see with homeowners.

They walk outside, look through the grille and say:

"It doesn't look that dirty."

Maybe not.

But that doesn't necessarily mean the coil is clean.

It doesn't take a solid wall of dirt before airflow can start being affected.

Depending on the equipment, you can also have more than one row or section of coil. That means spraying the outside surface doesn't necessarily mean you've thoroughly cleaned everything that needs cleaning.

That's something the original video does a good job of demonstrating.

Here's Where DIY Starts to Concern Me

There's a big difference between spraying some debris off the outside of your condenser and opening the equipment up.

Once you start removing screws, lifting the top, moving the condenser fan assembly, working around wiring and spraying water and chemicals inside the equipment, you've entered a different territory.

That's where my recommendation starts changing.

I've been working in heating and air conditioning for 25 years, and I've seen plenty of situations where somebody thought something was going to be an easy job until it wasn't.

Pulling the Disconnect Doesn't Mean You Should Assume It's Safe

The original video correctly tells homeowners not to rely solely on turning the thermostat off.

There's normally an electrical disconnect located near the outdoor equipment that can be used to disconnect power.

But I want to add something important:

Don't assume pulling a disconnect automatically means everything you're about to touch is safe.

I've seen electrical equipment that wasn't wired properly or wasn't operating the way somebody assumed it was.

A professional doesn't just assume.

We verify.

And remember, you're talking about opening electrical equipment and then introducing water into the process.

That's one of the biggest reasons I don't recommend homeowners get too deep into this job themselves.

Please Don't Pressure Wash Your AC Coil

This is another area where I agree with the original video.

More water pressure is not better.

Those little aluminum fins surrounding the condenser coil are delicate.

If you bend enough of them over, you can restrict airflow through the coil.

Think about the irony there.

You started the project because you wanted to improve airflow, and you could end up restricting airflow because you used too much pressure trying to clean it.

The lower-pressure rinse shown in the video is a much better approach than blasting the coil with a pressure washer.

Be Careful With Coil Cleaner Too

There are cleaners made specifically for HVAC coils.

But just because you can buy a chemical doesn't mean you should start spraying it without understanding what you're using.

Different products have different instructions, applications and safety requirements.

Read the directions.

Follow the product's safety requirements.

Protect your skin and eyes.

And make sure the product you're using is appropriate for the equipment you're cleaning.

This isn't a situation where twice as much cleaner means twice as clean.

Cleaning Your Outdoor Coil Is NOT an AC Tune-Up

This may be the most important part of the whole discussion.

Suppose you successfully clean that outdoor condenser coil.

That's good.

But you haven't maintained your entire air conditioning system.

Your AC system has a whole lot more going on than the condition of the outdoor coil.

A proper maintenance visit gives a trained technician an opportunity to look at the overall operation of the system, including electrical components, motors, drainage, temperatures, airflow, indoor and outdoor equipment and other operating conditions.

That's one of my problems with the idea that cleaning the outdoor unit yourself replaces professional maintenance.

It doesn't.

Cleaning is one part of maintenance. It isn't the whole job.

Does Cleaning a Dirty AC Make It Run Better?

If the condenser coil is dirty enough to restrict airflow, properly cleaning it can absolutely help the system operate the way it was designed to operate.

But I wouldn't promise somebody that washing their outdoor unit is automatically going to make their house colder.

There could be plenty of other reasons an air conditioner isn't keeping up.

If your AC isn't cooling properly, don't automatically assume a dirty outdoor coil is the problem.

That's where diagnosing the system matters.

So, Should You Clean Your Own AC?

There are certainly basic things homeowners can and should do.

Keep grass, weeds and plants from growing against the outdoor unit.

Don't stack things around it.

Keep obvious leaves and debris away.

Change your air filter regularly.

Pay attention when something doesn't look, sound or feel right.

But once we're talking about opening the condenser, removing or moving components, working around electricity and applying chemicals, I'd rather see you call somebody who does this for a living.

Yes, I'm in the HVAC business.

I know exactly how that sounds.

But I've also been doing this for 25 years.

If you damage wiring, bend the coil fins, damage the fan assembly, use the wrong cleaner or create an electrical problem, that money you were trying to save can disappear pretty quickly.

And you're probably going to call an HVAC technician anyway.

Here's the Takeaway

I actually think the original DIY video does several things well.

The creator understands that a condenser coil can be dirtier than it looks. He recognizes the importance of cleaning more than just the visible surface. And I particularly like that he doesn't attack those delicate fins with excessive water pressure.

Where we differ is how comfortable I'd be telling the average homeowner:

"Just about anybody can do this themselves."

That's where I disagree.

There's a difference between being physically capable of doing something and knowing how to do it safely without damaging expensive equipment.

My recommendation is simple.

Keep your equipment clean. Take care of it. Have it properly maintained. And when you're getting into electrical components and taking equipment apart, let somebody who works on these systems every day handle it.

Your heating and air conditioning system is one of the most expensive pieces of equipment in your home.

Saving a few dollars isn't much of a savings if a mistake costs you hundreds.

Need Your AC Checked or Maintained?

Simmons One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning has been taking care of homeowners for generations.

We serve Fayetteville, Pinehurst, Laurinburg and surrounding communities with professional heating and air conditioning service, repair and maintenance.

Visit SimmonsOneHour.com or give us a call to schedule service.

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This article is for educational and informational purposes only. HVAC equipment contains high-voltage electrical components, moving parts, chemicals and other potential hazards. Homeowners should not perform work beyond their knowledge, training or ability. When in doubt, contact a qualified HVAC professional.

​The accompanying reaction video contains portions of third-party content for purposes of commentary, criticism, education and discussion. The original content remains the property of its respective copyright owner. No ownership of the original third-party footage is claimed.