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Bedrooms on a Budget

Are your kids' bedrooms lacking the fun factor? Many of us feel like it's impossible to design interesting, unique bedrooms for our kids without spending a fortune, but that's not true. By getting crafty to re-purpose old pieces of furniture, using inexpensive toys as novel decorations, and keeping a lookout for bargains, you can create a room your child will treasure for years to come. I hope this site gives you loads of great ideas for your next bedroom project — whether it's for a bouncing new baby, a boisterous toddler or a teen that's grown out of their current décor.

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Bedrooms on a Budget

Tips On Cleaning Your Outdoor Air Conditioning Unit

by Robert Mitchelle

If you live in a hot climate, a reliable and efficient air conditioning unit is essential for your comfort and for that of your family.  Although it may seem like a time-consuming hassle, it's well-worth taking the time to clean your outdoor air conditioning unit each spring, before the hot weather arrives.  This will help the unit's efficiency, making it more reliable and cheaper to run; it should also last longer too.

Here's how to give your air conditioning unit a spring makeover.

What you'll need

  • vacuum cleaner and soft bristle brush attachment
  • screw driver
  • plastic spray bottle
  • warm water
  • washing-up liquid

How to do it

First of all, switch off the power to the unit at the appliance shut-off box.  This is usually found near to the outdoor unit.  If you can't locate the appliance shut-off box, you can turn off the power at the circuit breaker, which you will find located in the main air conditioning unit control panel.  

With the power switched off, remove the protective case from the air conditioning unit.  To do this, simply unscrew the fixings and carefully lift the casing off.  Be sure to put the screws somewhere safe so that they don't get lost while you're working.  

Now vacuum the air conditioning unit's condenser fins, using the soft bristle brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner.  Go carefully, as the fins are fragile and can be easily bent if you're too heavy-handed.  

Next you need to clean off any accumulated grime from the fins.  To do this, make up a solution of warm water and washing up liquid and place it into a plastic spray bottle.  Spray the fins with the solution, and then rinse away any dirty water and soap with clean water.  

Next, carefully remove any debris, weed or grass growth that may be blocking the coil and disrupting the airflow.  You might need to cut back overhanging shrubbery and do a spot of weeding around the unit too.   

Finally, unscrew the top grille on the unit and prop it open.  Vacuum the fan, taking care not to disrupt or stretch the wiring. Then replace the grille and the unit's protective casing.

In summary

These basic cleaning and maintenance tips will help to keep your air conditioning unit working efficiently right through the summer.  Although this is a job that you can do yourself, you should also have your air conditioning unit fully serviced annually by an experienced professional. To learn more about a certain air conditioning service, check it out by following the link in this sentence.

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