The Fix-It Playbook — AC Condenser Coils Flowchart | Free 1-Page PDF | 2026 Edition

AC running nonstop, air not as cold, bill creeping up? Check the outdoor coil first.

Two questions sort it. Are the fins visibly packed with grass, leaves, dust or cottonwood — if they're clean, it isn't a cleaning job. Then kill the power, clean the coil, and see whether the air blows cold again. Cold means you're done; still warm points to refrigerant or electrical, and the sheet says which.

The sheet also carries a coil-cleaner quick-read (dwell time, rinse direction, no pressure washer), and a plain line on when to stop and call a pro.

One page. Print it or keep it on your phone. Free instant PDF download, yours to keep.

If the tree sends you deeper: How to Clean Your AC Condenser Coils ($6) adds the full photo step-by-step, a troubleshooting table for every after-clean symptom, and the year-round maintenance schedule. All five heating and cooling guides come together as the HVAC Maintenance Kit ($14), and all 24 year-round guides are in the Core Library ($49).