The Summer Fluff That Could Destroy Your Air Conditioner in Michigan

We got rid of the white cold snow here in Michigan, but said hello to another form of white snow, that could be causing some issues with your air conditioning unit outside. It's the dreaded season of cottonwood.

It is one of the most annoying issues to have as a homeowner, but as an HVAC mechanic, they're probably enjoying the extra money that the pest is providing for them.

What is Cottonwood?

Cottonwood trees release fluffy seed fibers from late spring to early summer, which are then dispersed across the state of Michigan, as well as other states. Your allergies probably hate it, but your HVAC hates it ten times more, trust me.

The fibers can actually clog HVAC filters and outdoor condenser coils, which will cause airflow issues in the unit, causing them to work ten times harder to keep your place at a leveled temperature. Meaning, your electric bill is already going up and most likely cutting the lifespan of your unit.

How To Prevent Cottonwood Build Up

Unfortunately, there is no true way to prevent the cottonwood build up on any outdoor unit. But, if you're looking to keep your electric bill down by not having your unit work twice as hard, you should follow these simple tips.

• Weekly Cleaning: Cottonwood can build up fast, keeping up be cleaning the coils with a low pressure garden hose, or even a soft brush can get rid of the pesky cottonwood.
• Protective Mesh: They do sell a coarse mesh or barrier that will catch the seeds before they enter the unit.
• Keep the area Clear: You should make sure that trees and other objects aren't blocking the unit.
• Professional Tune-ups: Just like any mechanical object, you should have your air conditioner unit checked every couple years, and have professional clean and inspect the unit.
• Commercial preventative maintenance: If you have much larger systems, you should have scheduled cleaning that will address seed build up, critter issues, or even just keep up on the units health overall.