The Australian summer is slowly starting to wind down, and it won't be too long before the cooler autumn days arrive. Your HVAC system has had quite the workout thanks to summer heat, so now is the perfect time to give it a little tender loving care before it begins keeping your family warm over winter. Here are three jobs you can do to keep your air conditioner in top working order.

Clear the Outdoor Condenser Unit

The outdoor condenser unit relies on airflow to keep it operating efficiently. However, thanks to the violent storms seen in Australia each summer, it is not unusual for the airflow to become restricted due to tree debris build-up on the exterior of the unit. You can clean away the debris by either washing it off with a garden hose or using a soft-bristle brush to brush the debris out of the metal vents. If you have tall grass growing around the unit, take this opportunity to cut it down.

Clean the Interior of the Outdoor Condenser Unit

Once the exterior of the outdoor condenser unit has been cleared of debris, lift off the cover so that you can clean the inside. Be very careful while performing this act as snakes are known to seek shelter from the sun by hiding inside. To clean the inside of the unit, turn your hose onto low pressure and give everything a quick rinse off. The goal is to dislodge dust and debris. Do not use a high-pressure wash to clean the inside of the unit because you could damage the coils or the wiring.

Change or Clean Your Interior Filter

Now that the outside unit is clean, it is time to head inside to tackle the interior component of your air conditioning. This is the unit mounted on your wall which pushes out the cold air. Because it runs so continuously over the summer, the filter inside the unit becomes clogged with dust, pollen and other airborne allergens. Some air conditioning units have a filter which you throw away and replace with a new one purchased at your local hardware store. Other units have filters which are permanent. These filters slide out so you can wash or vacuum them to remove the debris build-up. If you are not sure which type you have, call your local HVAC contractor to come out and do this maintenance so you can observe how they do it.

You need your air conditioner to be professionally maintained annually if you want it to give peak performance. The end of summer is the perfect time to book a maintenance call with your local HVAC contractor so that you can be confident your family will be warm when winter comes.