How to clean the air conditioner yourself

Content:

Signs indicating an urgent need to clean the air conditioner
What works does the cleaning of equipment consist of?
Air conditioner cleaning efficiency

Air conditioners are a very common household appliance today. They save in the summer from the sweltering heat and help warm rooms in the cold season (models operate at temperatures up to 5 and 20 degrees below zero). Air conditioners can purify the air and reduce room humidity. When the air conditioner is operating, a large flow of air passes through it.

Dust and harmful particles enter the air conditioner together with the air. Over time, a whole mud layer accumulates on the parts of the air conditioner: filter, heat exchanger and fan. The accumulation of dirt and dust impairs the operation of the air conditioner and increases power consumption. Also, fungi and bacteria can develop in dirty environments. Inhaling such air is dangerous to human health. Question: how to clean the air conditioner on your own - every second owner of equipment once asks himself.

If the warranty for your household appliance has not yet expired, it is recommended to involve specialists in cleaning. When the warranty has already ended, you can figure out all the intricacies and clean the air conditioner with your own hands. It is very important that air conditioners are cleaned in a timely manner. Equipment manufacturers recommend their own cleaning times for air conditioners for each model. Since the frequency of using air conditioners is different for different owners, it is necessary to clean the equipment as it gets dirty. Before each start of the season for using household appliances, a mandatory preventive cleaning of air conditioners is carried out.

Signs indicating an urgent need to clean the air conditioner

self cleaning of the air conditioner

When you turn on a heavily soiled air conditioner, the following may appear:

increased noise
fluid leak
bad smell

The appearance of these signs indicates that pollution has reached a critical level. The air conditioner needs to be cleaned urgently. To avoid the above-mentioned consequences, timely maintenance of the equipment is necessary.

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What works does the cleaning of equipment consist of?

air conditioner filter cleaning
Maintenance of household appliances is carried out in two blocks - indoor and outdoor. Cleaning of air conditioners of any model is divided into several stages: (See also: Which air conditioner cleaner to choose. )

cleaning (or replacing) the filter
cleaning the indoor unit
preventive cleaning of the outdoor unit

Let's consider in detail each type of cleaning

Cleaning the air conditioner filter

Cleaning is recommended once a month. Before cleaning, you must carefully study the operating instructions for the air conditioner in order to know how to properly remove the filter. To collect loose dust, it is better to spread paper (or film) under the air conditioner on the floor.

Be sure to disconnect the equipment from the network.
Remove the air conditioner cover and protective grill.
Remove and clean the filter.
A vacuum cleaner is used to clean the filter.If the filter is very dirty, it must be rinsed under running water (temperature not higher than 45 degrees).
Dry the filter (without using hot air).
Assemble the air conditioner.

Important:

the filter can only be washed eight times (water changes its capacity). Then, for the efficient operation of the air conditioner, it is imperative to replace the filter. Pocket filters do not clean themselves. They are simply replaced with new ones.

Cleaning the indoor module of the split system

internal cleaning of the air conditioner

Further, after the filters, it is necessary to clean the heat exchanger-evaporator, it is responsible for heating and cooling the air. The main part of the equipment - the evaporator of the air conditioner, consists of tubes with freon. The air flow, passing through the tubes, is cooled. Cleaning the air conditioner evaporator is very important for the efficient operation of equipment, it is carried out about once a year.

During cleaning, the technician is disconnected from the power supply. First, the ventilation holes on the top cover are cleaned, then the cover and protective grill are removed. Dust from the heat exchanger, pipes and valves is removed with a vacuum cleaner. In hard-to-reach places, the split systems are cleaned with a soft brush so as not to damage the heat exchanger. Sometimes it is necessary to clean the fan of the indoor unit. Dust settles on it too. A fan that is not heavily soiled can be easily cleaned with a brush moistened with soapy water.

Cleaning the outdoor unit

The compressor block of the split system is located on the outside of the building. Professionals disassemble it. You can only flush the outside of the unit without opening the case. The air conditioner turns off on the network. First, dust and dirt are removed with a soft brush, then the remaining dirt is washed off with the pressure of tap water. Excess moisture must be thoroughly wiped off with a cloth. For efficient operation of the air conditioner, the outdoor unit is cleaned 1-2 times a year.

Disinfection

The procedure is mandatory for servicing household appliances. With the help of a spray bottle, antiseptic solutions are applied to the entire inner surface of the air conditioner body. The solution is sprayed in several stages. Then the composition is removed with a soft cloth.

Air conditioner cleaning efficiency

Timely simple cleaning of air conditioners from dirt and disinfection will allow:

create a favorable microclimate in the room
save energy on cooling (heating) the room
extend the service life of equipment.

After cleaning your air conditioner, you will see that it is not difficult to clean the air conditioner at home. It is not necessary to call a specialist. This work can be done independently.

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