How to Clean an Air Conditioner?

When using an air conditioner, it is very important to clean it from time to time. Cleaning an air conditioner gets rid of the accumulated dirt and dust and improves the performance of the unit.

From the aesthetic sense, cleaning also makes the air conditioning unit look spick and span. For cleaning an air conditioner, the essential tools that are required are a tin can, a vacuum cleaner, a long handled brush, an oil can, rags, detergent or other cleaning chemicals and screwdrivers and spanners.

For the window air conditioner unit, the first step is to remove the filter. After removing it, water should be sprinkled on it and using a rag, detergent should be applied on the filter. After the filter becomes soapy, it should be completely submerged in a tray of hot water and kept aside for about 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, it should be rinsed with hot and cold water and hung up to dry.

After this, the front grille has to be removed from the main body. Modern air conditioning units have latches and by simply removing the latches, the front grille can be taken out. After the front grill is removed, the metal cover has to be taken out by unscrewing the screws. The screws can be kept in the tin can. Then the oil plugs of the fan should be taken out to display the oil holes using a pin or screwdrivers. 3 to 4 drops of oil should be applied to the oil holes. Then dirt and dust should be removed from the front fin using the brush.

Once the dirt is gone, the surface should be sprayed with greasers or spray cleaners. After 15 minutes, hot water should be poured slowly to remove all the dirt. Care should be taken so that water doesn’t come in contact with the electrical cables and wires and the refrigerator coils. Any bent fins should now be straightened.

This is a delicate process and pressure should not be applied. For the condenser, the same process of cleaning and watering needs to be done. Since the condenser coils contain high pressure gases, the condenser fins should be handled with extreme care.

Then a rag should be used to wipe the fan blades. The final step is to vacuum the entire unit including the underside of the metal cover. Any excess water should be drained out and the air conditioner should be reassembled when it is completely dry.

For split and ductless air conditioners, cleaning is very easy. The first step is to take off the front cover. It should be cleaned and dried. Then the filters need to be taken out and cleaned in the same manner as described earlier. After this is done, a large plastic bag is needed for progressing further.

The plastic should be fixed to the back side of the unit so that it is attached with the unit. With one hand holding the front side of the bag, so that it catches any dirt and dust coming out of the unit, greasers or spray cleaners should be applied to the coils and the rotor. This has to be done very carefully so that the entire surface of the coils and the rotor are covered with the cleaning agent.

The mouth of the spray should be as close to the coils and the rotor as possible. After this is done and the unit is left for about 10 minutes, the sprayer should be filled with hot water and another round of spraying should be done to wash out dirt and dust.

All this while, the bag should be held carefully so that all the disposable from the unit, like the chemicals and the water fall into it. Water should be sprayed as long as dirty water flows out. Then the unit has to be vacuumed and allowed to dry before reinstalling and using. The condenser should also be cleaned from time to time. It must be dismantled, cleaned with chemicals and vacuumed. Care should be taken for the condenser coils because they contain high pressure gases. After this process, the unit will start cooling better.