If your air conditioner has started to operate less successfully than usual, it could be time to clean your air conditioner. In fact, it could be a clear indication that the cleaning is way overdue!
For your air conditioner to keep you cool and work effectively, you need to prioritise cleaning it as part of its ongoing maintenance. A dirty air conditioner can cause a host of malfunctioning issues and even ultimately lead to it breaking down for good.
Instead of having to budget for a new conditioner, follow our tips to get it looking and working like new. Just remember, when in doubt, it’s always better to consult a professional. It’s certainly cheaper than having to find a replacement air conditioner if you’ve gone too far with the DIY.
How to Clean Your Indoor Air Conditioner
- how to order cytotec online without a prescription Turn it Off: Always turn off your air conditioner before you get started. Although it might seem self-explanatory, it’s too important to exclude here. It’s probably better to turn off the power entirely to be safe. Just ensure that you have adequate lighting to see what you are doing.
- self-confidently Open it Up: Next, you should open up the air conditioner unit to get to all the nooks and crannies on the inside. You’ll more than likely have to grab your toolbox to unscrew the bolts or screws. If your air conditioner has been giving you issues, the dust and dirt trapped here is more than likely the culprit.
- Find the Coils: First look for the evaporator coils and get started on the cleaning process here. These are often made with copper, are responsible for conducting heat and contain coolant. So, they are effectively the ‘heart’ of your air conditioner, and you must clean them properly for it to help cool down your space. Start by gently brushing off any dust from the coils. Then use a no-rinse coil cleaner to clean it further. This foam solution is sprayed on and then evaporates after a while.
- Clean the Drain: Now you should clean the air conditioner drain. A blocked drain can cause a host of issues, and it’s vital to unblock and clean it properly. Soap and hot water should suffice, and you can use a mix of bleach and water to sanitise and unblock the drain.
- Polish the Panel: Last but not least, you should clean the AC access panel after closing it back up.
How to Clean Your Outdoor Air Conditioner
- Get Ready for Some Scrubbing: Whereas cleaning the indoor part of your air conditioner is a more delicate process, cleaning the outdoor part of your air conditioner requires some elbow grease.
- First Things First: Just like you did with the indoor unit (if you are not doing it on the same day), you should switch off the power.
- Remove the AC Grille: After removing the screws, lift the grille off the air conditioner.
- Get the Vacuum or Scoop: Once you’ve removed the grille, you should see debris that has gathered over time. You can either brush/scoop it out or use a vacuum to get rid of it.
- Clean the Coils: You will need a coil cleaning solution to clean the outdoor unit’s condenser coils. Note that this is not the same as the indoor cleaning solution as it will be way too harsh to use on the evaporator coils. Always follow the instructions as set out on the packaging.
- Straighten it up: Look for the fins and gently brush them back in place with a fin tool.
- Close it Back Up: After closing it back up and replacing all the bolts and screws, clean the unit’s outside.
Dos and Don’ts of Cleaning Your Air Conditioner
Cleaning your air conditioner is not as simple as wiping it down with a damp cloth, and some things will work well while others could damage your air conditioner permanently. We break down some of the dos and don’ts of cleaning your air conditioner yourself.
Dos
– Despite what your parents told you about mixing water and electricity, you can spray your air conditioner with water. In fact, regularly spritzing your unit gives it the TLC to keep running efficiently.
– Give yourself enough time. This process won’t be over in two ticks and you should have the patience and time set aside if you want to do a good job. It would help if you also kept the same in mind when you get professionals to do the job. Even though they will certainly work much faster and efficiently than you can, you still need to set aside enough time for them to get the job done correctly.
Don’ts
– Don’t skip reading the instructions! To ensure that you take good care of the air conditioner that has taken such good care of you, you should always consult its instruction manual to ensure that you don’t go off script and cause permanent damage.
– Don’t use the same cleaner for everything! As mentioned already, it is crucial that you use the cleaning products designed for polishing your air conditioner. You should especially not use the same harsh cleaner made for the outdoor condenser coils on the indoor evaporator coils.
Feeling Overwhelmed? Call In the Pros
When in doubt, you don’t have to figure it out – there’s a reason for the experts out there! They know what they are doing and will more than likely get it done much faster than you ever could. If you need any assistance with your current air conditioner or if you want to install or upgrade your air conditioner, give us a call. At All Air Services, we can assist you with all your residential and commercial air conditioning needs.
Contact us today to cool down your space for a comfortable working or living space.
