≋ How to properly clean the air conditioner on your own • Recommendations from professionals

Preventive cleaning of the air conditioner will help extend its life, as well as provide comfortable conditions for a person. Often, due to the large amount of accumulated dust inside the unit, cooling the air, the device provokes an unpleasant odor, or it starts to consume more electricity. Sometimes it seems that the air conditioner does not cool or freshen the air in the room at all, but only works loudly and “increases” the layer of dust.

When to Clean: 5 Essential Factors

• 1 time per year under average operating conditions (as a rule, at the end of spring — before the start of the «active» season);
• 2 or more times if there are small children, allergy sufferers, animals in the house;
• 3 or more times if the air conditioner is actively used and the outdoor unit is located near the road or industrial facilities;
• after completion of repair work in this or neighboring premises;
• when an unpleasant odor appears and the cooling system does not work correctly when water flows from the indoor unit.

We clean the indoor unit of the air conditioner ourselves: step by step instructions

With experience and basic knowledge, you can clean the system on your own, saving money on calling a specialist. First you need to disconnect the device from the power supply and carefully remove the protective cover. In some models they are completely removed, in others they open up.

In the case of designer ranges with a picture screen, the outer panel is carefully removed and wiped with glass cleaner. Inside the unit contains traditional parts. We carefully remove the anti-dust nets from the grooves and wash them thoroughly under running water, then letting them dry completely. It is advisable to use special products designed for air conditioners.

Mechanical and chemical cleaners

Cleaning of air conditioners continues with a wet brush, which removes dust and small debris from the internal heat exchanger and other parts. Please note: it is better to take a brush with a thick artificial bristle so that it does not “collapse” under the influence of mechanical force. After removing the dust on the internal parts of the system, spray the contents of the cleaning bottle, wait 10-15 minutes and gently wipe the surface with a dry soft cloth. Firstly, the chemical agent disinfects, and secondly, it creates a protective film to increase the service life. In the rules for using the tool, we will find the exact instructions for working with it.

my blinds

Internal blinds are a hotbed of accumulation of dust and small debris. If preventive cleaning is carried out regularly, then it is enough to wipe them with a damp cloth, otherwise, they must be removed and rinsed thoroughly under warm running water.

Can detergents be used?

The answer to this question is ambiguous. The fact is that some parts are made of chemically resistant plastic, so they can be safely washed with a solution based on gels and powders. If you do not have information about the nature of the givers, then use only specialized tools for split systems.

The next step is to return the air filter to its place, fix the grids and wait 30 minutes for the system to start up. Please note: knowing how to clean the air conditioner yourself, you will not make a common mistake — do not start the system after work in heating mode — only in fan mode for the first 10-15 minutes, and then cold or warm. Do-it-yourself cleaning technology for systems with and without ionization is similar, but more complicated and may require certain skills.

We clean the outdoor unit ourselves: what to look for

Initially, it is necessary to think over the conditions for approaching the block. If you live on the first floor of a high-rise building or in a private house, then the issue is resolved by itself, but for residents of the upper floors, the situation becomes more complicated. As a rule, a team of craftsmen working at height with the help of special equipment is always called.

How to clean the air conditioner from the street?

First of all, a directed stream of water (average temperature 20-35 degrees), which helps to wash off dust, dirt and poplar fluff — one of the main enemies of the normal operation of the system. Professional teams use an industrial vacuum cleaner with different nozzles before water treatment. Chemical agents are used for disinfection and additional protection against the formation of corrosive foci inside the unit and directly on the casing.

Basic rules: how to clean the air conditioner from the outside

• disconnect the split system from the electrical network;
• when planning a day, focus on the fact that the average air temperature should be at least 5 degrees, it is advisable not to carry out preventive work during rain or snow;
• after completion of work, the system starts up after 10-15 minutes;
• you can simultaneously clean the indoor and outdoor units.

How to clean your built in air conditioner

The window or built-in type of device is not so popular for installation today, but still remains in some houses and apartments. On the one hand, preventive maintenance is easy: no need to call a special team, because you can get rid of dust, dirt and small debris from the outside and inside. On the other hand, such a system is more susceptible to corrosion, therefore, it requires treatment with special chemicals. Refueling is carried out only by a professional team.