How to clean your home air conditioner yourself

In modern homes, one of the common types of equipment is air conditioning; it is found in almost every home. This is no coincidence, because with its help you can quickly and easily create a suitable microclimate in your home. During a hot day you can create a pleasant coolness, and during cold spells you can add a little warmth.

However, users often experience deterioration in the performance of equipment during long-term use. This may be primarily due to contamination of the internal elements of the air conditioner. Over time, accumulated dust impairs air circulation and changes the temperature, which leads to malfunctions. Therefore, if problems arise, you need to properly clean the product body.

If you don't know how to do this, read our article. Here we detail the cleanup action plan.

What you need to clean your air conditioner yourself

Before starting work, you should prepare the workplace, cover the surface with rags or newspaper to prevent contamination. It is also worth purchasing a number of tools for convenient and quick cleaning.

You will need the following tools and materials.

• vacuum cleaner with special narrow nozzles for easy cleaning of small parts inside the housing;
• a few soft rags (you can use an old cloth) for wet and dry cleaning;
• small brush with soft bristles to remove large particles of dust and dirt;
• for maximum access to difficult areas You can also use an old toothbrush;
• detergent and soap for diluting the solution;
• bowl of warm waterso that it is convenient to dilute the solution.

IMPORTANT! During the work you will need to change the water several times. Therefore, prepare several basins or dilute the detergent in warm water each time.

Cleaning the indoor unit

If you have prepared everything you need, you can begin the cleaning process. The indoor unit is especially difficult because it is difficult to get to. It consists of several elements that ensure the interconnected operation of equipment and the performance of various functions.

IMPORTANT! The internal elements should be cleaned much more often than the external panel. This is due to active contamination during the operation of the mechanisms.

How to disassemble the device

First, you should provide access to system elements. To do this, you need to disassemble the air conditioner. Use the following action plan.

1. Turn off the equipment and de-energize it for all manipulations.
2. Lift the main cover housings. Carefully take it off, disconnecting from the clamps and fastenings.
3. When fixing the outer panel unscrew the bolts holding it, remove from the main body of the system.
4. Carefully remove the internal filters and the indoor unit cover.
5. Unscrew the bottom panel of the device, remove all holders and screws, if present.
6. Once you have access to the drain tray, remove it. For this unscrew the screws and remove the retaining clips on the sides. Prepare a container in advance to remove condensation from the tray.
7. At the final stage it remains to remove fan. It is better to entrust this manipulation to professionals. The process consists of unscrewing the retaining bolts and removing the blades. In some cases, you have to remove the product along with the motor.

IMPORTANT! If you doubt your capabilities, entrust the work to a professional. Remember all the manipulations he performs so that you can repeat all the steps yourself in the future.

How to clean properly

The indoor unit contains a large number of parts, to clean them you need to use the following plan.

Filters

First of all, the filters are cleaned; they are washed under running water using a special brush. You can also soak the filter in a solution of hot water with added detergent or soap to better remove contaminants.

Radiator

The radiator changes the temperature of the supplied air. It is a solid structure with gaps into which dust can clog.

• for shallow deposits, it is enough to use a brush and a powerful vacuum cleaner;
• if the dirt has gone deep into the system, professional help will be required.

Fan

For the fan, you need to prepare a spray bottle with soapy water. Spray it on the fan, and after it gets wet, turn the air conditioner on low to clean the blades. After this, additionally wipe all elements with a brush and a damp cloth.

Drainage tray

Don't forget about the drainage tray either. It is necessary to remove the remaining water from the pipe system and wash them with soapy water.You can also use a steam machine for antibacterial and antifungal treatment, since the remaining water in the water supply system can serve as a source of mold growth.

Assembling the indoor unit

After complete cleaning, it is necessary to assemble the structure for its further use. Follow all steps in reverse order. After drying, try turning on the equipment to check the operation of all systems.

How to clean the external unit

The external block is located on the street side, so you need to get close to it. You can use a ladder, try to reach through an open window or from the balcony.

To clean, do the following.

1. Disconnect the equipment from the power source. Wait until it turns off completely.
2. Remove the top panelby detaching the retaining elements. Place the lid indoors so that it is not in the way.
3. Remove large debris and dust particles with a brush.
4. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove any remaining dirt. Do not touch the power supply with wiring.
5. Clean the surface of the elements again with a brush and wipe everything with a damp cloth.

IMPORTANT! After cleaning, close the structure in reverse order and wait until it is completely dry.

The air conditioner can only be connected to a power source when it is dry.