When you keep your air conditioning unit clean, not only will you be saving quite a bit on energy, but you will also extend the unit’s lifespan. If you want to know how to clean an air conditioner, then you’ve come to the right place. This article will show you what you need to do when it comes to cleaning.
Working around both electricity and the moving part of an air conditioner can be very dangerous, so it’s important you switch off power completely to the AC. On its exterior compressor/condenser, look for the exterior shut off box located near the unit.
On the exterior compressor/condenser, remove the unit’s fan cage. Using a wrench or screwdriver, remove all the fasteners and then lift the fan grill from the top. With a dry/wet vacuum (or by hand) clean all the debris, such as leaves and dust, from the interior.
Remove the AC’s outer covering and then clean all the outside dirt and debris using a powerful shop vacuum’s brush attachment. Then, from the inside out, spray through the unit’s fins using a garden hose to remove all the built up debris and dirt from between them. Don’t use pressure washers, because the pressure from these can end up damaging the fins.
Return the fan cage once you’re done with cleaning. Remove any debris outside the unit’s condenser and cut down vegetation and branches around the unit to help ensure proper airflow. During the cold seasons when the AC’s condenser isn’t being used, you might want to consider covering the top with plastic or plywood to keep debris and dirt from falling in.
Once you’re done with the outside components, you can now move inside. On the AC’s inside blower unit, you’ll find an evaporator coil door. When inside this door, dust the coil off using a soft brush and then, using a no-rinse coil cleaner, spray the coil. This spray, which can be found at most home improvement shops, will foam up and later drip onto the unit’s drain pan. Use a bit of bleach, hot water and soap to clean the drain pan. Once you’re done, mix a 50:50 blend of water and bleach and then pour this mixture down the drain.
It’s good to change the filter in an AC unit at least two times every year. If you reside in an area that’s particularly dusty, then you might want to change it even more than that twice a year. Always ensure the replacement has a similar airflow rating to the filter that was there before it.
An AC unit plays a big role when it comes to ensuring a comfortable living space, so making sure it’s working at optimum levels is very important. Hopefully, this piece has helped show you how to clean an air conditioner properly.
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