How to understand that the air conditioner is dirty
- The most popular method is to look at the calendar. The air filter of the indoor unit of the split system must be cleaned every month, preferably once every two weeks.
- A more obvious method: if the air conditioner smells unpleasant, it began to work noisily, and the time to reach a comfortable temperature in the room increased — it's time for cleaning.
When do I need to clean the air conditioner?
Split systems, despite all the benefits they bring, are capable of accumulating pollution. In the absence of regular cleaning, dust mites, mold, and fungus may appear inside.
The main signs that you need to clean a household air conditioner are:
- an unpleasant smell of dampness immediately after starting indicates a malfunction of the drainage system or dust deposits inside;
- an increase in electricity consumption and a drop in power during operation;
- a strange hum, crackle and problematic sound indicates that the outer casing or fan blades are dirty;
- condensate leakage;
- the sounds of water pouring indicate a malfunction of the drainage, leakage of refrigerant.
If you notice at least one sign, it is recommended not to delay the process. The earlier the air conditioner is cleaned, the lower the risk of damage to the split system as a whole.
Consequences of air conditioner pollution
A polluted air conditioner consumes much more electricity and does not cool the room completely. Even if you selected the device according to the calculations on a special calculator, the contaminated air conditioner will not meet the desired parameters.
An unpleasant smell is another consequence of untimely cleaning of the air conditioner. It is at least uncomfortable to be in a room where a dirty device is working.
Moreover, it can be dangerous for health — the air that a dirty air conditioner blows out is full of fungi and harmful bacteria, which can lead to infectious and allergic diseases.
Algorithm: detailed instructions for cleaning the household complex
If you decide to clean up dirt and dust accumulations yourself, prepare the necessary tools: a vacuum cleaner (preferably a small manual one), a container with warm water, a soft sponge or cloth, soap solution, toothbrush. Do not forget to review the instructions for the device in order to accurately understand the design of the device.
Disconnect the device from the mains before rinsing. It is also recommended to cover the floor covering so as not to stain it. Do not forget to wear gloves or glasses, which will exclude direct contact of the mucous membrane with dirt.
Cleaning the air conditioner filter
The first thing to start with is flushing the filter. You can get to it in the standard way. Pull the cover of the external unit slightly towards you and lift it all the way up. You will immediately see the main filter. It is a mesh curved plate. You need to remove it carefully.
Lift it up slightly, then pull it down a little and only then on yourself. In most cases, it is already possible to visually assess the degree of contamination of equipment. If you notice damage to the filter, then the split system needs full maintenance.
After removing, rinse the plate under cold running water. If the dirt does not go away, hold the filter in warm water for a few minutes, completely submerging it. You can add soap to the liquid, just wait until it is completely dissolved.
Rinse everything again under running water. At this stage, cleaning the air conditioner involves the natural drying of the structural element. After that, wipe the surface again with a soft, dry cloth.
Expert advice:
- do not dry the filter plate with a hair dryer or other heated air streams, so as not to deform the surface;
- The structural element must not be washed more than 6 times, as it may lose its retaining properties.
If your split system is equipped with pocket filters instead of mesh filters, then you just need to remove them and replace them with new ones.
Cleaning the radiator
One of the problematic processes when cleaning an air conditioner is performed is flushing the radiator. This is a structural part, the purpose of which is to equalize the air temperature to the set parameter.
A radiator is a plate that consists of several small plates. The dust is mostly clogged between them, so you need to remove it with a brush with a hard long pile. Another alternative is to clean the air conditioner with a hand vacuum cleaner. It is best to complete the process by wiping the area with a damp cloth.
If the dirt went deep enough, it could mix with condensate and form a dust film. It is impossible to wash it yourself, so it is best to entrust the process to qualified specialists.
The radiator can be accessed through the bottom cover. The extraction process is simple and fast.
Washing the fan: antibacterial cleaning of the air conditioner
The functional purpose of the fan is to direct cool air into the room. Accumulated contamination not only disrupts the operation of the part, but can also lead to complete breakdown.
To clean the blades, it is necessary to prepare a soap solution: dilute a little liquid or solid soap in slightly warmed water (until completely dissolved). The resulting liquid must be sprayed over the surface of the blades.
As soon as you see that the dust has started to soak off and gradually go away, turn on the split system fan to the minimum RPM. Drops will start to fly around, so it is recommended to cover the floor with newspapers or a protective film.
After that, turn off the air conditioner and remove any remaining dirt with a toothbrush. Be careful not to put excessive pressure on the blades so as not to damage them. Otherwise, cleaning the air conditioner will end with a full repair.
Washing the drainage system
Mud deposits clog the drainage system, which contributes to the spread of mold and mildew. Naturally, this spoils the quality of the air that flows into the room.
You can clean the drainage system yourself only superficially. You can completely remove mud blockages by spraying antibacterial steam. This procedure is performed only by qualified craftsmen.
After that, rinse the drain pan and wipe it dry. At this stage, the complex cleaning of the air conditioner is completed. One of the alternatives is to purchase a split system with a built—in automatic cleaning function.
In this mode, the device runs "idle". Details and internal components are dried under light air flows.
Even multi-mode smart systems need regular manual maintenance. Prevention of the air conditioner with subsequent cleaning is a prerequisite for comprehensive maintenance of the equipment.
How is the external part of the split system cleaned?
The most difficult thing that cleaning the air conditioner involves is washing the outer panel. This should be done no more than 1-2 times a year. The procedure is complicated and requires professional skill.
The process must be performed 12 months after the installation of the air conditioner has been carried out. With each year of operation, it is recommended to increase the frequency of cleaning to 6 months.
How do I clean the air conditioner myself?
Cleaning an air conditioner in an apartment with your own hands may seem like a difficult and exhausting process, but you do not need special knowledge for this. It will be easy for an untrained person to clean the indoor unit of the air conditioner at home.
It is better to clean only the air filters yourself. When trying to disassemble the system, there is a high probability of harm to health or property — for deeper cleaning of the air conditioner, you should contact specialists.
Cleaning the air conditioner in the apartment with your own hands
Filters
The filter cleaning process is simple:
- Turn off the device's power supply before cleaning. Open the lid and remove the air filters, following the user instructions for your model.
- Rinse the filters with water, paying special attention to the edges and corners of the filter: dust and dirt may not be washed out of them immediately — soaking in water will be required.
- If that doesn't help either, try using a soap solution instead of water. Attention! Such operations can not be performed with every filter — on some models this may lead to a decrease in the efficiency of the element — carefully read the operating instructions for your air conditioner model.
Dry the filters thoroughly before putting them back on. All further procedures must be performed by an authorized service center.
Contaminated filter inserts of the air purification system
Radiator, fan and drainage
Cleaning the radiator and subsequent, deeper—located parts is the work of a master. As part of the RSO — routine maintenance, specialists perform the following works:
In the whole system
- Measure the overall performance of the system;
- Identify and eliminate abnormal noises and vibrations;
- Check the power supply parameters;
- Measure the resistance of electrical insulation;
- Testing the electronic part of the air conditioner;
- Clean the heat exchangers from contamination, remove foreign objects from the outdoor unit;
On the indoor unit
- Clean and change filters;
- The pallet, the water level sensor and the pump are removed and rinsed;
- The drainage is being cleaned.
On the outdoor unit
- Identify and eliminate abnormal noises and vibrations;
- Measure the voltage in the compressor and terminals at the start and during operation of the air conditioner;
- Check the 4-way valve;
- The filters in the refrigerant circuit are examined,
- The grounding parameters are measured.
