Today almost every household needs some form of air conditioning, often a split with an outdoor unit. This system is so space-saving, so efficient and so inexpensive that it is now pre-installed in most new homes. However, these devices are small, so cleaning them can be a daunting task. What's more, having them professionally cleaned can be ridiculously expensive and reach 25% ~ 35% of the cost of a new system annually. So, here is a DIY instruction guide for those who want to clean their air conditioning units, and get back the strong fresh air flow of a new split. Be sure to read the warnings at the end to avoid electric shock, and in my opinion it is essential to remove the front cover and clean inside to prevent mold from re-infecting what you have cleaned!
Steps
Step 1. Buy a bag for washing the air conditioner
These are available online and are bags specifically designed to collect the water that accumulates when you clean an air conditioner.
Step 2. Buy a good grill cleaner
Avoid foam cleaners for grills as they can be difficult to use and spread the foam everywhere. Foam sprays may also not penetrate fan grills or blades properly. Therefore, focus on liquid solution sprays.
Be wary of buying harsh chemical cleaners that are designed to attack organic substances, and can damage newer air conditioners. Newer splits often have cooling grids coated with a blue colored hydrophilic layer (which makes condensation water run off the grids easily to improve the strength of the airflow)
Step 3. Install the air conditioner wash bag around the split (called FCU fan coil) on the wall
This way there is no need to disassemble the system like the professionals do.
Step 4. Start spraying the chemical solution over the grids
Try spraying at an angle on the surface of the cooling fins, and directly on the grids. Make sure the solution can reach the grids as best as possible. A good tip is to place the nozzle as close to the fins as possible.
Step 5. Spray the rotating blades hidden in the airflow outlet
To get good results, you need to use a long throw spray nozzle very similar to garden pressure sprayers. Make sure you completely sprinkle the blades with the cleaning solution.
Step 6. Wait 10-20 minutes for the cleaning solution to do its job
Then run the water over the grids and blades with a sprayer, channeling all the flow of dust and dirt into the washing bag for the air conditioners. Note: some water will flow from the grids through the drainage pipe of the air conditioner.
Step 7. Clean the drive
Turn on the air conditioner and lift the front of the bag to allow all the rinse water to drain into the bag. Now remove the wash bag from the ends carefully and drain the waste water. You will have the satisfaction of seeing all the grime and grime coming out of your air conditioner!
Advice
- Try to be gentle and not to exert too much pressure when cleaning the cooling fins. They bend easily and get damaged if you use too much force.
- To avoid or eliminate a clogging of the drain hose, spray a little of the cleaning solution you used for the grills into the drain hose. Then it runs the water down the drain pipe. If you can reach the other end, use a vacuum cleaner to vacuum and unclog the drain hose. This should be done, particularly if you have a leaky air conditioner.
- Use the long throw nozzle or toothbrush to push the rotating blades so they work well on all of them.
- If you know how to remove the front casing of the air conditioner, you can clean the grills more thoroughly.
- If the spray device has enough pressure, this is enough to spin the blades until the spray is concentrated on the lower third of the rotor facing you.
- Before starting, you can remove the drain plug of the water collection tray of the conditioner and instead channel all the dirt into the washing bag. This can avoid directing a flow of water that is too dirty towards the drain pipe.
- A used toothbrush can be very helpful in removing and scrubbing some of the stubborn stains on grids and everywhere, especially in areas near the airflow outlet.
Warnings
- Avoid spraying any solution on the right side near the electronics.
- Many grill cleaners suggest leaving the chemical solution on the grates and using the condensate to clean and rinse them off. However, rinsing directly is preferable, because that way you can remove the tons of trapped dirt. Also, leaving chemical cleaners on the grids generates VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), which are usually not healthy for our respiratory system, even if they are natural products. Long-term exposure to such concentrations of chemical cleaners is not recommended.
- Turn off the mains power switches controlling the air conditioner units, including the compressor, before starting this cleaning process.
