Cleaning the air conditioner in the apartment: how often is it required, how to inexpensively clean various parts

Many people now install air conditioning in the house: it is a convenient device for changing the air temperature, which allows you to create an ideal microclimate in the room. However, do not forget that over time, the device becomes dirty. Calling workers for cleaning is sometimes costly, especially if you do it regularly, but you can inexpensively clean the air conditioner in your apartment with your own hands.

The need for cleaning

Most people, when installing an air conditioner, do not even think about its further maintenance, therefore problems are not detected in advance, and minor failures accumulate, which can lead over time to complete failure. Ideally, any manipulations with complex equipment should be carried out by a specialist, but if there is no opportunity to call it or you want to save money, you can clean it yourself.

Malfunctions with this device are usually not noticeable until there are too many of them. It is easy for a person to identify changes in the operation of a TV or smartphone, but most of the parts of the air conditioner are inside him, and no one fixes the smallest changes in the strength of heating or cooling. And only when the quality of heating or cooling changes significantly, the breakdown will be noticed.

In order for the device to function longer and better, it must be cleaned regularly. It is known that the deterioration of the air conditioner is affected by the following factors:

• the floor on which the apartment is located;
• the degree of pollution of the atmosphere;
• air humidity.

And if two of these points cannot be influenced in any way, then the third is quite amenable to control. In addition, dirt can harm people in the room.

The uncleaned filter of the air conditioner maintains ideal conditions for mites and other parasites.

In addition, fungi and harmful microorganisms can spread from a dirty split system. It is easy to understand by the unpleasant odor emanating from it during operation. It feels like mold spores are in the air, and that's not far from the truth. This happens because blockages form in the apparatus over time, which retain water, which, during normal operation, descends into the sewer. It spreads throughout the air conditioner, and such a humid environment is favorable for the life of many creatures that negatively affect human health.

There are three main signals that it is time to start cleaning or even repairing:

1. Water began to drip from the appliance.
2. When turned on, a strong unpleasant odor is generated.
3. When turned on, the device makes noise and crackles, which was not the case before.

In this case, you must carefully follow the instructions so as not to break the air conditioner.

Procedure time

The more often the device is cleaned, the better it will perform. Some parts of the air conditioner can be cleaned several times a year, while other parts need to be cleaned every two weeks. Considering how many problems its pollution is fraught with, It is best to do a thorough cleaning regularly, at least twice a year:

• in the fall, before the onset of winter, when the air conditioner is almost not used;
• in the spring, before the start of active operation.

If you clean it with such frequency, it will last the maximum amount of time allotted to it - from seven to twelve years - without breakdowns and the need to contact repair services. Observing this rule, you can not only save money, but also preserve your own health.

Working with an external unit

The case of the air conditioner is located on the outside of the house, so many owners do not even think about cleaning it. However, dirt, dust, poplar fluff accumulating on its surface can have a significant impact on its operation. Due to excessive pollution, the power of the device may decrease, and the power consumption, on the contrary, may increase. In addition, it begins to overheat, which does not in the best way affect its service life.

Most often, an ordinary brush is used to clean the air conditioner. With it, you can simply sweep all the debris off the surface. This is not too thorough, but the most accessible method, and if you do not want to spend too much time and effort on cleaning, then you can use it. If the owner of the vehicle has a car, then a cleaning agent suitable for the car can be used. They quickly remove dirt and work well in this case.

Of course, there is nothing better than professional cleaning. Air conditioner service workers use high-pressure cleaning devices. This removes the maximum amount of dirt and dust. However, at home, you can come close to these results with the availability of quality tools and patience.

Pollution is much more in places where its source is located nearby. Accordingly, it is more often necessary to clean those air conditioners that are located on the lower floors. The most contaminated devices are those located on floors one through four, and there is practically no dust on the tenth floor and above. Therefore, those who live high up do not have to worry about cleaning the outdoor unit for several years in a row, and residents of the lower floors are better off doing this manipulation once a season or more often.

Cleansing the inside

This part of the apparatus most of all needs cleaning, since the performance of the entire system and the purity of the air in the house depend on this. In addition, it is advisable to monitor how quickly it becomes dirty in order to work out the ideal timing for a particular air conditioner.

Air filters

Outwardly, this part of the device resembles a fine mesh and is located immediately under the front panel of the air conditioner. The quality of the air that enters the apartment depends on the filter. It traps the smallest dust particles, preventing them from entering both the room and the interior of the device. With excessive contamination of this part, contamination of other components can occur, and subsequently their breakdown.

Therefore, the filters should be cleaned at least once every two to three weeks. This period can be shortened if the air is very heavily polluted. If you do not do this, various problems may arise:

• The air can start to cool much worse.
• The air flow through the room may become less intense.
• The drainage system may become dirty and cause the air conditioner to leak. This will happen because dust lumps will impede the outflow of moisture.
• Failure of the cooling system. Frost will appear on the pipeline, which will melt after switching off, again leading to smudges.
• Difficulties with future cleanups. It is much easier to clean the device from dirt accumulated in two weeks than to clean a long-term mud layer. If the first one is easy to eliminate on your own, then in the second case you will definitely have to contact a specialist.

Filters should be cleaned very carefully, without using abrasive agents, bleaches, or solvents. The water should not be too hot.

All this can cause deformation of such an important part and malfunction of the device, so it is best to use ordinary soap for cleaning.

After removing the cover of the indoor unit, you need to carefully remove the filter and put it in a bowl or other container with warm soapy water for a few minutes. Then, after taking it out, you can rinse it with warm running water and put it to dry. It is also impossible to heat it during drying; it is best to let it dry on its own. After the end of the procedure, you can install it back.

There are two main types of filters: mesh, which can be used and washed for an unlimited amount of time, and pocket ones, the life of which is limited. If over time even cleaning does not help and the air conditioner still does not work well, you should think about buying a new filter.

Rotary fan

This part is like a roller through which cooled air passes into the room. During operation, particles of dirt and grease can settle on it, therefore, in a highly contaminated state, it practically unable to let air in the desired direction and volume, because its blades cannot capture air.

It should be cleaned at least once a year, and ideally as it gets dirty. To do this, you need to open the inside of the air conditioner and remove the filter, then carefully apply soapy water to all the fan blades. This can be done with a long bristle brush. In this state, the device should stand for five minutes.

During this time, you need to lay a film on the floor below, and then turn on the air conditioner.

This will blow all the dirt out of it onto the floor. After stopping the operation of the device, you can once again check whether there is dirt and dust left inside, and put the filter and cover back.

Evaporator grill

This is a system of tubes inside which the freon evaporates. It is recommended to clean it once a year before operating the air conditioner. This part is also quite fragile, so do not use metal-bristled brushes or other objects that could damage it.

Having opened the lid of the split system, you need to remove the grill that covers the heat exchanger and clean it thoroughly. A soft-bristled, long-handled brush and a vacuum cleaner with a narrow nozzle are best suited for this task. With a brush, you can brush away all the dust, and the vacuum cleaner will quickly collect it. Cleaning this part of the appliance at least once a year will be quick and easy, but an air conditioner that has not been cleaned for a long time may require the use of a steam generator. It is worth paying attention to the condition of the grill: if rust is visible on it, you should immediately contact the service center.

Drainage system

This is another important part to keep in mind when you need to clean your air conditioner. If the drain is clogged with dirt and grease, the device may break. In addition, stagnation leads to the appearance of mold and other harmful microorganisms, so rinse the tray from time to time it is necessary, otherwise parasites can spread not only inside the device, but also in the apartment, and an unpleasant odor will also appear.

There are different ways to clean a drain, depending on how dirty it is:

1. If it is lightly soiled, you can simply rinse it with clean water and soap or dishwashing liquid through the heat exchanger grill.
2. If blockages or deposits of dirt appear, you will have to disconnect the drain and blow out the pipeline. To do this, you can use a vacuum cleaner, which will remove all the dirt that has accumulated there.
3. In case of severe contamination, you will have to disassemble the entire unit, pull out the pipeline and thoroughly rinse and blow through the inside, clearing it from the slightest blockages and dirt.

After this procedure, it is advisable to carry out antibacterial cleaning of the air conditioner.

To do this, in its inner part, you need to spray a special spray for cleaning air conditioners and turn it on in cooling mode at maximum power. This will kill fungus, bacteria and mold and remove unpleasant odors. The appliance will then function as well as it did immediately after purchase.

Suitable means

In stores you can find a lot of special products for cleaning the air conditioner. You can use them to make the task easier. Basically, there are two types of such drugs on the market: foam cans and sprays. They allow you to clean the drainage system and the heat exchanger.

Foam cleaners are best suited for cleaning the heat exchanger grill. Using it, almost no effort is required. To do this, shake the can and spray on the grill evenly. Then you can forget about the device for a while: the foam will become a liquid and drain into the drainage system along with the rest of the moisture and dirt. You do not need to manually clean the grill, but after cleaning, you will need to turn on the air conditioner in ventilation mode to dry it.

Aerosols are used in much the same way. Before using them, you need to turn on the device at low power, and then spray the spray on the surface of the heat exchanger through the holes. Cleaning takes ten to fifteen minutes, after which you need to dry the device in ventilation mode. It is worth paying attention to the recommendations on the packaging: sometimes the aerosol needs to be washed off from the heat exchanger after the procedure.

Sprays are less economical as they are often enough for just a couple of cleanings. If the pollution is strong, then it may not be enough at all, so it is always useful to know how to clean the air conditioner without them.