How to clean a window air conditioner. Do-it-yourself air conditioner cleaning at home

Knowing how to clean the air conditioner yourself, you can significantly save on the maintenance of climate equipment. Can all elements - evaporator, radiator and fan - be washed at home? The answer to this question depends on the design of the split system and the degree of pollution. In order to prevent a large accumulation of dirt and the formation of a greasy film, you need to clean the equipment at home as often as indicated in the instructions, then you do not have to remove the air conditioner and do a deep cleaning at the service center.

How often should the air conditioner be cleaned?

Manufacturers of climate control equipment indicate in the technical documentation how often it needs to be cleaned. It should be noted that different elements are serviced at different intervals. Most often it is necessary to clean the air (dust) nets, as they accumulate dust, animal hair - any mechanical particles that are in the air of the apartment. The frequency of cleaning here depends on the general pollution in the room, but it should be done at least once a month.

Other components of the split system also need regular maintenance. It is recommended to perform it approximately once every 6-12 months, depending on the intensity of the system. At home (not in industrial conditions), it is quite enough to perform cleaning procedures once a year.

There are symptoms that indicate that the air conditioner is dirty:

crackling or louder operation of the split system;
gurgling or squelching sounds;
an unpleasant smell that appears after turning on the air conditioner;
water is dripping from the indoor unit.

Their appearance indicates that cleaning is not performed or is not carried out in full. With such manifestations, it is necessary to perform complex processing. It can be done at home, on your own or with the help of specialists.

What needs to be cleaned in the indoor and outdoor units?

The air conditioner (split system) consists of two blocks - internal, located in the room, and external - located on the outer wall of the house.

The indoor unit contains:

filters;
fan;
radiator and heat exchanger (evaporator);
drainage system (bath and channel).

The condenser and compressor are placed in the external unit, but there is also a heat exchanger and a fan, which also need regular maintenance, as fluff, leaves, wool and dust get there.

Air filters

Filters (dust screens) must be cleaned frequently, as this prevents contaminants from entering other elements of the system. This is easy to do, and once figured out, any user at home can handle it. The filters are located immediately under the top cover and visually look like a fine mesh with plastic partitions. There can be from one to three in one block.

The procedure consists of several steps:

turn off the power supply;
lift the cover and fix it in the upper position;
remove filters;
clean the filter with a vacuum cleaner or brush and rinse under cold water;
dry and reinstall.

Filters can be either flat or curved (drum type). It does not affect the cleaning method.

drainage system

The drainage system consists of two elements - a tray (tray), where liquid is collected from the heat exchanger, and a drainage tube - a channel through which liquid is removed from the house. In order to remove the drip tray, you must first remove the plastic casing of the indoor unit. It is attached with several self-tapping screws (mostly 3-4). Next, you need to remove the connector connecting the bath to the board, and disconnect it from the drain tube.

After that, the bath and the channel are cleaned. The bath is thoroughly washed under running water. The drainage channel is blown with a stream of air under pressure - a compressor or a vacuum cleaner working for blowing is connected to the drainage pipe. Next, you need to pump chlorhexidine (400 ml) into the canal and wait 10-15 minutes. After that, the channel is blown again.

To check whether it was possible to completely clean the drainage system at home, pour 1.5 liters of water to check. If there are no leaks, the cleaning is well done.

Fan

The fan can be cleaned in two ways. The first one is less effective, but it is suitable for those whose model and mount of the air conditioner do not allow removing the impeller (fan drum) and performing a full cleaning.

After removing the filter, you need to blow dry dust with a vacuum cleaner turned on for blowing, or with compressed air from a can.
Apply a soapy solution to the drum blades with a long-haired brush. To process all surfaces, the drum must be turned by hand. As a washing solution, you can use any dishwashing detergent or laundry soap.
5 minutes after applying the composition, you need to turn on the air conditioner, having previously laid a film under the diffuser grille. This will blow all the dirt out.

You can additionally treat the blades with an antibacterial agent. There are plenty of cleaners on the market today designed specifically for climate control systems.

In most models of air conditioners, it is possible to remove the impeller. In this case, it can be immersed completely in a soapy solution, and then rinsed with a strong stream of water and thoroughly treated with a disinfectant.

The removal sequence is as follows.

Unscrew the front panel.
Carefully remove the drain pan so as not to spill the liquid contained there. In this case, it must be disconnected from the board (remove the connector) and from the drain hose.
Rotate the drum until the locking screw is visible. It is located at the junction of the drum with the motor (one blade is missing there).
Remove the screw by carefully bending the evaporator.
After cleaning the drum, the assembly is carried out in the reverse order.

Incorrect removal of the impeller can damage the air conditioner. This procedure is recommended only for people familiar with the technique.

Radiator and heat exchanger

At home, the radiator and evaporator can only be cleaned superficially without removing them. Deep cleaning is carried out in service centers with the removal of the indoor unit, and then reinstallation. The cost of such a procedure is considerable, so it is better to regularly carry out maintenance yourself in order to prevent a strong accumulation of dirt on the elements of the air conditioner.

Step-by-step instruction

Remove the top cover, air filters and unscrew the front panel.
Clean the radiator and evaporator with a long bristled brush. In this case, the movements should only be from top to bottom, otherwise the thin plates of the heat exchanger may be damaged.
Pour 0.5 liters of antiseptic into a spray bottle, and switch the air conditioner to recirculation mode at the lowest possible temperature.
Spray the antiseptic in the air intake area (not on the radiator itself, but near it).

If a dirt film has formed on the heat exchanger, it can be removed with a steam cleaner. Dry dust must first be removed with a brush, and after steam cleaning, perform an antiseptic treatment.

Outdoor unit

The outdoor unit is also prone to contamination, but there are practically no fat deposits. This simplifies the cleaning process.

Turn off power.
Remove protective cover.
Remove large debris with a brush or vacuum cleaner.
Rinse fan blades.
Wash the radiator of the outdoor unit with a hose or with a steam generator. In this case, you need to ensure that water does not get into the electrical part of the unit.

Why contact a service center?

Although the radiator and fan of the indoor and outdoor units can be cleaned by yourself, this does not negate the service. When operating the air conditioner, even in the most ideal conditions, there is a loss of refrigerant (freon or freon). Normally, its amount decreases by 5-7% per year. If there is a depressurization of the circuit, then much more freon can leak out.

Do you know how to clean a window air conditioner? Keeping your air conditioner clean helps it work more efficiently. Follow the tips below to thoroughly clean your air conditioner.

Cleaning the window air conditioner

You will need:

Screwdriver
Dishwashing liquid
A vacuum cleaner
Blind cleaner
Rag
Bristle brush
Wire

How to clean a window air conditioner:

Disconnect the device from the network.
Remove the front panel by unscrewing it with a screwdriver or removing it from the latches, depending on the design of the air conditioner.
Take out the filter. If the filter is replaceable or very dirty, it is recommended to replace it. If the filter is washable, wash it with dishwashing liquid and warm water. If the filter is not washable, vacuum it thoroughly with a portable vacuum cleaner.
Attach the appropriate attachment to your vacuum cleaner to clean all accessible surfaces.
Allow the filter to dry completely before installing the filter in the air conditioner unit.
If any of the metal curtains are bent, they will need to be straightened with a tool that can be found at a hardware store.
Go to the outer surfaces, remove dust from them, not forgetting the grate. This will help keep the filter clean for as long as possible.
Unscrew one of the outer panels of the device and remove any leaves and other debris that have fallen inside.
If you can access the metal blades, wipe them down with a damp cloth.
Make sure that the holes in the drain pan and drain tube are not clogged. If they are clogged, clean them with a piece of wire.
Some window blocks are installed in a case with an open window. If you have such an enclosure, remove the block several times a year and remove any leaves or branches that have gathered in the enclosure.

The filter should be cleaned in the spring and every month when the device is in use.
The coil can only be flushed with water.
Vacuum the coil with care. It can be bent very easily.
Old devices may require lubrication. You can find out if your air conditioner requires annual lubrication in the instruction manual. If the instructions are not saved, contact the manufacturer or look for instructions on the Internet. Most new devices do not require lubrication.

Any air conditioner has special filters that purify the air from dust, fluff, pet hair and more. Over time, these filters become clogged, which affects the operation of the air conditioner. First of all, bacteria begin to form in a humid environment, as a result of which mold and unpleasant odors occur. In addition, the radiator will be blown worse, which means the air will not be cooled properly. Regular filter cleaning will save you from all these problems.

Important! A dirty air conditioner can harm your health!

How often should the air conditioner be cleaned?

Do-it-yourself air conditioner cleaning

When cleaning the filters, do not forget about cleaning the air conditioner heat exchanger. It is located either immediately under the cover or behind the filter. It is quite possible to use a vacuum cleaner to clean the heat exchanger. True, sometimes dirt accumulates so much that the vacuum cleaner cannot completely remove it. In this case, you need to call specialists who will steam clean the air conditioner.

The outdoor unit of the air conditioner is the most difficult to clean, but it must be done at least once a year. If the block is not located very high and you can reach it yourself, then do the following:

Remove the protective grille of the air conditioner

Clean the inside of the unit with a vacuum cleaner

Reattach the protective grille

In modern homes, there are more and more household appliances for various purposes. One of the newest devices gradually entering our lives are air conditioners.

Like any other automatic devices, these products require maintenance. Today we will tell you how to clean the air conditioner yourself right at home, without resorting to calling the masters.

Regular maintenance of household appliances

Air conditioner problems

During the operation of the device, you will immediately feel that it does not work at full capacity, that its insides are clogged. In order not to breed mold and bacteria inside the machine, it will need to be cleaned. The indoor unit is located in our apartment, so it will not be difficult to get to it, the outdoor unit is outside, but it will rarely need to be approached.

Do not worry, anyone who does not even have a general idea of \u200b\u200bthe work of such equipment will be able to cope with this task with their own hands. To bring your unit to life, it will be enough to clean its filter from dirt, inspect the insides and pay a little attention to the appearance. The indoor unit is exposed to less pollution than the outdoor unit, but the operation of the device depends entirely on its functioning.

It is advisable to clean the air conditioner filter from dirt every month during the dense operation of the device. If there are people in the house who suffer from asthma or allergies, then you will have to clean more often, for example, once a week. However, when the procedure for cleaning the device with your own hands is worked out, you will do everything automatically.

Even a simple layman will be able to take care of home air conditioning

What threatens us ignoring the cleaning and cleaning of the air conditioner:

first of all, a dirty filter will affect the quality of the device, and the air coming out of it will not be as fresh and clean as it should be;
due to accumulated dirt, the indoor unit of the device will exude an unpleasant odor;
the internal radiator of the device will overheat due to poor cooling, which will certainly affect the entire drainage system;
the air cooling system will become unstable, after which the device will make various noises and crackling sounds that we would not like to hear at home;
the drainage system of the device will come into a very neglected state, from which it is possible that condensate will drip right into the apartment, and not leave through the tube outside the house;
if you want to clean the air conditioner, you will face great difficulties in the form of a huge amount of dirt, mold and other unpleasant contaminants inside the device.

Such conditions will create a favorable environment for the occurrence of mold, microorganisms, mites inside the device, and as a result of an unpleasant odor. Therefore, in order not to bring the unit to such a state, it is easier to clean it correctly yourself at home, or call the masters a couple of times.

Cleaning the Machine

The most important and simplest action that we can do with an air conditioner with our own hands is to clean its filter. The filtration system in many devices is identical, there are some features in models from different manufacturers, but they are insignificant. It is very easy to replace the filter or clean it at home, as the documentation for the device will tell you about.

The entire algorithm of actions to help clean the filter is painted and drawn in the instructions. There you can also find the general theory of operation of the device, the method of cleaning its other elements, such as a radiator, an outdoor unit.

Removing and cleaning the filters of the device from accumulated dirt

The list of processes for cleaning the filter with your own hands looks like this:

to remove the filter from the device, you need to open the cover of the air conditioner located on the indoor unit, most often you just need to lift it up;
to remove a small amount of dust, it is convenient to use a vacuum cleaner;
if the appliance has been cleaned for a long time, and the dirt is old, then take the grate to the bathroom and wash it under running water, while not using detergents, water is enough;

Detergents should not be used, as they can damage the filter itself, as well as during operation, the parts of the composition remaining on the grates will pollute the air entering the apartment.

after washing, the filter must be dried without fail, and only then placed in the indoor unit;
for air conditioners, special formulations are sold that allow you to disinfect its insides, they are sprayed in the air, and the device, driving it away, is cleaned, to do this, turn it on like a fan and spray the composition;
wipe the outer part of the device, including the blinds, with a damp cloth, after which the device can be assembled and run in normal mode.

Some air conditioners are equipped with disposable filters for air purification, which must be replaced with new ones as they get dirty. Pay attention to this point when buying a device.

As in many other devices, the air conditioner has a radiator (heat exchanger), which is located under the filter or immediately under the cover. You can clean it from dust with the same vacuum cleaner if you reach the hose. Washing the inside of the device is highly discouraged, especially with your own hands, without the help of experts. The instructions for the device talk about steam cleaning, but only professional specialists can clean the device in this way.

Maintaining the device in working order is not at all difficult

Once or twice a year, you will have to clean the external unit of the air conditioner from the dirt, located on the street, on the wall of the house. Most often, the outdoor unit is cleaned after the winter. It is very good if the device is fixed in an accessible position, if not, you will have to call the masters.

In many high-rise buildings, cleaning the air conditioner from the outside without special devices is not possible. Make arrangements with your neighbors and call in a team to clean all the devices on your side of the house, prepare right after winter for the arrival of the summer season when the device will be in dire need.

To clean the outdoor unit, you will need to remove the protective grille, clean it of dust and dirt, after which you need to inspect the insides of the external part of the device and vacuum them. Since this part of the device is located on the street, a large amount of dirt accumulates in it, which we need to remove. After all the cleaning procedures, the block is assembled.

Popular brand air conditioner outdoor unit

In case of various breakdowns of the device, do not try to repair it yourself, unless, of course, you are a certified engineer and specialist in refrigeration engineering. Call the professionals, let them see what is leaking, why the unit is not cooling.

For the normal operation of the device, carry out regular care for it, there are no particular difficulties in this. But a clean and ready-to-use device will help you regulate the microclimate in your apartment, refresh the hot air and ventilate the room.

Caring for an air conditioner in an apartment or office is an integral part of operation. The accumulation of lint, dust, grease or small debris reduces the life of the climate control equipment. Maintenance of air conditioners or split systems is carried out by specialists, but part of the planned activities is within the power of the users themselves. Before you clean the air conditioner with your own hands, you should familiarize yourself with the internal structure of the equipment. Most often, manipulations do not imply any difficulties, it is enough to pay attention and follow the sequence of actions.

The first "symptoms" of unstable operation may not be noticeable. Failure to follow the rules for maintaining an air conditioner or split system entails four main signs of severe pollution:

leaks from the indoor module;
pronounced unpleasant odor;
the presence of extraneous noise during operation, unstable fan sound, crackling;
poor-quality cooling, arbitrary temperature drops.

The presence of one of the signs already indicates the need for urgent cleaning of the system. If you neglect the rules of use and do not clean the air conditioner units in a timely manner, various parts will certainly fail, which will require a visit by service personnel. Serious, at first glance, problems at work can be solved quickly and with your own hands at home or in the office. All basic cleaning works are available to everyone, and their implementation does not require special equipment.

Information on how often you need to clean the air conditioner, how to care for climate equipment, is written in the instructions. As a rule, there is a scheme for disassembling the indoor / single unit, an algorithm for how to flush the air filtration system on your own.

Maintenance of the indoor unit

Cleaning the indoor unit of the air conditioner includes several stages:

washing the filter mesh;
washing the fan;
cleaning the radiator, evaporator;
cleaning the drainage system of the air conditioner.

If the air conditioning equipment is new and used recently, it only needs routine cleaning every 2 to 3 weeks. The list contains cleaning activities such as removal of dust from the case the internal module and cleaning the most polluted parts of the air conditioner or split system.

The accumulation of dust provokes air pollution, the presence of extraneous noise, overheating of the radiator, compressor or evaporator. Cleaning the air conditioner with your own hands at home is carried out in stages.

Cleaning the air filters and fan

The removable strainer of the air conditioner is installed in the inner panel housing, it can be of any shape, it does not affect the cleaning procedure. To get to it, you need to disconnect the device from the network, remove the front cover by unscrewing a few screws. The mesh can be easily removed from the air conditioner, it is recommended not only to clean or rinse the filter, but to pre-soak it in water with laundry soap or a neutral household cleaner.

Then you need to rinse the rotary fan, which distills the cooled air. In the process of rotation, not only dust, but also grease settles on its blades, and debris accumulates. Exists removable and non-removable fans, removable just remove, soak in soapy water for a while. Fixed parts can be cleaned with a brush - this is not very convenient, it will take time, but high-quality cleaning eliminates the accumulation of dirt and grease.

If an extraneous unpleasant odor is observed, then this is a sign of the development of bacteria, fungi or mold. Air filters and air conditioning fan should be cleaned after cleaning. treat with a disinfectant solution or a special antibacterial agent.

The frequency of cleaning the filter meshes, fans is prescribed in the user manual. Based on practice, this should be done every four weeks or more often.

Cleaning the heat exchanger and radiator

The radiator and heat exchanger are installed either in a single air conditioner module or in the indoor unit of a split system. The service center specialists carry out a complete cleaning of the air conditioning system, removing and disassembling the unit. This procedure is expensive, therefore it is more profitable to periodically carry out surface cleaning of the system at home or in the office.

How to properly clean the air conditioner radiator and evaporator yourself? Here is a step by step algorithm:

remove the front cover;
remove the filter screens;
dry cleaning is carried out with a vacuum cleaner or a brush with long bristles, so as not to damage the evaporator plates, all movements must be strictly from top to bottom;
dirt films are removed with a conventional steam cleaner;
put the device into recirculation mode at the lowest temperature;
in the area of air mass suction, spray an antiseptic with a spray gun, excluding contact with the radiator itself.

In order to avoid collecting a lot of dust on the thin plates of the heat exchanger, and the cleaning process to be as fast as possible, dry cleaning should be carried out every month. It is optimal to combine these activities with the washing of filter screens.

Cleaning and disinfection of the drainage system

The drainage system of the air conditioner is a small structure of two elements: a pan where water collects, and a tube that removes liquid. The accumulation of dust in the presence of moisture provokes the development of fungi, bacteria and mold, as a result - the appearance of an unpleasant odor.

When debris or dust enters the drainage system, the nozzle and tube gradually become clogged, after which water begins to flow from the air conditioner.

Initially, you need to disconnect the tray from the board and the output tube, after which it can be easily removed and washed under running clean water. The drain tube can be cleaned with a compressor or a vacuum cleaner in blowing mode. Wash the canal with plain water and soapy water or any neutral detergent.

If fungus or mold has already begun to spread through the air conditioning system, it should be removed and treat the surface with anti-mold, antiseptic or similar antifungal agents. An unpleasant smell most often comes from the pallet, it will not be superfluous to periodically disinfect it.

Maintenance of the outdoor unit

Cleaning the external unit of the air conditioner or split system is carried out much less frequently, approximately once or twice a year. Street dirt, dust, leaves, tree branches, poplar fluff accumulate in this area. If the air conditioner is not cleaned, debris will accumulate, causing the compressor and radiator to become very hot, which leads to breakage of these parts.

It should be noted right away that access to the module is most often difficult. Despite the fact that the block itself is installed next to the window or on the outside of the balcony, it is not always possible to rinse it well without insurance and additional equipment.

If it is not possible to completely secure your life, it is better not to take risks, but to entrust the matter to specialists.

When access to the outdoor unit of the split system is free, it is easy to do the cleaning yourself:

disconnect the device from the network;
remove all branches, leaves and sweep debris from the body;
remove the protective cover and clean the block from large debris inside;
rinse the fan blades with a damp sponge;
rinse the radiator under pressure with water or a steam cleaner, excluding moisture from entering the electrical module.

There are many household cleaners that can be used to clean the air conditioner at home or in the office. As an alternative, they often use regular laundry soap- it perfectly cleans any surface, even from stubborn fatty contaminants.

Why you need to contact specialists

There are many organizations for the maintenance and repair of climate equipment. Qualified specialists carry out cleaning of air conditioners and scheduled technical inspection of systems, including diagnostics and repair work. A common practice among the public is to order a cleaning service as a good example. Despite the general rules, devices may be structurally different from each other.

It is possible to clean a split system or a monoblock on your own, but the maintenance of climate equipment does not end there. In the process of work, there is an annual reduction in refrigerant volume, about 7%. For the stable operation of the air conditioner, its volume must be replenished annually, for this you should contact the specialists.

In other cases, service employees are called if the air conditioning system is unstable, and for no apparent reason. If the malfunction of the air conditioning system is in a mechanical failure, cleaning will no longer help, repair or replacement of parts will be required here.

Preparing the system for summer or winter

Caring for an air conditioner or split system in an apartment includes activities to prepare for the change of season. Regardless of whether the model is adapted for use in winter or not, there are some temperature limits. Switching on the climatic equipment at a temperature below the permissible level threatens to leak liquid, followed by icing of the outdoor unit.

Before the onset of cold weather, it is imperative to clean the home air conditioner and dry the entire system. Modern models have a special function "FAN" (the name may be different).

In preparation for the warm season, the internal module of the split system or air conditioner must be cleaned again. During downtime, fine house dust will certainly collect inside the case, so you need to clean air filters and fan and, if necessary, an evaporator.

Caring for climate equipment in an apartment or office increases its efficiency, increases the service life of the air conditioner. The technical device of air conditioning systems is simple, which is why many users prefer to carry out cleaning activities on their own.