How often to clean your air conditioner
How often an air conditioner needs routine cleaning depends on its environment and how much it is used during the year:
Households: About every 3 – 4 months (if used every day) or every 6 months (if used 3 – 4 days a week).
Offices and restaurants: About every 2 – 3 months, depending on how dusty the environment is.
Commercial premises, enterprises, factories and workshops: Monthly, because the units run continuously at high duty.
Steps to clean an air conditioner at home
What you need before you start:
Pressure pump: A high-pressure water pump used to rinse the metal fins of the indoor and outdoor units. Simply put one end of the hose into a bucket of water and press the trigger on the other end whenever you need to spray. A glass-cleaner spray bottle or a garden sprayer will also do the job.
Plastic bag: Professional air conditioner cleaning services usually use a metal tray or a drip bag as long as the indoor unit, which can be hung from it. You can use a large plastic bag or turn a raincoat into a large bag that will catch the dirty water while you rinse.
Other items: A screwdriver; clean water; washing-up liquid or a detergent to clean the indoor unit; a clean towel or plastic bag to keep water off the circuit boards.
How to clean your air conditioner at home:
Step 1: Switch off the power to the air conditioner
For safety while cleaning, disconnect the power supply to the air conditioner.
Switch off the power to the air conditioner
Step 2: Clean the indoor unit
First, remove the louvre, lift the front cover from the bottom upwards and take out the dust filter. Use a screwdriver to remove the screws holding the indoor unit casing. Then clear away the dust and dirt.
Fit the cleaning bag around the whole unit. Next, use an air conditioner cleaning solution to clean the components inside the indoor unit, such as the cross-flow fan, the air filter and other parts.
Cleaning the indoor unit
Step 3: Clean the outdoor unit
Remove the protective cover from the front of the outdoor unit and rinse it with the spray hose. Next, clean the fan blades and any dusty corners inside.
Once the outdoor unit components have been rinsed, wipe them clean with a dry cloth. Do not spray water directly onto the area housing the circuit board, as this can easily cause damage.
Cleaning the outdoor unit
Step 4: Check the refrigerant
Use a dedicated refrigerant gauge to check the gas, looking for leaks in the pipework or signs that the unit is running low. If you find either problem, contact a reputable service provider to have it fixed promptly.
Checking the refrigerant
Step 5: Reassemble the air conditioner
Make sure every part of the indoor and outdoor units is clean and completely dry before reassembling. Simply reverse the order in which you took them apart.
Indoor unit: Carefully refit the dust filter in its original position, taking care not to tear the mesh. Then refit the louvre and close the front cover from the top downwards. Use the screwdriver to refit the screws on the casing.
Outdoor unit: Refit the front protective cover so that the clips line up correctly.
Reassembling the air conditioner
Step 6: Test and run the air conditioner
Switch the circuit breaker back on to run the air conditioner. The cleaning is complete when the unit runs quietly, with no abnormal behaviour or unusual noises.
With these simple steps you can clean your air conditioner at home without calling in a technician. Don’t put it off, unless you want your air conditioner to give up long before its time.
Testing and running the air conditioner
For consultation on the design and installation of air conditioning systems, please contact TechConnect Vietnam for the best advice and support.
Techconnect Vietnam Engineering and Trading Co., Ltd.
- Address: FLC Garden City Urban Area, Dai Mo Ward, Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi
- Hotlines: 0988 883 961/ 0987 989 822
- Email: techconnect.mepf@gmail.com
- Website: https://techconnectmepf.com/en/
