How to disassemble, wash and maintain a home air conditioner yourself

Any technique requires maintenance. Maintenance of the air conditioner extends the life of the apartment and helps to maintain the health of the residents of the apartment. The main procedure, which is carried out more often than others, is to clean the indoor unit from accumulated dust. This is a simple algorithm of actions that you can do yourself.

5 reasons to clean your air conditioner at home

The air conditioner should be cleaned within the periods indicated by the manufacturer in order to avoid negative consequences:

1. A dirty filter located under the front bezel will reduce system performance. The device will not work as efficiently as new. The load on the compressor increases, which quickly leads to breakdowns and repairs, since it is not fully cooled due to a dirty fan.
2. The environment in the indoor unit promotes the growth of Legionella bacteria, which causes severe damage to the respiratory, urinary and nervous systems. You can get sick even when carrying out physiotherapy procedures aimed at improving a person's health. However, more often the reason is the air conditioner in the house. The split system works on the principle of returning the air taken from the room, therefore, microbes enter the air from the indoor unit.
3. The drainage system is clogged - the liquid cannot escape through the tube and flows through the indoor unit onto the walls. This threatens the repair of the air conditioner and the room itself.
4. Washing home air conditioners prevents the appearance of odors when the device is running, associated with the waste products of microorganisms.
5. The closer the outdoor unit is to the road or trees, the faster it gets clogged with fluff, dust, branches.

If the device works only during the summer season, it is recommended to wash the filters yourself at least once a month, because this is not included in the service. When a smell appears, you can use special antibacterial compounds that are sprayed onto the operating fan of the indoor unit. Maintenance can also be performed by specialized companies, but elementary measures are cheaper to do with your own hands.

The help of specialists may be needed to check the system completely and refuel freon.

Cleaning the indoor unit of the air conditioner

To access the internal parts, you need to lift the front panel and disassemble the air conditioner for cleaning. You will need:

• a vacuum cleaner to blow out dust from the inside;
• detergents purchased from a hardware store that are suitable for metal parts;
• chlohexidine for disinfection is sold at the pharmacy;
• rag.

Procedure:

1. The mesh filter located just behind the front panel is removed and soaked in soapy water. This procedure is carried out regularly every three weeks. It takes 15 minutes together with drying and setting in place. It is advisable to dry in the sun, as the sun's rays kill bacteria and fungus.
2. If dirt particles get on the internal fan, a detergent solution is applied to the blades. You can simply rinse them off several times with warm water. A more radical method is to cover the outlet with a rag and turn on the air conditioner at low speed. The dirt will fly out from the inside and remain on the rag. A vacuum cleaner will help here, with which the dust is first cleaned, and then washed with a solution.
3. The next step is to get to the condenser tank. The main thing is not to damage the drain tube located at the other end of the container. All manipulations are carried out carefully so as not to damage the plastic decorative panel. The tank is cleaned of dust.
4. There is an impeller behind the tank - it also needs to be vacuum cleaned with a special narrow nozzle, which is used to clean furniture in recesses.

While the internal cleaning is in progress, the filter is air-dried. Then everything is assembled in the reverse order. Chlorhexidine is mixed with alcohol: 1 bottle of the substance and 100 ml of alcohol. The mixture is poured into a spray bottle. The air conditioner is turned on at low power and the substance is evenly sprayed over the surface of the fan and filter. The smell disappears within 15 to 20 minutes. Cleaning the air conditioner with chlorhexidine is the safest non-toxic method used in children's rooms.

Internal latches are made of plastic, so inaccurate opening and closing can damage them.

Cleaning the outdoor unit

The outdoor unit is washed independently if it is located in an accessible place. Otherwise, you need to call the high-altitude workers. The outdoor unit is cleaned once a season. Lack of service at least once a year reduces the performance of the air conditioner.

The procedure for cleaning the air conditioner with your own hands:

1. Turn off the equipment, pull out the plug from the socket.
2. Clean the outer surfaces of the outdoor unit with a damp cloth.
3. Remove the protective grid and vacuum all accessible parts very carefully, as they are covered with a protective layer. If damaged, rust will begin to form and the equipment will quickly become unusable.
4. Using a hose connected to the tap, rinse the insides under pressure.
5. Assemble and bolt the outer grille.

When working with an external device, pay attention to the condition of the copper pipes. If they freeze (there is frost), then there is a freon leak, and you need to call specialists for repair and refueling. Refrigerant losses of up to 8% per year are normal. Normally, there should be no signs of ice.

Flushing the drainage system

Interruption in the operation of the unit may clog the drain tube and cause condensation to flow out through the indoor unit. Do-it-yourself cleaning of the split system also means rinsing the drainage device. It gets clogged with debris, insects build nests there for the winter. Such a cork can cause stagnation of liquid and its flow down the walls.

For washing, use soap solutions and special substances that dissolve organic matter. The solutions are poured under pressure into the tube and then, using a long probe, they are removed along with the debris.

Cleaning products

Antibacterial cleaners are designed to disinfect the insides of the air conditioner. They are sold in aerosols, so they are convenient to use - they create a strong pressure that penetrates deeply.

Foam solutions are intended for cleaning the heat exchanger. Easy to apply, then liquid. They are washed off with water or wiped off with a rag, depending on the instructions in the instructions.

The products contain chlorine, alcohol, weak active substances, acids. They differ in purpose. Some substances can be harmful, so it is allowed to use them when there are no people in the room. The person doing the cleaning wears protective gloves and a mask that covers the respiratory system. This applies to acidic products. It is not recommended to use chemicals in children's rooms.

After applying chemicals, turn on the air conditioner to ventilate the indoor unit well and remove volatiles.

Anticorrosive agents are used together with the cleaners. Especially useful if the air conditioner is installed in a street with heavy traffic.Automobile gases contain substances that destroy a thin layer of protection, therefore it is periodically restored with acrylic-based products that extend the life of the external device.

How often should the climate system be cleaned

It is customary to inspect and, if necessary, clean the device before the start of the summer season and autumn. A full technical inspection and service of air conditioners is carried out twice a year.

It is recommended to rinse the strainer every three weeks. If it is clean, and the room is often cleaned, you can do prophylaxis once every month and a half. The condition of the fine filters is of great importance. If they become clogged, it is best to replace them with new ones.

It is recommended to look once at how the specialist is washing the air conditioner. Then you can carry out cleaning activities yourself.