How to clean the air conditioner at home: cleaning the indoor and outdoor unit

In modern houses, one of the usual types of equipment is air conditioning, it is found in almost every house. This is no accident, because with its help you can quickly and easily create a suitable microclimate in your home. During a hot day, you can create a pleasant cool, and during the cold snap add a little warmth.

However, often users are faced with a deterioration in the performance of equipment during prolonged use. This may be due primarily to contamination of the internal elements of the air conditioner. Over time, the accumulated dust worsens the air circulation and changes the temperature regime, which leads to malfunctions. Therefore, if problems arise, the product body must be cleaned correctly.

If you do not know how to do this, read our article. In it, we describe in detail the cleaning action plan.

What you need to clean the air conditioner yourself

Before starting work, prepare the workplace, cover the surface with rags or newspaper to prevent contamination. It is also worth purchasing a number of tools for convenient and quick cleaning.

You will need the following tools and materials.

a vacuum cleaner with special narrow nozzles for easy cleaning of small parts inside the case;
some soft rags (you can use an old cloth) for wet and dry cleaning;
small brush with soft bristles to remove large particles of dust and dirt;
for maximum access to difficult areas you can also use an old toothbrush;
detergent and soap for diluting the solution;
basin with warm waterso that it is convenient to dilute the solution.

IMPORTANT! In the course of work, it will be necessary to change the water several times. Therefore, prepare a few basins or dilute the detergent in warm water each time.

Cleaning the indoor unit

If you have prepared everything you need, you can begin the cleaning process. The indoor unit is particularly difficult because it is difficult to get close to it.. It consists of several elements that ensure the interconnected operation of technology and the performance of various functions.

IMPORTANT! Internal elements should be cleaned much more often than the external panel. This is due to active pollution during the operation of mechanisms.

How to disassemble the device

First, you should provide access to the elements of the system. To do this, disassemble the air conditioner. Use the following action plan.

Turn off the equipment and turn off its power to carry out all the manipulations.
Lift the main cover corps. Neatly take her offby disconnecting from the clamps and fixtures.
When fixing the external panel unscrew the bolts holding itremove from the main body of the system.
Neatly pull out the internal filters and the cover of the indoor unit.
Unscrew the bottom of the device, disconnect all holders and screws if present.
After gaining access to the drainage tray, remove it. For this loosen the screws and remove the retaining clips on the sides. Prepare a container in advance for removing condensate from the tray.
At the final stage, it will remain fan. This manipulation is best entrusted to professionals. The process consists of loosening the retaining bolts and removing the blades. In some cases, you have to remove the product with the motor.

IMPORTANT! If you doubt your abilities, entrust the work to a professional. Remember all the manipulations that he performs in the future to independently repeat all the steps.

How to clean

The indoor unit contains a large number of parts, for their cleaning you need to use the following plan.

Filters

First of all, they clean the filters, they are washed under running water with a special brush. You can also soak the filter in a solution of hot water with the addition of detergent or soap to better remove impurities.

Radiator

The radiator changes the temperature of the supplied air. It is an integral structure with gaps in which dust can clog.

with a shallow bed, it is enough to use a brush and a powerful vacuum cleaner;
if the dirt goes deep into the system, the help of professionals will be required.

Fan

For the fan, it is necessary to prepare a spray bottle with soapy water. Spray it on the fan, after getting wet, turn on the air conditioner at low power to clean the blades. After that, additionally wipe all the elements with a brush and a damp cloth.

Drainage tray

Do not forget about the drainage tray. The remaining water must be removed from the pipe system and washed with soapy water. You can also use a steam engine for antibacterial and antifungal treatment, since the remaining water in the water supply system can serve as a source of mold spread.

Indoor unit assembly

After full cleaning, it is necessary to assemble the structure for its further use. Follow all the steps in reverse order. After drying, try turning on the equipment to check the operation of all systems.

How to clean the external unit

The external block is located on the street side, so you need to get close to it. You can use the stairs, try to get it through an open window or from the balcony.

To clean, do the following.

Disconnect the equipment from the power source. Wait until it shuts down completely.
Remove the top panelby disconnecting the retaining elements. Remove the cover in the house so that it does not interfere.
Brush away large debris and dust particles.
Use a vacuum cleaner to remove any remaining dirt. Do not touch the wired power supply.
Once again, clean the surface of the elements with a brush and wipe everything with a damp cloth.