By IndianCEO Team

Posted on April 3, 2020

The summer has already started and many of us might be wanting to save some extra bucks by cleaning the Air Conditioner by themselves. However, getting a professional AC service also works if cleaning yourself doesn’t do the job.

Well, the good news is we have come up with the basic procedure to clean your AC at home to keep the cool air blowing without anything clogged up.

How to Clean the Indoor AC unit?

Timely cleaning your AC unit helps it work efficiently with improved air quality and lower running costs. Let’s discuss the step by step process.

Step 1

Turn “off” the AC unit from the switchboard and unplug the power cord from the wall. Remove the outermost plastic cover or slide it out with a snap from the front panel. Lift it carefully with both your arms. (Refer the users manual as it may defer from model to model)

Step 2

Slightly hold the knob of the air filters inside the panel to remove it from the unit. Take the air filters into a bucket to brush out all the dust clogged on it. 

Step 3

To clean the air filters use a dilute solution of mild detergent or a liquid wash and then surf out with clean warm water. Thoroughly rinse out the excess detergent under the running water. Once done, keep the filter in the shade until completely dry.

Instead of detergent, you can also opt for a vacuum cleaner to blow away the dust, just that easily. But if the dirt is grimy and stubborn you will need to brush with a detergent.

Step 4

Plasma filters in the inner side of the air filter are prone to inhale harmful infectants like viruses, bacteria, dust or pollen. Remove the plasma filter/ bacterial filter placed into the inner side of the air filter. 

Pick a toothbrush to apply liquid soap on the plasma filter and get rid of all the dirt by washing it off with warm water. Dry the filter in shade. 

Step 5

Use an air blower to clean the AC fins. Note that the air blower is used at a certain distance from the AC fins and does not touch it directly. The cleaned fins improve the cooling performance of the system. Reassemble the units back in place with air filters.

How to Clean the Outdoor AC unit?

You can frequently clean the Outdoor AC unit to maintain the optimal performance of the system. Let’s dive into a few steps to keep it energy efficient.

Step 1

Run a vacuum cleaner outside the cooling fins to absorb all harmful dust particles while cleaning at regular intervals.

Step 2

To undergo a deep cleaning of the entire outdoor unit, turn “off” the switch to disconnect the unit from the electrical box. Pull out the plug to ensure the shutoff.

Use a screwdriver to remove the screw of the top panel and lift it off. Discharge the outermost grille by removing the four screws. Next, take off the screws to disassemble the front panel.

Step 3

Get a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment and wash off the debris on the condenser fins with a mild cleaning agent or coil cleaner and rinse it off with water hose.

Step 4

Use the hose spray to wash off the unwanted debris, leaves, or spider webs stuck around the unit. Make sure water does not go inside the electrical unit beside it and keep the water pressure low.

Step 5

Apply coil cleaner on the front panel and outer grille. Wait for 15 minutes for the foams to remove matted dirt on the blades. Reassemble the whole unit now.

Important Note:

• Do not use hot water to clean the filters as it may damage or cause discoloration.   

• Do not use bleach, abrasives or volatile oils for cleaning. It may lead to a breakdown or damage to the product surface.

• Before you reassemble the cleaned filters let it dry totally or may cause electric shock.

• Filters are designed to catch the dust and it is recommended to clean the air filters at 2 weeks interval and plasma filters in 3 months of interval. However, it depends on the frequency of use. 

How to Clean Air Conditioner