Means for cleaning air conditioners at home. How to clean the air conditioner at home on your own: preparing climate equipment for the summer season

Any equipment eventually becomes covered with sewage and suggests the need for cleaning. The same goes for air conditioners. Their internal parts are absorbed by a thick layer of dust, because of this, the equipment can overheat, perform poorly and even fail. For this reason, it is necessary to carry out cleaning in a timely manner. And you can do without the help of a specialist. The implementation of such work is available to anyone who is at least a little versed in technology.

The need to clean the air conditioner

Cleaning is quite simple and short time can be carried out. However, many home masters are wondering if it is worth doing such manipulations. Experts point out the need to carry out these works, however, certain rules must be observed in order for the equipment to subsequently work properly. The only difficulty that people who clean up can face is disassembling the equipment. If the described work is not carried out in a timely manner, this may lead to a deterioration in sanitary conditions in the room where the device is located, among other things, bad smell due to the development of bacteria inside the air conditioner. Dust can cause a decrease in the quality of the system, air cooling will not occur so intensively. The efficiency will be reduced due to the dust layer. You can also determine the frequency of such work, it will depend on the intensity of the load on the device. Experts advise cleaning every 6 months, as for household appliances. If we are talking about an office model, then these manipulations are performed every three months. If the system operates in a restaurant, club or any other public place, then cleansing should be done once a month.

Work on cleaning the indoor unit

If you will be cleaning the air conditioner with your own hands, then it is important not to forget about the indoor unit. There is an air filter, which is most often made in the form of a drum or a rectangle. In order to remove this element, in most cases, simply remove the cover. It must be remembered that the air conditioner must be de-energized. After the cover is removed, the latter is removed to protect the filter from damage. The next step is to remove the air filter. It is recommended to wash it under running water. Using a vacuum cleaner, you need to blow, while the body itself is immersed in a basin of water. Do-it-yourself cleaning of the air conditioner involves drying the filter when vivo. This is due to the fact that this component of the device contains paper elements that will deform if exposed to hot air. Before the change of this part, about 8 cleanings can take place. During operation throughput will be reduced, the structure will be broken, which will adversely affect the operation of the device. The next step will be to work with a heat exchanger, which is made in the form of pipes, the refrigerant moves along the latter. Among other things, flows that occur when the fan is operating pass through it. During manipulations in which the heat exchanger is involved, work should be done with extreme caution. This is necessary to prevent damage internal parts. In this case, it is necessary to use a vacuum cleaner and brushes that have a long nap. This will eliminate all the dust that has accumulated inside. Do-it-yourself air conditioner cleaning can be done without using professional help. However, if you notice rust on the heat exchanger, then you will not be able to remove it yourself, this entails the need to call a specialist. Help will be needed in order to adjust the level of freon, the masters will help analyze how well the external unit is functioning.

Cleaning the drainage system

If you are cleaning the Dantex air conditioner with your own hands, then work on the drainage system may be required. The need for these works is indicated by the absence of condensate removal. This circumstance suggests that the drainage system was clogged. This happens due to improper installation of the air conditioner. If the hose sags or is bent, then the condensate will also not be discharged. Dirt and impurities that form and accumulate in the drainage pan clog the pipeline. AT winter time the fluid freezes, causing an ice plug to form in the hose.

Drainage cleaning technology

If you will be cleaning the air conditioner with your own hands, it will be useful to consider the photo before starting work. This, perhaps, will make it possible to understand what the technology of manipulation is. In order to clean the drain, it is necessary to flush the indoor unit with water pressure. Next, the block that was partially disassembled is flushed. Drain hose it is necessary to blow it well with air, and then the drainage system of the disassembled unit is washed.

Car air conditioner cleaning

With your own hands it will be absolutely necessary if there is a need to work with automotive equipment. You can’t use a regular aerosol, it will only allow you to eliminate the unpleasant odor caused by bacteria.

First you need to dismantle the filter, then a hose with an extension is used, through which you need to introduce detergent. At the next stage, the recirculation mode is turned on, it must be left for 10 minutes. The tube must be installed in the air duct and direct the jet to the surface of the evaporator. All liquid must be worked out, and then wait about 15 minutes. After the liquid has been worked out, it will exit through the drainage hole. Now the air conditioner must be turned on in recirculation mode. The fan can be set to maximum speed. When cleaning the LG air conditioner with your own hands, the next step is to leave the car by closing all doors and windows. The air conditioner should run for 10 minutes. Just so everything harmful substances removed from the device, after which they can no longer cause harm to health. The tube can be installed not in the duct, but in the hole from the drainage. From there, the waste liquid can also flow out. Now you know how to clean the drainage system of the air conditioner with your own hands. It will only be necessary to change the old filter in time, this will extend the life of the equipment.

deep cleaning

In order to make a more thorough cleaning, it is necessary to remove the capacitor, which is done by unscrewing the fasteners. The radiator must be treated with a substance that can eliminate the presence of insects. In this state, the element must be left for 15 minutes. Next, water is directed to the condenser under strong pressure, this will help wash the product off the surface. There is another cleaning method that involves the use of foam. If you clean the Panasonic air conditioner with your own hands, using this technology you can wash the evaporator. Foam for this must be fed into the evaporation unit through the drainage hole, which is located at the bottom of the car. You can use the air duct for this, which goes directly into the cabin. The foam will turn into a liquid that will leave the device on its own.

Features of cleaning with foam

The hose must be installed in the drain hole until it rests against the evaporator grate. Next, the foam can is strengthened to the end of the hose, but before that it must be shaken well. When holding the container in vertical position foam must be applied. The master should wait 20 minutes, during this period the foam will turn into a liquid. Only then can the air conditioner be put into operation. The air flow should be directed to the face or legs, while the damper should be in the closed position. The fan must be installed maximum power. The car is closed, while the device works for 10 minutes.

Conclusion

Now you know how to clean window air conditioner with your own hands. You can easily perform such manipulations on your own. However, before starting work, you need to make sure that you yourself can not only disassemble, but also assemble the equipment, because this is the only way to ensure its normal operation. This will allow the owners to save money on complex repairs.

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.

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 industrial environment) it is 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;
  • from indoor unit dripping water.

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 - indoor, located in the room, and outdoor - located on outer wall Houses.

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:

  1. turn off the power supply;
  2. lift the cover and fix it in the upper position;
  3. remove filters;
  4. clean the filter with a vacuum cleaner or brush and rinse under cold water;
  5. 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 pan, you must first remove plastic case 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 rinsed under running water. drainage channel it 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 if it was possible to clear completely drainage system at home, pour 1.5 liters of water to test. 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.

  1. After removing the filter, you need to blow dry dust with a vacuum cleaner switched on for blowing, or compressed air from a balloon.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

  1. Unscrew the front panel.
  2. 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.
  3. 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).
  4. Remove the screw by carefully bending the evaporator.
  5. 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

  1. Remove the top cover air filters and unscrew the front panel.
  2. 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.
  3. Pour 0.5 liters of antiseptic into a spray bottle, and switch the air conditioner to recirculation mode at the lowest possible temperature.
  4. 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 body fat. This simplifies the cleaning process.

  1. Turn off power.
  2. Remove protective cover.
  3. Remove large debris with a brush or vacuum cleaner.
  4. Rinse fan blades.
  5. wash the radiator outdoor unit hose or 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 after-sales 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.

Your air conditioner handles large amounts of unclean air every day. All dust and dirt settle on its filters, which require regular and thorough cleaning. If cleaning is not done, then dirty air with dust will again enter the room, and you will breathe it. And this is fraught with allergies and other health problems. Moreover, an uncleaned air conditioner is noisier and may emit an unpleasant odor. Experts advise to carry out preventive cleaning of the air conditioner at least twice a year before the start of the season of use. In this article we will figure out how to clean the air conditioner at home.

Signs Your Air Conditioner Needs Cleaning

The frequency of cleaning the air conditioner may depend on many factors, such as:

  • The degree of air pollution in the room;
  • Frequency of use of the device;
  • The height of the air conditioner above the ground (floor);
  • Air humidity.

More frequent cleaning may be due to the fact that you have a device installed that combines the functions of air conditioning and air purification.

If the following symptoms are found, it is recommended to clean the air conditioner yourself as soon as possible:

  1. The air conditioner was very noisy.
  2. There was an unpleasant smell.
  3. The device began to cool badly.
  4. Condensation is leaking from the indoor unit.

Cleaning the indoor unit of the air conditioner

To clean the indoor unit, unplug the appliance. Carefully remove the top cover and take out the strainers. Soak them in warm water with the addition of soap and leave for a while. So the dirt accumulated over a long time is better left behind. If an unpleasant smell is felt during the operation of the air conditioner, use antiseptic and disinfectant when cleaning. This will help fight bacteria and fungi. It is recommended to clean the indoor unit at least once a month.

As for pocket filters, it is not recommended to clean them yourself. Otherwise, you will most likely have to change the entire block. Just remove and replace them with new ones.

After the filters, it is necessary to clean the rotary fan, made in the form of a roller. Since this part of the indoor unit of the air conditioner is designed to drive the cooled air from the device into the room, enough dust also settles on it. If left uncleaned for a long period of time, the fan blades can get so dirty that they stop working. For effective cleaning rotary fan, it is necessary to moisten the blades in soapy water and turning on the device, drive air through them. After a few minutes, the device is turned off and manual cleaning is completed with a brush and soapy water.

Cleaning the heat exchanger

Cleaning the air conditioner also includes cleaning the heat exchanger, which is responsible for both heating the air in the cool season and cooling it in the summer. After you clean the vents on the top cover, proceed to clean the heat exchanger.

After opening the cover, carefully brush off the dust from the fins of the heat exchanger with a brush. When heavy pollution wet cleaning is used, but special care is needed here so as not to deform thin plates. This cleaning should be done about once a year.

Cleaning the outdoor unit of the air conditioner

The outdoor unit does not need to be cleaned as often as the indoor unit. It is enough to clean and rinse it 1-2 times a year. Most of the time it gets stuck poplar fluff, plant pollen, leaves, debris, small twigs. If the outdoor unit is not cleaned, then this will most likely lead to serious problems. The equipment will not be able to effectively perform the function of air conditioning, breakdown is inevitable. clean up outdoor unit it is also necessary because the dirt that gets there interferes with the normal heat exchange in the radiator. And this, in turn, leads to its overheating and failure of the compressor.

The cleaning steps for the outdoor unit of the air conditioner include the removal of large debris. Next, clean with a brush and a vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner will allow you to pull dust from hard-to-reach places. Then the fan blades are cleaned, for which it is better to use a damp cloth. This must be done very delicately. During wet cleaning water may get on the electrical components of the device. To prevent this from happening, you need to cover them with plastic wrap.

Radiator plates are washed with a strong pressure of water. To do this, use a hose or a special mini-sink. If the contamination is severe, then additionally apply detergents.

In conclusion, you can wipe the inner surface of the block with a sponge. It is important to remember that the assembly and connection of the device can only be done after all parts have completely dried.

Cleaning the drainage system

If the drainage systems are not cleaned for a long time, then the air conditioner is likely to leak. The fact is that in the drainage tubes in in large numbers not only dust and dirt accumulate, but also fungi or mold. All this can clog the pipes so much that the water outflow through them will stop and the water will go inside. The danger is also that mold from the pipes can spread to the radiator and to the walls of the case.

There are three ways to clean the air conditioner drain:

  • Normal washing with water and detergents;
  • Flushing the disconnected drainage with air blowing it;
  • Flushing at complete disassembly block.

At home, the easiest way to do regular cleaning. Fat-dissolving detergents, such as dishwashing liquid, are suitable for it. And don't forget to rinse the drain pan well, as its contamination is the main cause of bad smell.

Rules for the operation of the air conditioner

In order for the air conditioner to serve you for as long as its manufacturers promise (the service life depends on the brand and manufacturer and is 7-12 years), you must adhere to the following rules:

  1. Regularly (at least once a month) clean the indoor unit of the air conditioner and wash all filters.
  2. If there are any signs of a malfunction of the air conditioner, immediately turn off the device and call the service department.
  3. Once a year, it is imperative to call specialists who will check the pressure of the device and refuel the air conditioner with freon. Also, experts will clean those blocks that you could not clean yourself.
  4. Air conditioners with a built-in all-weather unit must never be used at temperatures external environment below 0оС.

Seasonal preparation of the air conditioner

Now you know how to clean your air conditioner at home, but that's not all there is to know about air conditioners. Along with regular cleaning twice a year, it is necessary to prepare the equipment for the start of the new season.

Preparing for the summer

Before the start of the warm season, it is imperative to clean the heat exchanger located in the external unit of the air conditioner. Also check how the equipment works in all modes. Check the operation of the fans, set them to full power. The only exception to this is high humidity air. Replace air filters if necessary. Rinse the outdoor unit thoroughly, ideally this should be done under high water pressure.

Preparing for the winter season

If the air conditioner is not equipped with an all-weather unit, then it is permissible to use it up to a temperature of minus 3 ° C. If such a unit is installed, then no more than 0оС. Turning on the device at more than low temperatures dangerous by freezing of its drainage system. If this happened, then most likely you will soon find out about it, since water will begin to flow from the indoor unit of the air conditioner. This is the condensate that was supposed to drain through the drain tube to the outside.

Adapting the air conditioner to winter may also include equipping it with a special crankcase heater in the compressor, as well as a speed controller in the outdoor unit. And if you install the so-called "warm drainage", then the air conditioner can be operated all year round at any temperature.

So, once again we recall why we need to regularly clean the air conditioner:

  • A dirty air conditioner is a health hazard;
  • A dirty air conditioner wastes electricity;
  • Pollution reduces the resource of the split system;
  • Pollution increases the risk of breakage by up to 95%.

Thus, we see that in order to clean the air conditioner with your own hands, no special skills and tools are required.

AT recent times air conditioners have become as common home appliances as a TV or a refrigerator. Many people cannot imagine their life without these devices. Air conditioners become a salvation from the exhausting summer heat, they will help maintain comfortable temperature in the room when it's cold heating season has not yet begun, they can be used to dry the humid air in the apartment and even clean it. In order for the equipment to flawlessly cope with all tasks, it needs to be looked after. The main care of the conditioner consists in timely cleaning.

Dust and small particles of dirt that accumulate inside appliances are one of the most common causes failures in their work and even serious breakdowns. Air conditioning is no exception. Decreased performance and breakdowns are not all the problems that a device can deliver in the event of contamination. The fact is that air conditioners are designed in such a way that during operation they have to pass through themselves large volumes of air, which, in addition to dust, may contain other unsafe particles. All this lingers on the filters, heat exchanger, fan, and accumulates, forming a "mud coat".

Such pollution creates a favorable environment for the development of fungi and harmful bacteria. This leads to the fact that when turned on, the air conditioner becomes a source of unpleasant odors. But this is not the main thing, because the microorganisms developing on the parts of the device are blown out with air and inhaled by a person. It has no positive effect on health and well-being.

To prolong the service life, ensure the efficiency of work, protect yourself and loved ones, it is necessary to regularly clean the air conditioner. Removable filters are recommended to be cleaned during intensive use of the device 1-3 times a week, depending on the degree of contamination of the room. For example, if the apartment is located on the lower floors near roads, the procedure will have to be carried out more often than if it were located on upper floors high-rise building. The entire indoor and outdoor unit can be cleaned less frequently as they become less dirty. Ideally, this should be done 2 times a year - in the spring, shortly before the start of operation, and in the fall, before the onset of the off-season.

You can clean the air conditioner with the help of specialists or on your own. Specially trained people will carry out all manipulations with the device quickly and efficiently. Not everyone can invite them to their place, so next we will look at how to wash the air conditioner yourself.

Close attention must be paid to cleaning the indoor unit, especially the removable filters located under the front panel of the unit. Through them, air enters the device. Filters trap dust and other small particles contained in it, protecting the device and the room. If they are not cleaned in a timely manner, this can lead to:

  • premature contamination of the indoor unit;
  • decrease in radiator airflow;
  • poor air cooling;
  • contamination of the drainage system and the flow of the device;
  • violation correct operation air conditioner;
  • making it difficult to clean the filters later.

But the dust lingering on the radiator plates can combine with condensate and turn into a mud film. Such pollution can close up all the gaps. Removing dirt is very problematic. For this, steam cleaners are used. Such work should be entrusted to specialists.

Fan cleaning

The next part of the air conditioner that needs to be cleaned is the rotary fan. Outwardly, it resembles a roller with many membranes. This part drives the cooled air from the air conditioner into the room. A lot of dust lingers on it, which turns into dense mud raids. Without cleaning, the ventilator membranes can become so dirty that the device cannot perform its functions.

To begin with, it is worth laying oilcloth on the wall on which the device is located and the floor under it. Next, you need to moisten all the partitions of the fan with soapy water and leave it so that the dirt can get wet. After you need to turn on the air conditioner at minimum speed to drive the air through the fan. At the same time, particles of dirt and soapy water will “fly out” from the air conditioner. After a few minutes, turn off the appliance and finish cleaning the partitions manually with a soapy solution and a brush.

Cleaning the drainage system

Accumulations of dust, grease and mold and fungi can clog the drainage system. As a result, water will not flow outside, but inside the room. The most annoying thing is that the mold that has accumulated in the pipes can spread first to the drainage pan, and then to the radiator and air conditioner walls.

There are several ways to clean the drain. At home, it is easier to wash it with detergents and water. For this, dishwashing detergent is suitable. After cleaning the drain, also rinse the drain pan, as it is also often dirty.

Cleaning the outdoor unit

Perhaps the outdoor unit is the most difficult to clean, as it is located in hard-to-reach places. Fortunately, you can clean it 1 or 2 times a year.

For high-quality cleaning, it is desirable to remove the top cover from the outdoor unit. Next, you need to remove large debris from it. Then clean the unit with a vacuum cleaner - it must be powerful, only in this case you can remove dirt from the radiator and external filters, and brushes. After that, it is recommended to carefully wipe the fan and internal surfaces block with a damp cloth.

A steam cleaner or compact mini-sinks will allow you to clean the outdoor unit more efficiently. When using them, please note that the assembly and connection of the air conditioner can only be done after all the parts have dried.

  1. Clean the filters in a timely manner - this way you can avoid problems with the device, including rapid pollution other parts of the indoor unit. Clean other parts of the appliance annually. Cleaning combined with careful attitude is the best prevention of air conditioners.
  2. Before cleaning the device, unplug it from the mains.
  3. It is worth disinfecting the indoor unit twice a year. It will be useful if the air blown out by the device begins to smell unpleasant. You can use products for air conditioners, pharmacy antiseptic or any disinfectant solution which contains alcohol. You will need about 0.5 liters of the product. Disinfection should be carried out with the filter removed. Open the lid of the device, place it on minimum temperature and at maximum airflow, spray the product in the area where air is sucked in. Do this until the solution starts to drain. An unpleasant smell will come from the air conditioner for 10 minutes, then it will disappear. Wipe off product residue from tubing and body.
  4. Do not rub the radiator with a sponge or brush. Do not try to wipe it dry with a cloth, as you may damage the thin plates.
  5. Entrust the first cleaning to specialists and carefully monitor their work. It will be easier for you to clean up afterwards. home air conditioner personally.

How to clean the air conditioner at home without resorting to the services of service centers and other "jack of all trades"? After all, sooner or later, such a need arises for everyone who uses such equipment. Any equipment gets dirty over time, and climatic equipment is no exception. Cleaning in service centers costs some money, so there is always a temptation to save hard-earned shekels and do everything at home yourself. And we will help you in this as much as we can.

How to know when it's time to clean your air conditioner

Any instruction manual will tell you how often to clean the air conditioner in the apartment and indicate the recommended intervals for preventive cleaning. However, not all users read these instructions (such is our mentality), and they begin to study them in detail only when something has already broken. In addition, some instructions are sometimes written in broken English-Chinese with a Caucasian accent, so read them, much less understand them. Orthodox person often not even possible.

Therefore, often such moments have to be determined by indirect signs, such as:

  • When turned on, there is an unpleasant smell that was not there before.
  • Excessively loud operation of your Conder, which was not previously characteristic of it.
  • Extraneous sounds, such as: clapping, buzzing, crackling, gurgling, rumbling, etc.

  • Condensate leak.
  • A decrease in the efficiency of the device, manifested in lower rates, under the same modes in which it previously produced a more significant efficiency.
  • The feeling of dust in the air in the room where the split system is operating.
  • A significant increase in the amount of electricity consumed.
  • Icing of connecting parts, either housing or mountings.

Possible consequences of air conditioner contamination

If you notice at least one of the signs indicated in this list, immediately stop using the device until all measures have been taken. necessary measures to eliminate pollution, or until the diagnosis of malfunctions is clarified. Otherwise, your equipment may completely fail, or get serious damage, to eliminate which one cleaning of the split system can no longer get off.

Therefore, we read below how to wash the air conditioner, and whether it is possible to wash it at all.

Self cleaning air conditioner

Since the air conditioner is not a monolithic device, but it consists of different parts, then pollution in it can occur in each of the components separately. Therefore, cleaning methods various parts will differ from each other. Therefore, we will consider cleaning the most important details separately.

Outdoor unit

Cleaning the outdoor unit, for those who do not live on first-second floors (you can get there with the help of a stepladder), it is difficult because you have to look for safe ways reach out to him through a window or balcony, so as not to cheburah down. Therefore, if you don’t want to be collected later for “spare parts” or scraped off the asphalt, then take care of your safety at a height in advance.

Although the concentration of dirt and dust on the upper floors of high-rise buildings is much lower than below, you still have to clean the outdoor unit, since it gets clogged from the street no less than from the room: there is street dust, and poplar fluff, and cobwebs, and leaves, and God knows what rubbish can accumulate.

So, you are securely entrenched and quite comfortably reach the external unit. Yes, and you probably remembered how the people who carried out the installation got you there, so we do the following:

  • We unscrew all the bolts and remove the casing.
  • We sweep away all large debris with a brush or vacuum cleaner.
  • We wipe the cooler blades with a damp sponge dipped in soapy water.
  • We flush the radiator with a strong pressure from the hose. At the same time, it is important to ensure that water does not get into the power supply compartments.
  • We are waiting for all this trouble to dry thoroughly.
  • Screw the cover back into place.

This is a very superficial way to clean the split system from the outside. You will not be able to do a deeper cleaning on your own and it would be better to turn to specialists. But if you carry out such superficial cleaning quite often (once every half a year, at least) for prevention, then you may not need a deep one very soon.

Attention: when cleaning the air conditioner, as well as during any other manipulations involving penetration into the structure, be sure to first unplug it from the network so as not to experience all the delights of the laws of electrophysics!

Filters

Now let's take care of cleaning the indoor unit, one of the components of which is the filter, or rather there are several of them. It is recommended to clean the filters at least once every two weeks.

How to clean an air conditioner filter that is clogged with dust? Yes, like two fingers, well, maybe just a little more difficult.

  • To begin with, we remove the case cover by unscrewing the bolts and disconnecting the batteries (there are no bolts on new models and the cover is removed by hand). How to properly disassemble the conder will be shown in detail in the attached video at the bottom of the article.
  • Carefully remove the filter mesh. AT different designs this is done in different ways, so it is advisable to keep the instructions at hand.
  • We blow the filter mesh with compressed air or clean it with a vacuum cleaner, and only after that wash it.
  • You need to wash the filter after soaking it in a soapy solution, or use a special cleaner for the air conditioner for this, but it is not recommended to use any household detergents, indiscriminately.
  • Rinse with running water.
  • Air dry the filter naturally, without using a hair dryer or any heaters, and reinsert it in the same way you removed it.

heat exchanger

To clean the heat exchange evaporator, do the following:

  • We disconnect the equipment from the network (it's like "Our Father").
  • According to the instructions, remove the mesh in front of the heat exchanger.
  • We clean all the freed up available space with a vacuum cleaner.
  • We clean hard-to-reach places with a soft thin brush.
  • If this is not enough, then wipe with a damp sponge and let dry.
  • We don’t touch anything else and assemble the unit to its original state.

By knowing how to take care of your air conditioner, you can keep it from breaking down. long years. Look for some wonderful special equipment, touching which, as magic wand, to any equipment, you can get rid of problems with its maintenance forever, perhaps it would be imprudent. Regular cleaning and correct operation- these are the most important air conditioner care products.

Read and follow the instruction manual (if, of course, it is readable and available at all), and you will be good. And use our tips only if you are sure that your hands are growing from the right place and you won’t screw anything up. Otherwise, it is better to contact specialists.

Video: how to disassemble and clean the air conditioner

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