Having an air conditioner is something many people take for granted, especially during the hot and humid summer months. All things break down eventually, however. While some of the simpler things about cleaning an air conditioner can be done with ease, such as changing a filter, sometimes that is just not enough. Keeping your ductless air conditioner clean will save you the trouble of repairs and boost its overall efficiency as well. Use these tips to get the most basic of cleaning done without the help of professionals.
- To begin with, the first thing you have to do is to replace the air filter. You can usually find a new filter at any local home improvement store, depending on the make and type of your air conditioner. If you’re not sure what to do, you can simply check the owner’s manual for the right size and make that fits.
- Something else you will have to do is to turn off the power to the blower or the furnace if you want to do some deeper cleaning. If you can’t find an off switch, just flip the switch on the main electric panel of your home until you hear it turn itself off.
- The next thing you’ll want to do is open the compartment housing the blower. Vacuum up debris and dust completely, leaving it as clean as possible. If the motor of the air conditioner has well-pointed-out lubrication ports, squeeze some special oil inside (about five drops or so each). Never use all-purpose oil unless you want to damage the inner workings of the motor. Look for oil specifically made for electric motors.
- Look for any algae growth inside the unit. You should remove the condensation tube, checking for such buildup inside the tube or at the mouth where it connects. Long periods of neglect and excessive condensation can create good conditions for such algae growths, so if you see any, pour a solution of bleach and water in a 1:16 ratio through the tube so you can remove it.
- Next thing you need to do is to clean the drain tube as well. Use a pipe cleaner or a small brush with good bristles.
- Once that is safely done you can restart the unit, just remember to hook up the condensation tube again.
When it comes to the outdoor unit of a central air conditioner, you will need to do a bit more to get things done. First of all you will need to do this:
- Shut down the power supply to the unit, whether through its box outside or through the electric panel.
- Next, you need to open the unit so you can gain access to its inner workings. If you’re not sure how to do it, you can check the manual or find more information online, depending on the make and model you have.
- Vacuum every single one of the condenser fins with a bristle-brush attachment. Remove the metal case if you need to gain full access to the fins.
- Remove all pieces of debris, leaves, bugs and anything else that may have found its way inside. Be careful when you vacuum as the fins may be damaged if you don’t do it gently.
- Do some lubrication just like we mentioned earlier with an electrical motor oil.
- Reassemble and close the unit, then it on the cool setting and wait for it to start working.
- Check whether the unit works as intended. You can check the temperature of the pipes heading inside the house if you peel the insulation a bit. One should be cold, the other one warm.
(The following is a guest post from London Carpet Cleaner. Visit them at: http://www.londoncarpetcleaner.co.uk/curtain-cleaning/W6-window-cleaning-fulham-.html)
