The Secret Of Cleaning Household Air Conditioners, Including Tools And Steps, Remember To Do It In Early Summer And Winter

The weather has been getting hotter and hotter recently, and it’s time for the air conditioner at home to come in handy again.

However, could it be that once you turn on the air conditioner, you immediately smell a musty smell, or perhaps you feel that the wind blowing is not so cool?

This is most likely due to dust and bacteria building up inside the air conditioner.

The air conditioner is like an "invisible sanitary corner" in the home. If it is not cleaned for a long time, it will not only affect the cooling effect, but also increase the power consumption. Second, it will breed mold and mites, and the cold wind will blow throughout the room. This is a very threatening situation to the respiratory health of the family.

Especially when there are elderly people, children, or people with allergies at home, it is really necessary to clean the air conditioner regularly.

Today, I will use the Accent air conditioner that is easily available on the market as an example to tell you the detailed steps to clean it yourself and the things to pay attention to. It is easy to operate and you can start after seeing it. It can not only save the money of hiring a master, but also allow your family to breathe cleaner air.

Preparation before cleaning

If a worker wants to do his job well, he must first sharpen his tools.

Cleaning the air conditioner yourself does not require special professional tools, which can basically be found at home.

You need to prepare a clean soft scouring pad or rag and a spray bottle. Well, you also need a soft-bristled brush, like an old toothbrush or a special air-conditioning scouring brush. , and the most critical air conditioning cleaning agent.

Let’s talk specifically about cleaning agents. You must buy a specialized cleaning agent of a regular brand that is suitable for household air conditioners. It generally contains surfactants and bactericidal ingredients, which can effectively decompose oil stains on the fins and inhibit bacteria.

You must not use dish soap, washing powder, or strong acid or alkali liquids as alternatives, because they are very likely to cause corrosion to the aluminum fins inside the air conditioner, and they are also very likely to cause corrosion to the plastic parts inside the air conditioner.

In addition, prepare several plastic bags or old newspapers and place them under the air conditioner to prevent sewage from dripping onto the wall or floor during cleaning.

Step one: Safely cut off the power and remove the filter

This is the most important safety step. Be sure to turn off the power of the air conditioner first, and then unplug it to ensure that there is no electricity at all before operating.

Then, gently open the buckles on both sides of the air conditioning panel with your hands and open the front panel.

Sometimes, you can see that there is one or two filters inside, and of these two filters, one and the other are where the main dust gathers.

Remove the filter by gently lifting it up.

If there is serious dust accumulation on the filter, you may have to tap it gently with your hands or a soft brush to shake off the floating dust on the surface to avoid causing secondary pollution indoors.

Generally speaking, the disassembly process does not require the use of tools. Just use a gentle method to prevent the buckle from being damaged due to excessive force.

Step 2: Deep clean the filter and housing

The removed filter can be taken directly to the bathroom and rinsed with the shower head.

The direction of the water flow must be from the inside to the outside, with the so-called clean side facing the dirty side. This will make it easier to flush out the dust embedded in the filter fibers.

If the dust is greasy, you can scrub it gently with a little neutral detergent, but the rinse must be thorough and there must be no detergent residue.

After cleaning, please place it in a cool and ventilated place and let it dry naturally. Remember not to expose it to the sun or blow it violently with hot air from a hair dryer to prevent the plastic of the filter from deforming.

While you are waiting for the filter to dry, you can use a soft cloth that has been soaked and wrung out to carefully wipe the outer casing of the air conditioner, wipe the air guide plate, and wipe the internal plastic frame after opening the panel to remove dust on the surface.

Step 3: Core part – clean evaporator fins

Behind the filter, there are densely packed metal sheets. These metal sheets are the evaporator, also known as aluminum fins. This is the core of refrigeration and air exchange, and it is also the place where dirt and bacteria can easily accumulate.

Stir the prepared air-conditioning special cleaning agent evenly, and then spray it evenly on the entire fin, making sure that every corner is completely covered with foam.

After spraying, let it sit for 10-15 minutes to allow the cleaning agent to fully dissolve dirt and sterilize.

While you are waiting for that period of time, you can use a brush made of soft bristles to gently brush the wind wheel (which is the roller that drives the fan). In this way, you can also brush off a considerable amount of dust.

After the resting time is up, if conditions permit, you can connect a thin water pipe and gently wash the fins with slow water (this operation must be extremely cautious, and it is only applicable to some models with approved designs. If you are not sure, you can skip it).

A more general method is to gently wipe away the dissolved dirt with a damp cloth.

There are also cleaning agents on the market with extended nozzles that can be sprayed more accurately.

Precautions when using cleaning agents

When using cleaning agents, avoid spraying directly on the circuit board inside the air conditioner, avoid spraying directly on the power wiring, and avoid spraying directly on electrical components such as temperature sensors.

If accidentally splashed, wipe it off immediately with a dry cloth.

There is no need to overdo it when spraying, just cover it evenly.

Step 4: Installation, reset and ventilation and drying

Make sure the filter is completely dry, then put it back to the air conditioner in its original shape and fasten the panel.

After everything is installed, don't rush to start it up.

Open the windows in the room to maintain good ventilation, so that the smell of detergent and water vapor retained in the air conditioner can be dissipated.

After about half an hour, plug in the power, turn on the air conditioner's ventilation mode (not refrigeration), and let it run for fifteen to thirty minutes.

In this way, the interior can be completely air-dried, and at the same time, a small amount of odor that may remain in the air duct can be blown away.

Then, you can activate the cooling function normally, and you will find that the wind is stronger and the air is fresher.

Cleaning frequency and health benefits

It is recommended to clean the air conditioner at least twice a year: before use in summer and after use in autumn.

During seasons of frequent use, you can simply wipe the air outlet and check the filter every month.

First of all, regular cleaning can restore the cooling efficiency of the air conditioner and save about 10%-20% of the electricity bill. The benefits are obvious and obvious to all. Secondly, it greatly reduces the spread of bacteria, viruses and allergens indoors, which greatly benefits the prevention of respiratory diseases. Finally, regular cleaning can also effectively prevent odors caused by dust accumulation and extend the service life of the air conditioner. The effect is significant.

The cost of doing a DIY cleaning is only the price of a bottle of cleaning agent. However, it can be exchanged for a cool feeling and health protection throughout the summer. From this point of view, this account is extremely cost-effective.

After reading the whole process, you will find that cleaning household air conditioners is not that complicated. The key point is that you must be careful and patient.

For common brands such as Accent, the overall structure of suspended machines is more similar. If you operate according to the steps mentioned above, there will basically be no problems.

Developing the habit of regular cleaning is not only maintenance for expensive home appliances, but also a reflection of a responsible attitude towards the health of your family.

In the future, when you notice that the air conditioner is not working well or there is a peculiar smell, don't just complain. You might as well spend an hour doing a "deep SPA" for it yourself. You will find that the wind blown out will indeed be different.