As The Weather Gets Hotter And Air Conditioners Are About To Come On Duty, The Demand For Cleaning Is Increasing. There Are Ways To Clean Safely.
As the temperature gradually rises, the air conditioner that has been dormant for more than half a year is about to come back to work.
Many families have begun to clean their air conditioners, and the demand for cleaning in the market has also increased.
There are also some friends who insist on using only water for simple scrubbing because they are worried that the cleaning agent will leave residues, have an impact on their health, or damage the machine; some citizens choose to hire professional masters to come to their homes, in order to save worry and effort; while others buy air-conditioning cleaning agents themselves, and then follow the video tutorials to clean them, thinking that they can save a lot of money.
So, how should air conditioners be cleaned to be safe and healthy?
Today, we will talk about this topic based on the experience of professional masters.
Why is professional cleaning so popular?
Ms. Lin, who lives on Huxin Street, recently made an appointment with Master Shi to come and clean the air conditioner.
After Master Shi arrived at work, he first cut off the power supply to the air conditioner. This was the first step in safe operation.
Later, he used a screwdriver to skillfully disassemble the panel, the filter, the air guide strip, and the outer casing, and then put these parts aside.
In order to prevent the walls and floors from being stained by cleaning sewage, he carefully put a cleaning cover specially designed for waterproofing on the air conditioner, and placed a bucket underneath it to catch the sewage.
If the air conditioner is not extremely dirty, we usually use a high-pressure water gun to clean it directly. However, this machine has accumulated a lot of dust, so a special air conditioner cleaning agent has to be used. While Master Shi was explaining, he sprayed the cleaning agent evenly on the evaporator.
He introduced that those cleaning agents contain surfactants and bactericides, which can effectively decompose dirt and kill bacteria, but this requires a certain amount of time to react.
During the ten minutes of waiting, he thoroughly scrubbed the removed filter and outer casing with clean water to make them clean, and then dried them.
When the response time arrived, Master Shi immediately used a professional spray gun to vigorously flush the air conditioner's internal unit. The black and gray sewage immediately flowed along the cleaning sleeve and into the bucket.
After cleaning all the parts, drying them, and putting them back together, After completing this, he turned on the device for testing. At this time, cold air was sent out, making the air much fresher.
"Two wall-mounted machines cost a total of 120 yuan. This money is extremely worthwhile. Compared with cleaning it yourself, it is much cleaner." Ms. Lin said with a satisfied look.
Cleaning yourself: The concerns behind saving money
The demand for air-conditioning cleaning has increased, which in turn has driven the sales volume of air-conditioning cleaning agents.
In urban areas, on the shelves of many supermarkets, cleaning agents of various brands are neatly arranged in large quantities. And on online platforms, their sales are also quite considerable, with a lot of amounts.
The price is between 15 and 30 yuan, which is a 50ml bottle of cleaning agent. The merchant claims that such a bottle of cleaning agent can be used to clean two or three hanging air conditioners, and it also comes with a detailed cleaning video.
Mr. Liu, a citizen, is an advocate of self-cleaning. He said: "Following the video, it is not difficult to disassemble and clean. I have three air conditioners at home. I can do it myself and save nearly 200 yuan." Following the steps, he removed the casing and filter, sprayed the cleaning agent on the evaporator, let it sit for fifteen minutes, and then reinstalled the parts. It's really easy to operate.
However, apart from the convenience, there are also worries: "Will spray cleaning in this way cause damage to the internal parts of the air conditioner?" Another citizen, Ms. Li, was concerned about her health.
She is worried that the cleaning agent residue will be blown out by the air-conditioning air, which will affect the respiratory health of the elderly and children at home, so she only uses clean water to clean the filter every year.
But she also noticed that since she cleaned it by herself, the indoor unit would drip water from time to time. This situation may be related to the lack of professionalism in cleaning and inadequate installation.
Principles of cleaning agents and keys to safe use
The main components of common air conditioner cleaning agents on the market generally include surfactants, bactericides, deodorants, and deionized water.
As a surfactant, its function is to weaken the adhesion between dirt and evaporator fins, thereby making it easier for dirt to separate from the evaporator fins; as far as bactericides are concerned, it can effectively kill accumulated bacteria and mold.
It sounds like this is quite effective. However, the key point is the subsequent flushing step.
A high-pressure spray gun equipped by a professional master has sufficient water pressure to completely wash away the dissolved dirt and cleaning agent residue, and then discharge it through the drain pipe.
After ordinary users spray by themselves, they often lack effective flushing methods. Residual chemical substances may corrode the aluminum fins of the evaporator, or accumulate in the air duct, thus causing so-called "secondary pollution."
Therefore, if you decide to use a cleaning agent yourself, you must refer to the product instructions. After spraying and letting it sit, find a way to use clean water, such as using a watering can, to spray and water the flowers several times to rinse the residue on the fins as cleanly as possible.
When flushing, be sure to pay special attention to avoid the circuit board inside the air conditioner, as well as the power switch and motor part, to prevent water from entering and causing a short circuit.
When should I wash? Listen to the master's advice
Why does air conditioner need to be cleaned regularly?
Its working principle is similar to a "vacuum cleaner" to a certain extent. It sucks the indoor air in, passes through the evaporator with moist characteristics, completes the heat exchange process, and then blows it back into the room.
If this continues, a lot of dust and lint will accumulate on the filter, a lot of dust and lint will accumulate on the evaporator, and a lot of dust and lint will also accumulate on the air guide wheel. In that humid environment, it is extremely easy for bacteria and mold to breed.
Industry insiders warn that if you feel chest tightness, dizziness, or smell an odor while staying in an air-conditioned room, it is most likely a sign that the inside of the air conditioner is dirty.
Master Shi further added from the perspective of equipment maintenance. If you notice that the refrigeration effect of the air conditioner has deteriorated, or if you find that the power consumption has increased significantly, this is also a reminder that you need to start cleaning it. He gave corresponding suggestions. For household air conditioners, it is more appropriate and feasible to arrange cleaning once or twice a year. In this way, it can not only effectively protect the air quality, but also help extend the service life of the air conditioner.
For a new air conditioner that has just been used for one or two years, if there is not much dust, the user can completely clean the filter and outer casing with clean water. There is no need to use excessive chemical cleaning agents.
Standard steps for self-cleaning air conditioners
If you plan to clean your air conditioner yourself, be sure to follow these safety steps:
The first thing to ensure is safety. You need to cut off the power supply. Before cleaning, be sure to unplug the air conditioner to eliminate the risk of electric shock.
The second step is to disassemble the casing and wipe away the dust. The method adopted is to first open the air conditioning panel and then remove the filter.
Use a wrung-out damp cloth to gently wipe away any floating dust from the air conditioner casing and air outlet grille.
Remove the filter, put it under the faucet, use a soft brush and clean water to rinse the back of it, which is the surface where the dust adheres, and keep rinsing until the water flow becomes clear.
After washing, place it in a cool place to dry. Do not expose it to the sun.
If you need to use cleaning agent, first shake the air conditioner cleaning agent evenly, then aim at the evaporator fins (that is, the silver metal pieces behind the filter), keep a distance of about 15 cm, and then spray evenly to ensure that all fins are covered with foam.
Then install the clean filter, close the cover, and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes to allow the cleaning agent to fully react.
5. Carry out thorough flushing and draining operations: After letting it sit for a while, plug in the power plug of the air conditioner, turn on the cooling mode, set the temperature to the lowest value, and adjust the air volume to the maximum level.
Run for about 15-30 minutes.
During this process, the melted dirt will turn into water and be discharged from the drain pipe of the air conditioner.
If conditions exist, in order to further reduce the residue, use a watering can filled with clean water during operation, and use the needle again to gently spray the fins.
After the operation is completed, turn off the air conditioner and remove the power supply for finishing work.
Use a dry soft cloth to wipe away any water stains around the panel and air outlets.
Wait for all parts to dry completely before using them normally.
Remember, during the entire process, never spray water or cleaning agent directly into the circuit part inside the air conditioner.
Cleaning the air conditioner regularly is not only to be able to breathe fresher air, but also to perform necessary maintenance on this "life-extending artifact" in summer.
Whether you choose to hire a professional technician or do it yourself, you must accurately control the balance between cleanliness and safety. Only in this way can the air conditioner serve us in a healthier and longer-lasting state.
