The Air Conditioner Becomes A Life-extending Tool During The Dog Days Of Summer, But Do You Know How Much It Costs To Clean It Once?
A compulsory course on cleaning during the dog days: Why does your air conditioner blow out "dirty air"?
The rainy season has just ended in Nanjing and the dog days have entered. The temperature has continued to rise rapidly to above 35°C, and the air conditioners in every household have begun to operate non-stop. However, many people have discovered that this year there is always a sour smell after turning on the air conditioner, which can make their noses itchy if left on for a long time. Don't rush to blame the age of the air conditioner. First, take a look at whether the inside of your air conditioner has become a "breeding breeding ground for bacteria." As a professional who has been engaged in household appliance cleaning for 10 years, I have seen too many instances of secondary pollution caused by incorrect cleaning methods. Today we will discuss how to effectively clean the air conditioner from a professional and deep cleaning perspective.
Take it apart and see: How much "dirty stuff" is hidden in your air conditioner?
A few days ago, I went to Jiangning, Nanjing, to provide services to a homeowner. There was a hanging machine in his home that had not been cleaned for two years. The moment the panel was disassembled, a thick layer of ash was attached to the filter, which could only be considered superficial. When we removed the air deflector, we found that it was filled with dense mold spots. This sight directly caused the owner to take a breath of cold air. What is even more shocking is that when the deep wind wheel and evaporator fins with non-uniform velocity characteristics are inspected in depth using an endoscope, dust has completely blocked the gaps between the fins, as if covered with a gray quilt. This is the core of air conditioning pollution.
Professional Tools Revealed: Light-washing filters are useless
Many people have asked me: "Master, can I spray some air-conditioning cleaning agent myself?" To be honest, the no-disassembly cleaning agents sold on the market can only deal with the floating dust on the surface, but have no effect on the oily dirt hidden deep in the roots of the evaporator and on the wind turbine blades. The standard items equipped by our professional team include a high-temperature steam engine with high-temperature sterilization function above 150°C, a special cleaning shield that can prevent sewage from splashing around, a food-grade citric acid descaler that can dissolve scale and mildew, and a customized long-bristle brush that can reach into the groove of the wind wheel. Never use steel wire balls or strong acids and alkalis, because the fins are very delicate and will affect the cooling once they are inverted.
Deep cleaning operation process: ten details from protection to finishing
The first step is always to protect the circuit. Use waterproof membrane to wrap the wall plug and computer board tightly. The second step is to disassemble. You must carefully remove the filter, air deflector, and outer casing. Be careful not to break the buckles. The third step is the most important step. Hang the professional cleaning cover that looks like an apron under the air conditioner, and connect the water bag to the bucket. Then use a high-pressure spray can to evenly spray the citric acid solution heated to 60°C on the evaporator and wind wheel, and let it sit for 10 minutes to loosen the mold. Then, use the device called a high-temperature steamer to sweep back and forth toward the gaps in the fins. For stubborn stains, use a long-bristled brush to gently scrub. Finally, with the help of high-pressure spraying of clean water , it is rinsed to a clean state, the machine is started for trial operation, and the sewage is discharged into the water collection bag. After the entire process is completed, the wastewater can accumulate to a basin.
Details determine success or failure: If these blind spots are not handled well, it means wasting money.
The breeding ground for mold is actually the drain pans and drain pipes that many people ignore. We use a dredge gun every time to flush the drain pipe with high pressure until clean water flows out. In addition, each groove of the cross-flow fan impeller must be brushed piece by piece with a custom brush, otherwise dry mold will be blown out directly when the machine is turned on next time. Even the air guide rails behind the air conditioner casing will be cleaned with cotton swabs dipped in alcohol to ensure that there is no musty smell when the fresh air blows out.
Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls: Experience from a Senior Master
Don’t believe the exaggerated propaganda about “no disassembly and cleaning” unless the air conditioner has only been used for half a year. The second point is that the environmentally friendly cleaning agent used for air conditioner cleaning must be weakly acidic or neutral, because if it is alkaline, it will corrode the hydrophilic coating of the evaporator. The third point is that when cleaning the air conditioner, the wall protection must be in place, otherwise the sewage will flow down the wall and cannot be wiped off. The fourth point is that after cleaning the air conditioner, be sure to turn on the air supply mode and run it continuously for half an hour, so that the inside of the air conditioner can be completely dry, otherwise it will be like watering mold. Fifth point, it is most appropriate to clean the air conditioner once every year before summer and after autumn. Do not wait until the cooling effect of the air conditioner deteriorates before cleaning the air conditioner.
Comparison before and after washing: the effect is visible to the naked eye
Taking the house that had just been cleaned as an example, before cleaning, the temperature at the air outlet was only 12°C. Due to the large temperature difference, the room could not cool down after half a day. After cleaning, the temperature of the air outlet was as low as 6°C, the wind speed increased significantly, and there was no sour smell. What is more intuitive is that before cleaning, the owner's children always sneezed when they got up in the morning. During a follow-up visit one week after cleaning, they found that the children's noses felt much better. The electricity bill can also show that when the same setting is 26 degrees Celsius, 15 degrees of electricity are consumed a day before cleaning, and it is reduced to about 10 degrees after cleaning. So it can be said that deep cleaning is not about spending money, but about saving money and protecting your health.
Air conditioner cleaning is not just about wiping away dust, but actually a comprehensive and thorough cleaning of the respiratory system. If your air conditioner has not been deeply cleaned for more than a year, don’t hesitate and quickly find a professional to perform a thorough health care. After all, the dog days are long, and only the clean cool breeze can be called the real "life-extending artifact."
