How to clean your air conditioner

Need to know how to clean an air conditioner filter? Is your air conditioner struggling to cool your home during the warmer months?

This common problem is usually caused by a clogged air filter. In order to keep the air fresh and circulating efficiently throughout your home, it’s important that routine cleaning of your air con filter along with air conditioning maintenance is conducted.

Including professional air conditioning servicing occasionally will also keep your unit in peak condition. If you’ve never cleaned your air conditioner filter before, you may be very surprised to find out just how much dirt and dust does accumulate inside them.

In this article, we will explore the best way to clean an air conditioner filter, the step-by-step process to cleaning your entire air conditioning unit, and we’ll determine how often you need to perform air conditioner maintenance and professionally service your air conditioner unit.

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What happens when you don’t clean air conditioner filters?

Air conditioning cleaning is essential to the air quality in your home. Without a regular clean of the air con filters, more dirt, allergens, and contaminants such as mould and mildew can circulate throughout your home. This can severely impact the health of your family, especially for those who suffer from respiratory issues, such as asthma.

Clogged air conditioner filters also cause your unit to be less energy efficient and can result in costly energy bills and short cycling. Short cycling is when your air conditioner stops running before it has sufficiently cooled your home. This is a sign that the unit is working harder than it should and that it’s wasting energy. If you don’t fix the problem, your unit could breakdown.

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Steps to cleaning an air con filter

The filters in your air conditioner are what helps keep your air clean and circulating properly by collecting the pollutants, allergens, dust, and dirt in the air. It’s easy to learn how to clean air conditioner filters, and by doing it correctly you can prevent the growth of harmful mould that occurs when the filters clog up and retain moisture.

If you don’t remove your ac filters and clean them thoroughly, mould spores may circulate throughout your home, which can be very damaging to your health when you breathe them in. Cleaning the air con filter also means that your air condition unit can run more efficiently, which will also save you money in the long run.

When cleaning your air conditioner, remember to firstly read the instruction manual for your specific unit.

Let’s explore how to clean split-system air conditioner and ducted system air conditioner filters.

How to clean air conditioner filter on a split system

Cleaning a split system air conditioner filter is generally a simple process. You can purchase special air con filter cleaning kits or just use a dry cloth, vacuum cleaner, and a pair of gloves to get the job done.

Here are four simple steps for how to clean air con filters:

1. 1. 1. Lift up or remove the front panel
      2. Remove the mesh panel/s (these are the filters)
      3. Lightly dust or vacuum gently
      4. Re-install

If your filters are extra dirty, you may want to wash them in warm water. Ensure they have dried completely before putting them back in the ac unit. Aircon filter cleaning is a quick and easy job that will keep your air conditioner in optimal working order.

Inside the air filter frame there is also another filter called the air purification filter or air cleaning filter. It can be removed and cleaned in the same way as the air filter, but only needs to be done every three months or so.

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How to clean a ducted air conditioner filter

A ducted air conditioning filter is a little different to access than a split system, but cleaning it is still relatively easy. Here are seven steps for how to clean a ducted aircon filter:

1. 1. 1. Unscrew or unclip the frame
      2. Pull the frame gently towards yourself to prevent it from swinging out
      3. Slide the filter out of the frame
      4. Vacuum the dust and lint
      5. Wash the filter in lukewarm water
      6. Let the filter dry completely
      7. Slide the filter back into place and secure the frame.

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How often do I need to clean my air conditioner air filter?

Aim to clean your air con filter every two weeks and clean the entire aircon and air cleaning filter at the start of each season, or every three to four months. During summer and winter, when you are using your heating and cooling systems more, it’s normal to be cleaning air conditioners on a monthly basis as this is when you will see a higher level of dirt and grime building up in the filters.

If you have pets, indoor plants or live in a dusty or humid environment, it’s always best to add your air filters to a regular cleaning schedule. Cleaning your air conditioner air filter is one of the quickest and simplest jobs to save your health and your money.

When should I replace my air conditioning filter?

It’s amazing what aircon cleaning or a new filter can do for your energy bill. You can decrease the energy consumption of your air conditioner by between 5% and 15% by replacing or cleaning the filter regularly. But when should you replace rather than clean an air conditioning filter?

When an air filter becomes too dirty or gets damaged it will need to be replaced. Check your air con filter for any holes, wrinkles, or tears or to see if it’s excessively dirty. If you hold your filter up to the light and can’t see through it, it’s time for a new one. Other indications that you may need to replace the filter is if you’re experiencing reduced airflow and higher electricity bills.

As a rule, you should aim to replace your air conditioner filter every six to twelve months. If you use your system consistently, all year round, you might need to replace the air filter every one to two months.

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How to clean an air conditioning system

Learning how to clean aircon filters and ac parts is practical and easy. Even if your air conditioner comes with a self-cleaning setting, it’s a good idea to open it up and give all the parts of your ac unit a full clean to keep it in top shape.

Cleaning inside the AC unit

With a split system, simply lift out the front panel and give it a gentle wipe over with a dry cloth or rinse it in tepid water. Ensure you dry it with a clean cloth before reinstalling it in the system. Then, clean the air filter as outlined above, before moving onto the heat exchanger. For this step, make sure your air con has been switched off for a minimum of five hours to avoid heat or moisture build up.

Clean in a vertical manner along the fins of the heat exchanger. The fins are quite delicate and can cost a lot to repair if damaged so it’s worth using an AC fin comb for this procedure. A smaller brush attachment for your vacuum that comes with an ac cleaning kit can be used to get into the smaller grooves and hard to reach spots at the top and bottom of the heat exchanger.

Finally, you will need to clean the fan. To access the fan, follow the instructions in your user manual. This may involve turning the horizontal vanes downward and then unlocking the sliding tabs. Once this is done, you can wipe over the air outlet with a dry cloth and brush along the blades of the fan horizontally with the vacuum attachment before putting everything back in place and closing the unit.

Cleaning the outside of the aircon

For the outside of the unit, it’s recommended to employ the services of a professional to clean the condenser coils and check the drain line, but you can do these tasks yourself if you know how to do them correctly. Before you start, make sure you turn the power off at the power points and the circuit board to be extra safe.

For the coils, remove the outer casing and lightly spray them with a household detergent and then gently hose them down or wipe them over with a cloth if needed.

Keep your ac drain line clear and mould-free by pouring a cup of distilled white vinegar or peroxide down it and let that sit for roughly 30 minutes. Once this is done, flush it out with a cup of water. If you have copper tubing, opt for vinegar rather than peroxide, which can damage the copper. You can clean your ac drain line monthly for best results.

If you’re conducting your own air conditioner maintenance, be sure to check the air vents and ductwork too. Inspect them for small defects or blockages that can cause larger problems down the track. Ensure all the wiring appears to be in good condition, too.

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When should I get professional air conditioner servicing?

You should service a split system air conditioner or ducted air conditioner annually, and ideally in the springtime before it heats up too much. A regular air conditioning service can prevent breakdowns and save you from having to pay for costly repairs.

An HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) professional can conduct routine air conditioning cleaning, including clean the air filters, the coils, fins and drain line. They will also perform air conditioner servicing, which includes:

• Sealing leaky ducts on a ducted system
• Replacing faulty parts
• Checking refrigerant gas levels
• Checking air flow
• Inspecting the integrity of the electrical components
• Test the thermostat
• Ensuring all the parts are operating correctly
• Air conditioning service repair

If you need a licenced and qualified HVAC technician for your aircon maintenance, Yellow Pages can help you compare quotes to find the best air conditioner cleaning price and servicing costs in your local area.

Want to find an air conditioner servicer in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide?