No one likes a stuffy house. Not only is it uncomfortable, but it can also lead to allergies acting up or even getting sick. The best way to combat a stuffy place is by ensuring you have a clean air conditioner.
A clean air conditioner will not only improve your home’s air quality but also save you money on your energy bill. In this blog post, we will show you six easy DIY steps to clean your air conditioner and improve indoor air quality.
Step One: Turn off Your Air Conditioner
The first step to cleaning your air conditioner is to shut it off. You’ll want to ensure that the power is completely off before taking apart any part of the machine. After the power is off, wait a few minutes to ensure that the machine is completely cooled down before beginning to disassemble it
Step Two: Remove the Front Cover
Once the machine has cooled down, you can remove the front cover. On most models, the front cover will either snap or screw on. If your model has screws, be sure to keep them in a safe place, so you don’t lose them when putting the cover back on. After the cover is off, look at the inside of your air conditioner. If any dirt or debris is visible, now is an excellent time to start cleaning.
Step Three: Vacuum Out the Inside of Your Unit
Use a vacuum attachment to remove any dirt or debris gathered inside your unit. Be sure to get in all the nooks and crannies so that no dirt is left behind. Once you’ve vacuumed out all of the visible dirt, reattach the front cover and move on to step four.
Step Four: Clean Off the Condenser Coils
The next step in cleaning your air conditioner is to clean off the condenser coils. These coils are located outside your unit and are responsible for releasing heat inside your home. Over time, dust and debris can build up on these coils, which prevents them from doing their job correctly. To clean these coils, you can use a brush attachment on your vacuum or a coil-cleaning brush specifically designed for this task. Be sure to follow the instructions on whatever brush you’re using so that you don’t damage the coils while trying to clean them.
Step Five: Clean Out the Drain pan
The drain pan is located under your unit and collects water drips from the evaporator coils during operation. This water is drained through either a PVC pipe or a drain line. If this pan isn’t cleaned regularly, it can become full of mold and mildew, which can circulate through your home every time you turn on your AC unit. To clean out this pan, remove it from your unit and pour out any water inside it. Then wash it with soap and water before placing it beneath your AC unit.
Step Six: Replace Your Filter
The final step in cleaning your air conditioner is to replace your filter with a new one. Most units will have either disposable or reusable filters that can be washed and reused. Check your owner’s manual to see what kind of filter yours takes so that you can replace it with one that’s specific to your model. Many people like to check their filters monthly and replace them as needed, but depending on how often you use your AC unit, you might need to replace yours more or less frequently. A good rule of thumb is to check yours every other month and replace it if it looks dirty. Find out the impact of a dirty aircon filter here.
Conclusion
By following these six simple steps, you can easily clean your own air conditioner and improve the quality of air in your home and its efficiency. Not only will taking care of your AC unit save you money in energy bills, but it will also prevent costly repairs down the road. So what are you waiting for? Get started today!