Your air conditioning unit needs your attention. I know this because mine did too, until fairly recently. As a 20-something who is still learning the ins-and-outs of NYC apartment living, I didn’t think I’d have to do much to my AC except turn it on and off as I needed. But a few days ago, I realized my room wasn’t getting as cold as it should have been considering that my unit was on the coldest setting. After diving down an internet rabbit hole and consulting a few professionals, I learned that there was one reason my AC was not working as well as it did at the start of the summer. I needed to clean the filter. When it comes to those noisy window boxes, I learned I needed to clean the AC unit filter every three weeks to get the most bang for my buck and avoid unnecessary germs. A dirty AC filter could result in dirty air spewing in your home. Here’s how you should clean it. 1. Safety is always first, so before you begin, unplug your AC unit. 2. Next, remove the front cover of the unit.

Usually, you can simply remove the cover with your hands by squeezing it and pulling it towards your body. If your front cover is bolted, you might need to use a screw driver. 3. Once the font screen has been taken off, simply remove the filter that is sitting right behind where the front screen used to be. Be careful of potentially sharp objects that might be behind the filter as you reach for it! 4. Take the dirty filter to the kitchen sink. Depending on the amount of filth it has acquired, a simple rinse under warm water might do the trick. If not, you can use soap or laundry detergent to really tackle the grime. If you need to scrub, consider using a toothbrush. 5. Lastly, make sure that the filter is completely dry before you put it back behind the front screen. Fit the cover back into place (you might need to push a little bit until you hear that satisfying “click” that means it’s been locked into position), and voila! You are on your way to a nicer, cooler summer.

This post has been updated with new photos of air conditioner window units. Home Hacks How-to Air Conditioning Clean Dont­stress­the­messClean every surface of an air conditioner to eliminate black mold. Air conditioner vents can be breeding grounds for black mold. Condensation forms in the coils and ducts as cool air circulates through the system, creating a habitat for moisture-loving mold. Black mold can cause severe respiratory symptoms, particularly in people who are allergic to mold. After you clean your air conditioner vents, inspect walls and insulation to find the source of the black mold infestation. Wear long sleeves and pants and put on a high-efficiency dust mask to protect yourself from black mold spores. Make sure all household members with mold allergies or respiratory problems are out of the house before you begin to clean the air conditioner vents. Remove the vent cover of a window air conditioner by unscrewing the screws with a screwdriver or pressing in on pressure clips.

Place the vent cover in a basin or tub, sprinkle with laundry detergent and add enough water to cover the vent cover. 3 ton central ac unitsAfter 15 minutes, rinse and allow the filter and vent cover to air-dry. what is portable ac unitRemove dust from the inside of the air conditioner, as the dust in the moist environment allows mold to thrive. 3 ton ac unitSpray the blades and duct opening with water to prevent dry mold from escaping into the air. Wipe the blades and duct opening as thoroughly as possible with soapy water. Mold spores are microscopic and not visible to the naked eye, so clean surfaces even if you do not see mold. Combine 1 cup of bleach with 1 gallon of water. Wipe the blades, duct opening and the inside of the vent with a long, flexible mop soaked in the bleach solution.

Allow the inside of the vent to dry thoroughly before reattaching the vent cover. Black mold can grow in any remaining moisture. Discard mold-infested materials in heavy-duty plastic bags. Take the bags outdoors through a window or door in the room in which you just cleaned to avoid contaminating other areas of the house. Open the windows to create ventilation after you finish cleaning the vents. : Duct CleaningCalifornia Department of Public Health: Mold in My Home — What Do I Do? Share This Page - Learning how to clean an air conditioner can increase its efficiency, prevent breakdowns, and prevent mold, mildew and other allergens from entering the home. Often, air conditioners, whether they are window units or central air systems, sit for months or years without maintenance. This can subject the machines to moisture, degradation, and that terribly foul smell of mold and mildew that piles up when an air conditioner hasn’t been cleaned for a while. Follow the steps below to effectively disinfect and clean an air conditioner.

Vacuum the outside fins to remove debris that can block the air flow. Remove the fan and clean the inside fins with a disinfectant cleaner like Lysol Power & Free®. Clean the indoor unit With central air systems, a clean air conditioner works best when it also has a new furnace filter. Prevent pollutants and allergens from entering your home with a new filter regularly. Vacuum the blower compartment. Clean a clogged condensation drain with a stiff wire or a bleach solution. Knowing how to clean an air conditioner that sits in the window is just as money-saving as cleaning your own central air system. Apply Lysol® All-Purpose Cleaner to the coils on the back of the unit and scrub with a stiff brush. Wash the air filter with a disinfecting cleaner like Lysol Power & Free®. A disinfected, clean air conditioner will allow for a fresher smell, safer environment, and will help your family remain healthy year-round. Share This Page - It's starting to hot in Texas.

I have a refrigerated air window unit in my office so I don't have to cool the whole house down to remain comfortable while answering iFixit questions. It has a removable plastic filter on the inside of the house that can be removed and washed. Behind that are the radiator coils. Those are dirty and I would like to clean them without making a big mess. Does anyone know how to do this and any other yearly maintenance things I need to do before starting it up for the year? To start use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush hose attachment to get rid of the loose stuff. Then you are going to want to use a degreaser/ cleaner to spray on the evaporator. I would suggest a foam based one such as this to keep the mess minimal. You may notice the product I suggested is self-rinsing, which means it will only need wiped off. To wipe it off between the fins use a fin comb. Fin combs come in different sizes and styles. To pick the proper one measure the number of fins per inch and purchase one that has the matching comb.

Most of those are plastic. I could not find one like mine which is more like a disposable razor with different sized interchangeable blades. I've got 10 combs/blades for mine. Click here for an example of the plastic one I have. They seem to be coming in some kind of a rotating circle set up now. These can also be used for straightening out bent fins. They also make universal fin combs. Please click here for an example. The universal ones do a good job for cleaning ( I have one for that purpose only.), if the fins are not bent, I would not recommend using one to straighten bent fins. You will want a bucket of water and some paper towels for cleaning the comb between strokes. Insofar as recommended maintenance. Clean and straighten out the inner and outer fins on both the evaporator and condenser. That will ensure good air flow and efficiency. Clean the fan blades and if the fan has an oil port add some oil (3n1 electric motor oil). If you have a clamp on amp meter use it to compare the amperage draw of the unit to the rated amount on the specifications plate provided by the manufacturer, if there is more than a 25% difference you may consider having it professionally serviced - if you are not happy with it's performance.

Freon systems are closed systems and if they are leaking it is most likely through a compromised piece of metal or a joint. With age compressor motors do tend to draw less current, so a difference in plate rating and actual current draw does not always indicate a loss of freon in the system. You can do what is called a wet bulb test. Use a quick reacting thermometer where the air is coming in to be circulated. Take another quick acting thermometer, wrap it's sensing part with a wet paper towel, place it where the air is leaving the unit to "cool" the room. Let the AC run for 10 minutes. There should be approximately a 20F difference between the two if the system is in good order. I don't think it can be done without some mess ... condensation has probably glued the dirt/dust to the coils... Take it outside to brush and wash/rinse with soapy then clean water would be, IMnsHO the best way. if you have to do it inside you might get by with putting down a tarp (or using bathtub/shower stall) and using a hand pump up sprayer (like for liquid weed killer, or deck wash/sealant) to get some pressure behind the water.