Edit ArticleHow to Clean Split Air Conditioners These days almost every household needs some form of air conditioning, often the split ductless air conditioner. This system is so compact, so energy efficient, and so low cost that most new homes are now pre-installed with it. However, these devices are small, so cleaning them can be a daunting task. What's more, having them cleaning professionally can be ridiculously costly, costing as much annually as 25%~35% of the cost of a new system. Hence, here is a set of DIY instructions for anyone who wants to clean their air conditioning units and get back the strong cool airflow of a brand new air conditioner. Be sure to read the warnings at the bottom first to avoid electrocution, and in my opinion it is essential to remove the front cover and clean inside it to avoid mould reinfecting what you have cleaned! Buy an aircon wash bag. Buy a good coil cleaner. Avoid the foam type coil cleaners because they can be messy and spread foam everywhere.

Foam sprays also may not penetrate the coils or rotor fan blades properly. So stick to liquid solution sprays. Beware of buying harsh chemical cleaners that are designed to attack organics, as they may damage newer air conditioners. Newer split air conditioners often come with their cooling coils coated with a blue-colored hydrophilic layer (which keeps the condensation flowing over the coils easily to improve airflow strength).parts of a split ac unit Install the aircon wash bag around the split a/c unit (called an FCU-Fan Coil Unit) on the wall.average cost of replacing air conditioning unit Start spraying the chemical solution over the coils.how do split system ac units work Spray the rotary blades hidden in the outlet of the airflow.

Wait for 10 to 20 minutes for the cleaning solution to work. Wipe down the fan coil unit. Be gentle and try not to exert too much pressure when brushing the cooling fins. They do bend and collapse easily under too much force. To avoid or clear a drainpipe clog, spray some coil cleaning solution into the drainpipe. Then flush water down the drainpipe. If you can reach the other end, use a wet shop vac to suck out and clear the drainpipe. This should be done especially if you have a leaking air conditioner. Use the long reach nozzle or a toothbrush to push the rotary blades round to get at all the blades. If you know how to remove the front casing of the air conditioner, you can clean the coils more thoroughly. If your sprayer is strong enough, the pressure alone will cause the blades to rotate, as long as you focus the spray on the lower third of the rotor facing you. Before you begin, you can remove the drain plug from the drip tray in your aircon unit to allow all the dirt to drain into the wash bag instead.

This can avoid letting too much dirt flow into the drainpipe. A used toothbrush can be very useful in dislodging and scrubbing some of the stubborn spots on the coils and everywhere else, especially areas near the airflow outlet. Avoid spraying any solution on the right side near the electronics. Lots of coil cleaners recommend leaving their chemical solution on the coils and letting the condensation clean and flush it away. However, rinsing it yourself is preferable, because the flushing action allows you to remove the tons of trapped dirt. Also, leaving cleaning chemicals on the coils gives rise to VOCs (Volatile Organic Chemicals), which are usually not healthy for our respiratory system even if they are organically natural products. Long term exposure to such concentrations of cleaning chemicals is not advisable. Turn off the mains power supply breakers that control the air conditioner unit, including the compressor, before you start this cleaning process.Talk » Services » Discussing 'Cleaning window air conditioners'

Clean 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. After 15 minutes, rinse and allow the filter and vent cover to air-dry.

Remove dust from the inside of the air conditioner, as the dust in the moist environment allows mold to thrive. Spray 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?