It’s important to clean air conditioner filters in the AC unit in your home or office. Poorly maintained filters not only hurt the energy efficiency of your entire unit, but also greatly affect the quality of the air you breathe. You may be thinking that the severity of this is being overstated, but consider the actual structure and function of your air conditioner filters. Filters serve to keep the air conditioner components clean, and over a lifetime of heavy use, they accumulate a huge build up of dirt, pathogens, and allergens. A good cleaning is recommended at least twice a month and should be one that involves more than just running the filters under water. Here’s a simple guide to get your filters clean and help you maintain a healthy living environment. Make sure your air conditioner is turned off at the mains. Carefully remove the air conditioner components. You may have to use a screwdriver to dislodge fitted screws. Remove the filters from the air conditioner.

First and foremost, inspect them for any overt signs of wear and tear. If you spot any rips or snags, don’t even bother with the cleaning; you’re better off replacing the filters as continuing to use them when worn out will hamper efficiency. If your filters don't need to be replaced from tears, use a vacuum to get rid of any accumulated dirt and grime. Be as thorough as you can for effective cleaning results. Be careful however, as you do not want to puncture or tear the filter because, as stated above, tears render the filter inefficient. Fill a basin with equal portions of water and vinegar. Make sure that whatever vessel you use is large enough so that the filters will be totally submerged when placed inside. The vinegar will kill harmful bacteria and allergens that may have accumulated in the filters. Allow the filters adequate time to soak in the cleaning solution. If you have not cleaned the filters recently, leave them for about four hours to get properly sanitized.

However, if the filters have only been used moderately or have been recently cleaned, soak for one hour. Remove the air conditioning filters from the cleaning solution and allow the mixture to drain off. Do not rinse the filters because doing so will reverse the effects of the sanitizing process. You can place them onto an old, clean towel so that any excess solution is absorbed by the towel. Allow the filters to dry naturally while still on the towel. It is best to place the towel outside in the yard or wherever some sunshine is available to facilitate effective drying. Fit back the filters into the air conditioner and replace the air conditioner components. You can now enjoy cleaner, more breathable air.Dirty Job No. 6: Cleaning Heat and Air-Conditioning Vents and Radiators Time it takes: 15 minutes per unit.Why it matters: A buildup of dust anywhere harbors allergens. And when you’re dealing with vents and radiators, this dust is propelled into the room. Also, excessive dust makes your cooling and heating system work harder and therefore costs you money.

For ventsStep 1: Turn off the heat or the air-conditioning. Run the crevice tool of a vacuum over floor and baseboard vents. For ceiling vents, spread a sheet below and wear a baseball cap to shield your hair and eyes; ), with an extension pole.floor air conditioning and heating unitsStep 2: Remove the vent covers (all you need is a screwdriver); home central ac diagramyou’ll have to use a stepladder for ceiling vents. 2 ton window air conditionerWash covers with dish soap, using a small sponge paintbrush to get into slats (plastic and unpainted aluminum or steel can go in the dishwasher). If you want to soak the covers to get them extra clean, use only hot water—prolonged exposure to soap may take the paint off. for stores), which has stiff bristles and a rounded head that fits inside ducts.

When they’re dry, replace the covers.Don’t use water, which can cause rust.Try to do this: Twice a year.You can find much mold in an air conditioner if you leave it unattended in high humidity weather for long periods of time. Condensation may form in the coils and the ducts as the air circulates inside, thus making it a good environment for mold spores to grow and thrive. Having mold embedded inside the AC will have a whole set of negative results so you should ensure you clean them on a regular basis. The following tips will give you the basics of what you need to do: Wearing long sleeves and a dust mask will protect you from mold spores if you’re allergic to them in any way. You will need to make sure anyone who has such allergies is out of the house while you’re doing the actual cleaning if you can. If you are the one with said allergies you will need to take these measures to protect yourself. Remove the window air conditioner vent cover, either by dealing with its screws or opening the pressure clips it was attached with.

You should place the vent cover in a tub or some other container, then cover it with a mix of water and laundry detergent. Wait for about fifteen minutes or so, then rinse and clean it until its spotless. Let it dry and put it aside until you’re finished with the entire cleaning process. Dust the inside of the air conditioner and make sure its as clean as possible. Dust can serve to create good conditions for mold spores to grow as well so it should be cleaned on a regular basis. Spray the duct opening and the blades of the fan with water so you can trap the dried-out mold spores and prevent them from spreading through the air once you start cleaning them. Wipe down the blades and ducts with soapy water and clean them as well as you can, even if you see no spots as mold spores can persist and are too small to be seen with the naked eye. Combine a mix of a cup of bleach and a gallon of water to clean the blades and ducts. Use a flexible mop dipped in the bleach solution, then allow it to dry before you reattach the vent cover back in its place.