Timely caring for household climate equipment, you can maintain efficiency, a high level of reliability, and extend the service life. Initially, this concerns cleaning the home split system from dirt and dust. It is not necessary to call a professional cleaning service. Consider how to clean the air conditioner yourself, using a minimum of funds, financial costs.

What is cleaning for?

It is necessary to clean the home climate system, first of all, to preserve the health of the residents, and only then - for the high-quality operation of the equipment. The effect of cool air, but saturated with pathogens, does not manifest itself as quickly as the breakdown of climate equipment, an unusual smell, a leak, and the appearance of mold on the module.

The decision to clean the air conditioner is made precisely after the appearance of the above signs of a malfunction of the climate system. But this is just an extreme degree of pollution that has been accumulating for a long time, poisoning the air being driven.

If the tenants are relatively healthy, the impact of a damaged split system will not be felt immediately. It will be more difficult for asthmatics, people who have problems with the respiratory system, cardiovascular diseases - they will quickly feel the difference in the operation of dirty equipment.

To prevent an extreme degree of the situation, it is necessary to regularly clean the entire climate system as a whole. This will help maintain the health of people living in the apartment, extend the life of electrical mechanisms, and create optimal microclimatic conditions every day.

How often should you clean your home air conditioner?

The frequency of cleaning a split system is determined by many factors. If we talk about the external module, once a year is enough for the normal functioning of the entire system.

Various elements of the internal module require a specific processing time period for them. So, the most frequently cleaned parts are air filters, which take on the bulk of all the debris that comes with the air. They need to be cleaned once in 1-3 months, which depends on the degree of contamination of the room itself, the characteristics of its location, etc.

Fan, heat exchanger can be cleaned less often - twice a year is enough. As a rule, experts recommend processing in the spring before the start of active use in the summer and in late autumn, before the onset of winter frosts.

If the air conditioner is used under conditions of increased pollution, cleaning procedures are carried out even more often, as dust settles on the elements of the device. You need to monitor this yourself, carry out maintenance of the climate control installation in time, then it will not be difficult to clean the air conditioner at home.

What needs to be cleaned?

Household climate control equipment is subject to cleaning almost completely, to one degree or another. At the indoor module, it is necessary to process the fan, evaporator, drainage group, air filters, internal, external surfaces of the plastic case.

Processing of the outdoor unit - washing the metal case, filters, fan, condenser. Particular attention is paid to the equipment located under the visor. Birds like to settle under it, thus clogging the outer element of the system with fluff, small feathers, food residues, and other waste products.

Let's consider in more detail how to clean the air conditioner in the living space with your own hands.

How to clean the outdoor unit of the air conditioner?

Most often, the outer element is clogged with down during the flowering of poplar, street dust, sand brought there by the wind. If the house is located near the highway, on a street with active traffic, the outer case of the block, the internal parts are covered with soot, soot.

Over time, these contaminants stick to the blades of the fan, compressor, condenser in a dense layer, making it difficult for them to work. The heat exchange process is disturbed, since the adhering dirt does not allow the refrigerant to be effectively cooled. This leads to an increase in energy consumption during the normalization of heat transfer, wear of the internal parts of the device.

Mechanical flushing of the outdoor module of the split system is sufficient to maintain cleanliness and proper operation. Let's define a few recommendations on how to clean the outdoor unit:

Disconnect the equipment from the power supply before starting cleaning work.
Remove the outer metal case.
Remove large debris (feathers, fluff, leaves, small branches) with a brush, an autonomous compressor unit.
Use a vacuum cleaner to clean fine dust deposits of hard-to-reach parts, or blow with a compressor.
Clean fan blades.
Rinse the lamellar condenser from dirt with a strong pressure of water, steam generator unit.
After drying all the elements, put the module case back.
During cleaning work, make sure that moisture does not get to the electrical unit.

How to clean the indoor unit of the air conditioner?

Cleaning the indoor unit requires more attention, time, and a set of tools. The highlights of the process are the cleaning treatment of air filters, a fan, an evaporator, a drainage system, and the inner surface of the case. Let's consider each separately.

Air filters

They are processed most often, because they become contaminated with dust faster than other parts. They are a fine mesh with a plastic partition, they are a system of primary, coarse cleaning of incoming air. How to clean the filter in the air conditioner:

Switch off the power supply.
Open the upper plastic panel of the case, fix in this position.
Carefully remove air filters.
Clean the dust with a brush, using a vacuum cleaner.
Rinse under running water. If necessary, soak in soapy water, after a while rinse under the tap.
Dry completely.
Install back after complete cleaning of the indoor unit (if any).

Fan

Most modifications of climate technology provide for a removable drum with fan blades. This allows you to rinse it separately if necessary. Cleaning sequence:

Make sure the installation is turned off.
Remove the front panel of the case.
Remove the drainage container, having previously disconnected the electrical unit.
Locate the fan retaining screw connecting it to the motor.
Remove the screw carefully so as not to damage the evaporator.
Clean the fan blades from dirty deposits with a soapy solution, a disinfectant.
Dry the item.
Treat the fan blades with an antibacterial agent that inhibits the spread of germs.
After completing all cleaning work, install back using the reverse order.

Evaporator

Deep cleaning of the heat exchanger is carried out only by employees of a special cleaning service with the removal of the indoor unit. At home, it can only be processed superficially. Therefore, you should not clog the air conditioner, you need to clean it in a timely manner in order to avoid large financial expenses. Cleaning process:

Check if the equipment is disconnected from the mains.
If the front panel, the filters are previously removed, proceed to processing. If not, carefully dismantle the elements.
Gently clean the evaporator from dust deposits from top to bottom with a long-haired brush, being careful not to damage the thin plates.
Use the purchased antimicrobial agent according to the manufacturer's instructions. It can be a foamy substance, an antiseptic spray, etc.
Dry the heat exchanger.
Carry out a fixing disinfection treatment of parts.

drainage system

It is very important to clean this part of the split system. It accumulates a lot of moisture, which subsequently combines with dust, becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, fungal colonies. From pollution, mucus, a plug is formed that prevents the outflow of condensate, which leads to a leak from the climate device module. Purification sequence:

Checking that there is no connection to the power supply is mandatory.
If the panel, filters are removed, disconnect the drainage from the electrical unit.
The drainage container is treated with soapy water, antiseptic, washed with running water.
Rinse the drain pipe under pressure with water and an antiseptic solution.
Dry.
Set the parts in place.
Inside the container, it is recommended to mix an antibacterial agent in the form of a tablet, which inhibits the further activity of pathogens.

The process of cleaning the air conditioner can be seen in the video.

The process of cleaning the air conditioner is not difficult, but requires care and accuracy. It can be carried out independently, or entrusted to professional workers. The frequency of processing must be observed in order to avoid unpleasant consequences, unforeseen financial expenses. It is necessary to clean any climate system, even equipped with a self-cleaning option.

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Window air conditioner cleaning

Cleanliness is the key to a healthy life. Everyone knows this expression. As for air conditioners, they also need timely cleaning. Regular cleaning of this unit will improve your health, as dust and mold are removed from the air conditioner during cleaning.

To clean a window air conditioner, you need a lot of patience. If you do not have this, then leave this lesson to specialists. If you still decide to do this work yourself, stock up on the following tools: a tin can, a vacuum cleaner, a long-handled brush, a rag, oil, a set of various screwdrivers, and, of course, a new filter (if you use a disposable option).

Cleaning steps

1. Remove the filter from the front grille. 2. Remove the front grills on the main body of the air conditioner. 3. Gently remove the metal cover of the air conditioner. 4. If the fan motor has holes for oil, fill them with oil. 5. In order to remove dust and dirt from the surface of the evaporator, use a special brush with a long handle. 6. Try to straighten the bent plates. 7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 for the back plates (capacitor coils). 8. Wipe dirt and dust from both fan fins with a damp cloth. 9. Vacuum all surfaces. The front and rear grilles of the air conditioner also need to be vacuumed. Don't forget to also vacuum under the metal cover of the device. If it has ventilation holes, they must also be completely cleaned. 10. Drain the rest of the water in the base and let it dry after waiting a few hours. When the air conditioner is completely dry, turn it on and make sure you did everything right. Then, after assembly, turn on the air conditioner again and check if it works properly. This is necessary in order to make sure that replacing the cover does not affect anything.

Try to carry out the cleaning procedure at least once a year. By doing this, you will extend the life of your air conditioner, as well as make the air in your room much cleaner and fresher.

Nowadays, many owners of houses and apartments equip their homes with climate control equipment that is able to maintain a comfortable microclimate in the premises. One of the most popular appliances for this purpose is the air conditioner. Modern models can have not only one function - air cooling, but also be "all-season", multifunctional, that is, at any time of the year, maintain a normal temperature set by the user in the rooms.

However, the microclimate will actually be comfortable, and the use of air conditioning will not harm the owners if certain important conditions are met. In particular, such devices require some care, so they are usually serviced by professional craftsmen. To do this, often contracts are concluded with the company that conducted, for further service maintenance. They also resort to one-time calls for masters - there are a lot of ads of such content in the advertising press.

But such a service is not cheap, so many device owners are interested in the possibility of self-care for them. One of the important points in the maintenance of climate technology is to keep all its components, especially filter blocks, clean. Therefore, the question arises of how possible it is to clean the air conditioner with your own hands? Yes, it's doable! And if you understand at least a little about the design of the device and know how such a process is carried out, then, indeed, you can put it in order on your own.

Why is it necessary to clean the air conditioner?

Is it really necessary to regularly clean the air conditioning equipment? Maybe it's just another "money scam" on the part of manufacturers and service companies? No, everything is much more serious!

Devices that cool or heat the air drive it through the filtering devices installed in them, since it is unrealistic to completely get rid of dust in the premises. Accordingly, quite soon a large amount of dirt and dust is collected in the filters.

Therefore, if you do not carry out periodic cleaning of the air conditioner, then the following problems will certainly arise:

There will be a clear drop in the functionality of the device, that is, a significant decrease in efficiency due to the difficulty of passing air through the filters.
If the air conditioner is not cleaned or is not done regularly, the heat exchanger with the freon inside it will start to overheat, which will increase the load on the compressor, and as a result, the device will quickly wear out.

Increased humidity and dust deposits inside and outside the filters contribute to the active reproduction of dust mites and various bacteria. Among pathogenic microorganisms, the most dangerous is legionella, which causes a serious lung disease - legionellosis (it is also called "Pittsburgh pneumonia"). Together with the flow of air passing through contaminated filters, spores of fungi and mold can spread throughout the premises, which can easily provoke allergic reactions, lead to asthmatic attacks and dermatitis.
Unpleasant smell in the room is probably the smallest trouble of all, which entails the pollution of the air conditioner.

It should be noted that air conditioners that are installed in multi-storey buildings on the uppermost floors are less susceptible to rapid clogging, since many times less dust is concentrated at high altitudes than in the lower layers of air. But this does not mean that they will not have to be cleaned - there may simply be less mud deposits.

Much more often it will be necessary to clean and disinfect devices installed in houses located near highways, in industrial areas of the city and in areas under construction, since the air is most polluted there.

Another negative phenomenon for climate technology is poplar and other plant fluff, which is capable of literally clogging air conditioner filters in a short time. Therefore, if the area where the house is located is planted with poplars or other trees (shrubs) with a similar form of flowering, then climatic devices must be monitored with particular care.

The air conditioner, as a rule, itself begins to “declare” that it needs preventive maintenance if it was not cleaned on time. So, such manifestations can be:

Constant or temporary noise or crackling when the device is turned on.
Unpleasant smell of dampness or preli.
A clear decrease in the cooling capacity of the air conditioner.
The device began to consume too much electricity with the same or even reduced output - this can be seen by taking readings from the meter.
The indoor unit began to leak while the air conditioner was running.

Prices for popular air conditioners

If at least one of the above signs appears, then this indicates that the device needs urgent preventive maintenance, otherwise the air conditioner may soon fail.

It is best to prevent such a situation, since it can result in the replacement of individual parts or structural blocks that have failed due to the banal carelessness of the owners, which leads to significant costs.

Be sure to clean the filters of the device in the spring, before intensive work in the summer.
Prevention should also be carried out in the fall, before the cold period, when the air conditioner is switched to the room heating mode.
Unscheduled prevention - urgently, in any case, if the signs mentioned above appear.

Thanks to timely preventive maintenance, the air conditioner will work out the entire resource put into it without any problems, which is usually 8 ÷ 12 years and even more.

Cleaning the indoor unit of the split system

The design of the indoor unit of the air conditioner

To figure out where to start preventive work, and what exactly should be subjected to the most thorough cleaning, you need to at least get a little familiar with the design of the device. Most often, split systems have been used recently, and first of all, the indoor unit of the air conditioner most accessible to the user affects the microclimate in the room. Let's start with him.

So, the indoor unit consists of the following components and parts:

1 - Front panel of the device - This is a plastic case with a grille. Through it, the air from the room enters the device for cooling (or heating), naturally, with the transferred dust. The panel can be easily removed - if necessary, carry out maintenance work. For this, a system of locks (latches) is provided.

2 - Coarse filter- This is a fine-mesh polymer mesh, which is designed for collection of large dust particles from the air, fluff, villi of animal hair and other similar suspensions. Such a filter requires cleaning, or at least control, at least twice a month. In innovative models, some manufacturers provide for automatic cleaning of this filter. The coarse pre-filter is located immediately behind the front panel of the instrument.

3 - Fine filter. Usually, not one, but several filters are installed in a cascade, which can clean the air from various contaminants. Each of them has its own structural features:

carbon filter, containing activated carbon, and designed to remove unpleasant odors and neutralize harmful substances. This type of filter is not cleaned, but replaced completely, on average every 4-5 months.
Zeolite filter made from porous mineral - zeolite. This version of the filter is able to absorb chemical compounds from the air, which include heavy metals, so it is more efficient than carbon. In addition, unlike coal, the zeolite filter can be washed with water and can be used for up to five years with regular maintenance.
Electrostatic the filter cleans the air from fine dust by creating an electrostatic field. Dust particles, passing through it, become electrified and settle on oppositely charged plates. The service life of this filter is unlimited, and it is cleaned as it gets dirty.
Plasma filter works on the same principle as electrostatic. Under the influence of electrical voltage, a low-temperature plasma is formed in it, capable of destroying harmful substances and small dust particles, at the same time giving them a negative charge, due to which they settle on a positively charged plate. The plasma filter is also designed to remove odors and smoke. The service life of this filter is unlimited, and it is cleaned as it gets dirty.
UV filter necessarily includes an LED of a certain spectrum of luminescence, which is capable of disinfecting the air of the room, destroying viruses and bacteria. UV light can also prevent the growth and spread of mold and mildew inside the air conditioner. This option can be used alone or in combination with a photocatalytic filter.
photocatalytic filter is a porous substance titanium dioxide coated. This filter adsorbs on its surface all the pollutants of the air masses passing through it, including toxic substances, unpleasant odors, fungal spores, etc. Getting under the influence of ultraviolet, which is included in the complex photocatalytic filter, all toxic substances decompose into water and carbon dioxide. This type of filter does an excellent job with both inorganic and organic air pollutants. The service life of this filter is limited only by the "life" of the UV lamp.
Antibacterial filter. Designed to neutralize various pathogenic microflora - microbes and viruses. It contains such natural active ingredients as:

- catechin - an antiseptic found in apples and green tea;

Wasabi is a plant with antibacterial properties.

Prices for filters for air conditioners

air conditioner filter

Antioxidant filter It is made on the basis of flavonoids, which contribute to the conversion of free radicals into inactive chemical compounds.

4 - Fan to circulate air through the air conditioner. As a rule, the fan can have three to four speeds of rotation.

5 - Evaporator. This, in essence, is a radiator in which freon evaporates, due to which the air passing through it cools.

6 – Horizontal blinds, regulating the direction of air flow vertically. They are controlled remotely, from a remote control, through an electric drive installed in the air conditioner housing.

7 - Display panel located on the surface of the indoor unit of the air conditioner. On it, using LEDs or a digital display, the operating modes of the device are shown, including the set temperature.

8 - Vertical blinds regulate air flow in horizontal directions. They can be moved manually or remotely, depending on the equipment of the device.

In addition to the above structural elements, it necessarily contains others that are not shown in the figure:

9 - Condensate tray. This part is placed under the evaporator, and it serves to collect water, which is then discharged through a drain hose from the air conditioner to the outside.

10 - Control electronic board. A central microprocessor is installed on it, with the help of which the device is controlled. The board is usually located to the right of the indoor unit of the air conditioner. Usually, a terminal group is also located near it - for connecting the air conditioner to the mains and for electrical switching of the indoor unit with the external one.

11 - Fittings located on the bottom rear of the indoor unit. Copper pipes connected to them serve to connect the outdoor and indoor units - this creates a closed circuit for the circulation of the refrigerant.

Several preparatory operations

Due to the fact that the air conditioner of a split system consists of two blocks, external and internal, their cleaning also differs somewhat from each other, which is important to consider when starting its prevention. On the outer block, attention will be focused below, but for now we continue to consider the inner one.

Before proceeding with preventive maintenance, it is necessary to protect the hands and respiratory tract, since one should not forget that the air conditioner housing contains a hotbed of viruses and dangerous bacteria that got there along with dust from the air. They can easily enter the body, which threatens with serious diseases, even for a person with excellent immunity.
Next, the air conditioner must be disconnected from the mains. It would seem that this is an understandable action for everyone, but sometimes they forget about it, and remember it only at the moment when the first electric shock occurs. Well, if it is light, only in the form of tingling ....
Then, it is recommended to cover the floor area under the air conditioner with plastic wrap, which, after cleaning the device, is best to simply throw it away. It is especially important to protect the floor surface if the air conditioner has been working for a long time without maintenance, and a large amount of dirt has accumulated in it.

Procedure for general cleaning of the indoor unit

Sometimes it is necessary to clean only the filters of the instrument, as they are the first to get dirty. I must say that washing them yourself is not difficult at all. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out this procedure almost weekly, making it a rule to perform these simple steps before cleaning an apartment or house. Naturally, such frequent preventive maintenance is necessary if the device is used constantly.

If the climate equipment is put in order regularly, the house is kept clean, and thanks to this, the dust does not have time to clog all the pores of the fine filters and coarse cleaning cells, then it is enough to dry clean with a vacuum cleaner.

If the filters of the air conditioner are heavily clogged, then they will have to be additionally washed with special detergents, and then with water.

Detergents are purchased in specialized stores for climate equipment or in service centers for its maintenance.

Illustration	Brief description of the operation to be performed
	So, the first step is to open the front cover of the air conditioner, on which the protective grille is located. This process is simple, especially since all owners need to do it quite often, checking the degree of contamination of the device. Next, the coarse filters are carefully removed. They can also be fixed in different ways. So, in some models, they can be removed without even opening or dismantling the front panel.
	Then the cover covering the fasteners is removed. In various designs, this panel can be fixed in different ways - in some models it is enough to simply remove it from the latches, while in others it has to be unscrewed.
	In this model, the plastic case of the indoor unit is fixed with screws located at the bottom of the structure. They are closed with protective plates, which must first be opened. For convenience, you can use a regular screwdriver - it picks up the closing screws of the cover, and then unscrews the fasteners themselves. Work must be done carefully, as plastic parts are quite fragile. Having unscrewed the fasteners, it is also necessary to dismantle the display panel connected to the electrical part of the air conditioner from the housing. This element, together with the wires, must be temporarily placed to the electrical unit.
	After unscrewing the screws, the plastic case of the air conditioner is removed. In different models, it is also fastened in different ways, therefore, having unscrewed the screws on one side, you should not pull the case. It must be gently pulled towards you, and if it is not removed, then you will have to look for places where it is additionally fixed. Next, the fine filters should be removed from the air conditioner.
	The next step is to make sure that the electrical unit of the device is protected from splashes of disinfectants and detergents, as well as water jets. Ordinary hospital shoe covers are perfect for this purpose - thanks to the elastic band located on them, they will fit snugly against the device, and the protection will not fall during operation.
	Now it's time to prepare for cleaning. For this purpose, you can use a large, durable plastic bag, but this “device” cannot guarantee reliable protection of the surfaces of the room from the ingress of detergents along with dirt from the air conditioner. In specialized stores or on online trading platforms, you can purchase a kit specifically designed to protect the floor and walls during the cleaning of climate equipment. Such a set is more convenient, since it provides almost all the necessary elements both for its fastening and for draining dirty water into a bucket.
	The service package includes a large specially shaped plastic bag with a funnel in the lower central part, on which a plastic spout is attached for easy fixing of the outlet hose. In addition, it contains a polyethylene apron installed between the wall and the bottom of the air conditioner, holders like stationery, with which the stiffening ribs inserted into the edges of the bag are fixed, and a tape for hanging it under the air conditioner. Unfortunately, the kit does not include elements that act as stiffeners, as well as a hose for draining dirty water. Therefore, you will have to take care of these details yourself. To do this, you will need thin plastic or metal tubes, or even ordinary wooden glazing beads, which are used to fasten window panes. The length of these rigid inserts should be: 600 mm - 2 pcs. and 1200 mm - 2 pcs. The section of the hose should correspond in cross-section to the diameter of the spout fixed on the plastic bag - so that it fits snugly against the drain spout.
	In the bag along its edges, channels are provided in which stiffeners must be installed and fixed with stationery holders. A belt is fixed on one side of the package, with which the package will be hung on the air conditioner. When ready for use, this fixture looks something like the one shown in the illustration.
	Next, an apron is taken - this is an ordinary polyethylene sheet, which is slipped under the body of the device and fixed to the wall with masking tape. It will protect the wall from getting dirty lumps of wet dust. Then, a package with stiffeners is hung under the air conditioner, the belt is put on top of the device body. After that, a hose is put on a plastic spout, the second end of which is lowered into an ordinary plastic bucket standing on the floor.
	Further, if thick dust layers are found after opening the indoor unit of the air conditioner, they can be removed with a soft brush or collected with a vacuum cleaner. After such a superficial removal of accumulated deposits, it will be easier to flush structural parts from more deeply ingrained dirt.
	After removing the external dust, you can proceed to the preparation of a washing disinfectant solution. It is made from products specially designed for cleaning the air conditioner. The solution is mixed in accordance with the proportions indicated on the packaging of detergents. To apply the solution, you will need a spray gun, in which the jet can be adjusted according to the spray diameter.
	The next step is to apply the finished solution to all elements of the indoor unit. Especially carefully it is necessary to spray the fan and radiator of the device. A huge amount of dust collects on the impeller blades of the fan roller, which eats into the surface of the material from which it is made. Therefore, it is simply impossible to clean this part of the air conditioner from dirt without special tools. The radiator is equipped with numerous heat exchange plates, between which dust also accumulates, and it is quite difficult to remove it with plain water, so you can’t do without special equipment either. The disinfectant cleaning solution should cover all the details of the structure, since if unwashed areas remain, they will later become a favorable place for fixing new layers of dirt.
	Detergents are usually applied in two stages. Liquid detergent disinfectant (in this case, Alfadez) is sprayed first, followed by Winns 30202 detergent, which is sold in cans and gives a rich foam that helps to better soften and peel off the dirt. After the detergents are applied to the surfaces of the indoor unit, they must be left for some time, approximately 20-25 minutes, so that the solutions corrode the outer and inner dirty layers. When the foam has settled, a control check can be made to see how easy the dirt will be removed.
	After the foam settles, you can start flushing the split system with water supplied under high pressure with a thin stream. With self-washing, you can use the same spray gun, but this will take a lot of time and a large amount of water.
	When flushing the system, the dirt on the bottom of the air conditioner body will drain into a plastic bag suspended under it, and from there into a bucket. It is important to ensure that the container is not overfilled, as dirty water and disinfectants can seriously damage the flooring.
	Flushing the indoor unit of the split system starts from its rear. Then the radiator is thoroughly washed, after which it is necessary to clean the inside again, since dirt from the heat exchanger grill may be on the surface of the fan blades.
	At a time when the indoor unit will soak under the influence of detergents, you can clean the parts of the plastic case removed from the structure. They are also sprayed with disinfectants and detergents. If necessary, the dirt on them can be rubbed with a soft brush, and then these structural elements are washed under running water.
	In addition to the rigid parts of the body, it is necessary to rinse the coarse air filters. First, they also need to be sprayed with detergents. Then they are left for a while - until the dirt is separated from them, and then washed under running water.
	The filter is washed, but not wiped - the water should drain from it spontaneously, and it should dry naturally. When washing the filter, do not use ordinary detergents, as they can negatively affect not only the filter itself, but also the indoor unit of the air conditioner. In addition, do not forget that the molecules of solutions of household chemicals will later get into the air of residential premises.
	It is more difficult with fine filters, since among them there are options that cannot be washed, and dry cleaning will not bring results, and therefore they will have to be replaced with new ones. So, I would like to remind you that replaceable filters include coal, antibacterial, antioxidant, and also vitamin. Washable filters include electrostatic, photocatalytic, plasma and zeolite filters. New replacement filters are usually sold at air conditioner service centers or at service centers of manufacturing companies.
	When all the insides of the unit and all the parts removed from it dry well, you can remove the hanging bag and shoe covers from the electric unit and assemble the air conditioner in reverse order. The fine filters (new or washed) are returned to their place, then the washed housing is fixed, the indicator panel is fixed to it, and the coarse filters are installed last.
	Now that the cleaning work of the air conditioner has been completed, you can turn it on, check its operation and proceed to normal operation, until the next maintenance.

Cleaning the drainage system of the air conditioner

One of the common problems that air conditioner owners face is water leaking onto the floor or walls from the indoor unit. Most often, leaks occur for the following reasons:

Due to the contamination of the drainage system of the appliance, when condensate cannot pass through the clogged pipe, and therefore begins to drain from the indoor unit into the room. In this case, the drainage system must be cleaned. Drainage clogging occurs due to the fact that the air conditioning units were not cleaned in time - the dust turned into dirt and clogged the tube.
If the amount of freon (refrigerant) in the system is reduced, then the temperature of the evaporator also becomes lower, therefore frost forms on it and water does not pass into the pan, and also flows down to the floors of the room.
If the air conditioner does not have a pressure regulator, then when the temperature drops outside, the pressure drops and in the system, as a result which also reduces the temperature in the evaporator. However, it should be noted that pressure regulators are usually installed in all modern models of air conditioners.
Freezing of the drain pipe - this occurs if the air conditioner is used in winter to cool the premises.
Another cause of stagnant phenomena in the drainage is wasps or other flying insects, which quite often clog the edge of the pipe located on the street.

If the drain pipe is clogged, then before proceeding with its cleaning, it is imperative to flush the drain pan, as well as other elements of the air conditioning system. Work on cleaning the drainage is carried out with the device turned off from the network and is carried out in the following order:

The first step is to remove the coarse filters.
Next, the lower narrow panel is dismantled, hiding the body mounts to the air conditioner.
Then the drainage pan is removed - in each design this operation is carried out differently, but it is not difficult, and it is quite possible to figure it out on the spot. It is necessary to remove this structural element in order to clean it of dirt, and also in order to get to the hole into which water flows from the pan and to which the drainage tube is connected.

The next step is to disconnect the drain tube from the air conditioner and connect the hose of the compressor (hand pump), steam generator or vacuum cleaner with a blowing function to it.

Another option for cleaning can be a mechanical method. To do this, take a long, enough hard, but at the same time, a flexible wire (something like a television cable is good) that goes into a drain disconnected tube or directly through a hole in the tray. It is pushed through the entire drainage system. Thus, it should appear from the pipe facing the street, through which the condensate escapes.
However, these are not all the steps necessary in this process, since it must be taken into account that the cork was removed from the tube, but the dirt in it still remained in the stacks. When the air conditioner is running, new dust will easily stick to these residues of dirt, and the plug will be restored. Therefore, the tube must be thoroughly rinsed. This can be done using a pump or a homemade device consisting of a plastic bottle and a piece of silicone hose put on its neck.

To flush the drainage tube, it is recommended to use chlorhexidine, which is an excellent antiseptic and is sold in a pharmacy. For flushing, approximately 400 ml of liquid will be required.

If flushing will be carried out through the drain hole, that is, without removing the tube from it, then the flushing liquid can be poured through it. The bottle with chlorhexidine has a spout, which allows you to perform this procedure without the use of improvised means. After 15 ÷ 20 minutes, the system must additionally be purged with a vacuum cleaner or pump. After cleaning the system, it is recommended to check it immediately. To do this, one and a half liters of ordinary water is poured into it again using one of the methods described above, which should freely pour out through a pipe on the street.

In the event that the air conditioner is equipped with a drainage pump, that is, condensate is not discharged to the street, leakage may occur for the following reasons:

Failure of the pump - it may not work at full capacity or even burn out. In any case, the device must be checked, and for this it will have to be removed.
If the float chamber is clogged and the float is fixed in one position, the pump will stop discharging water.
The float or proximity sensor does not work.
Air tube is kinked.
Insufficiently good contact of the pump power terminals.

To find the cause of problems in models with a drainage pump, you will have to invite a specialist in the repair of climate equipment. It is not recommended to meddle in this system yourself.

Automatic air conditioner cleaning system

Some modern models of air conditioners are equipped with an automatic cleaning system. The principle of operation is quite simple - with a certain frequency, the device switches to idle operation, and the air passing through the filters dries all the details of the structure.

In addition to the usual automatic cleaning, ionic air purification is installed in some models. Thanks to the latter, dust particles are ionized, so they easily fall into the dust collector. In another version of the devices, water ionized dust is used to protect against the occurrence of unpleasant odors - this is a system of full ionization and filtration.

In addition, such air conditioners are usually equipped with touch sensors that can control the composition of the air. If necessary, they give a command to the automatic cleaning system to turn on.

These features extend the life of your air conditioner and make it easier to maintain. However, do not think that you will not have to clean the device manually or call a wizard for this purpose, since the automatic system will not be able to remove and rinse its filters, and this is necessary to do, one way or another.

Find out and also read the criteria for evaluating devices in a special article on our portal.

Cleaning the outdoor unit of the split system

The design of the external unit of the air conditioner

Now, having figured out how to clean the indoor unit of the split system, you need to consider how the preventive work of its external part is carried out.

Unlike the indoor unit, the outdoor unit is washed once a year, but it is still necessary to do this, as it is clogged not only with dust, but also with leaves, poplar fluff, small twigs and other debris. From this it becomes clear that it is absolutely impossible not to clean this part of the air conditioner. The most difficult thing is to carry out preventive measures if the device is installed on the upper floors of multi-storey buildings, in this case, specialists cannot be dispensed with.

The design of the external block consists of the following blocks and parts:

1 – Fan, occupies a large part of the body of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner. Its functions are to blow the heat exchanger-condenser.

2 – Capacitor located along the inner walls of the case, near the fan. It is a set of copper tubes, inside which freon is pumped, which is cooled by a working fan.

3 – Compressor provides circulation of freon on the general closed contour of the conditioner. This device is of two types - piston and spiral. The piston version of the compressor is more affordable, but less reliable, unlike a piston device. This factor is especially important, given the conditions of low winter temperatures.

4 - Control board, but it is only in inverter-type air conditioners. In other climatic devices, all electronics are located in the inner case, since external natural factors can adversely affect electronic components.

5 - Four-way valve it is installed only in models of reversible type air conditioners, that is, capable of not only cooling, but also working for space heating. This control unit is necessary to change the direction of freon movement when switching the device to heating mode. After that, in fact, the outdoor and indoor units change their functions - the outer one starts to work for cooling, and the inner one - for heating the air pumped through it.

6 - Fittings there are both on the indoor and on the outdoor unit, since it is to them that copper pipes are connected, connecting for the air conditioner department into one common refrigerant circulation system.

7 - Filter for cleaning the refrigerant is installed in front of the compressor and protects it from the ingress of small particles and copper chips, which often remain in the circuit during the installation of the air conditioner.

8 - Protective cover, covering the terminals of electrical cables and fittings. However, in some models, such a cover is provided only for electrical connections, while the fittings remain open.

Cleaning the outdoor unit of the air conditioner

Cleaning the external unit of the air conditioner can be done by hand only if it is installed in a private house, and you can safely work from a stepladder, or on the balcony of a high-rise building. Independent work at height without special equipment, an insurance system and experience is strictly prohibited!

Prices for LG air conditioners

air conditioner lg

The cleaning process is carried out in stages, in the following order:

The first step is to turn off the device completely.
Next, the front panel of the outdoor unit is dismantled. Having removed it, the owner will surely immediately see the whole volume upcoming work.
First, all large debris found in the case is removed - it is he who slows down the operation of the air conditioner. Large debris is usually removed by hand, and no tools are required for this process.
The next step is to remove dust layers from hard-to-reach places in the case. For this purpose, brushes of different widths and a hand-held vacuum cleaner are used.

The fan blades can also be vacuum cleaned and, if necessary, wiped with a damp cloth. Wet cleaning must be done carefully so that water does not get on the electrical contacts. If it is necessary to use a large amount of water to wash the fan, then the electrical box should be covered with plastic wrap.
The condenser has flat, smooth surfaces, so it is not difficult to clean it - this can be done with an ordinary damp cloth or sponge.
Before reinstalling the front panel, it should also be thoroughly rinsed and dried.
Do not touch the electrical unit of the device. Its repair and prevention should be carried out by specialists.
Turning on the air conditioner can be done only after it has completely dried.

Learn how to do it, and also check out a few simple models with step-by-step instructions in a special article on our portal.

At the end of the topic, I would like to give some useful tips that will help you avoid making mistakes when operating and cleaning climate control devices.

Prices for Haier air conditioners

Air Conditioner Haier

When purchasing an air conditioner, it is recommended to conclude an agreement for service maintenance device. During the warranty period, it can be carried out free of charge.
Timely preventive maintenance will extend the period of trouble-free operation of the air conditioner and save you from many problems.
It is recommended to entrust the first cleaning and disinfection of the air conditioner to specialists from the service department. At the same time, it is worthwhile to carefully monitor how they carry out preventive measures, in order to then use their experience when performing independent work.
If the air conditioner began to malfunction, then you should not think that the malfunctions will go away by themselves. It is necessary to disconnect it from the mains and call the wizard for diagnostics and possible repairs.
If you decide to clean it yourself, then you need to use special detergents and disinfectants. In addition, to clean the radiator of the indoor unit, it is convenient to use comb brushes, which are designed specifically for this purpose.

Cleaning the air conditioner will be better if you use a steam cleaner for it. A jet of hot steam not only removes dirt, but also carries out preventive disinfection of structural parts.
Assembly and inclusion in the network can only be done after complete drying of all parts of the air conditioner.
Do not start the air conditioner when detergents are applied to its internal surfaces and the fan. It is extremely dangerous to do this, as water can get into the electrical unit of the device, which will cause a short circuit in the network. In addition, the dirt accumulated on the fan blades will scatter throughout the room, hitting the surfaces of the walls, ceiling, floor, furniture and other interior items.
In order for the device to serve for a long time, it is necessary to follow all the rules for its operation specified by the manufacturer in the instructions.

So, from all of the above, it becomes clear that it is quite possible to carry out work on cleaning climate equipment on your own, if you know the design of the device and the procedure for carrying out this process. If the owner can carry out the preventive maintenance of the air conditioner on his own once and understand all the nuances, he will no longer have to call the master for this purpose, since the specialist will only be needed to solve more serious problems.

And, probably, the interested reader will benefit from a video story in which an amateur craftsman shows how he cleans his air conditioner on his own.

Do you know how to clean a window air conditioner? Keeping your air conditioner clean helps it work more efficiently. Follow the tips below to thoroughly clean your air conditioner.

Cleaning the window air conditioner

You will need:

Screwdriver
Dishwashing liquid
A vacuum cleaner
Blind cleaner
Rag
Bristle brush
Wire

How to clean a window air conditioner:

Disconnect the device from the network.
Remove the front panel by unscrewing it with a screwdriver or removing it from the latches, depending on the design of the air conditioner.
Take out the filter. If the filter is replaceable or very dirty, it is recommended to replace it. If the filter is washable, wash it with dishwashing liquid and warm water. If the filter is not washable, vacuum it thoroughly with a portable vacuum cleaner.
Attach the appropriate attachment to your vacuum cleaner to clean all accessible surfaces.
Allow the filter to dry completely before installing the filter in the air conditioner unit.
If any of the metal curtains are bent, they must be straightened out with a special tool that can be found at a hardware store.
Go to the outer surfaces, remove dust from them, not forgetting the grate. This will help keep the filter clean for as long as possible.
Unscrew one of the outer panels of the device and remove any leaves and other debris that have fallen inside.
If you can access the metal blades, wipe them down with a damp cloth.
Make sure that the holes in the drain pan and drain tube are not clogged. If they are clogged, clean them with a piece of wire.
Some window blocks are installed in a case with an open window. If you have such an enclosure, remove the block several times a year and remove any leaves or branches that have gathered in the enclosure.

The filter should be cleaned in the spring and every month when the device is in use.
The coil can only be flushed with water.
Vacuum the coil with care. It can be bent very easily.
Old devices may require lubrication. You can find out if your air conditioner requires annual lubrication in the instruction manual. If the instructions are not saved, contact the manufacturer or look for instructions on the Internet. Most new devices do not require lubrication.

Everyone strives to create comfortable conditions in the apartment, so they often install air conditioners that cool (heat) the air and create a favorable temperature in the room. But it is one thing to install, and another thing - not to forget that the air conditioner requires maintenance and cleaning.

When is the right time to clean your air conditioner?

It's time to clean the air conditioner if, when you turn on the appliance:

the nose catches extraneous unpleasant odors;
strange sounds are heard;
power drops;
energy costs are increasing.

Before carrying out any work, the air conditioner must be disconnected from the mains.

How to clean the outdoor unit of the air conditioner?

If a large amount of dust accumulates on the outdoor unit, natural debris - feathered or poplar fluff, then not only the power of the air conditioner drops, but the power consumption increases, but the device also starts to overheat. Therefore, the body must be cleaned.

There are several ways to clean the outdoor unit of the air conditioner:

One of the most common cleaning methods is a regular brush, which gently sweeps away debris. Of course, this method is ineffective, but it is the simplest and most affordable.
Some clean the hull with automotive products. They quickly dissolve pollution and really have proven themselves well.
The most powerful way is high pressure cleaning, which is used by specialists:

How often should it be washed? It depends on the height at which it is fixed. Owners living on low floors (1-4) need to wash before each start of the device in the season. But the residents of the upper floors (7-8), where there is already little dust and pollution in the air, can be cleaned once every 2-3 years. Above the 10th floor, almost no pollution is observed, so washing the outer case of the air conditioner can be remembered once every 3-4 years.

Cleaning the indoor unit of the air conditioner

The indoor unit should be cleaned regularly and more frequently than the outdoor unit. Some nodes need to be cleaned once every 2 weeks, others less often, depending on how quickly they become dirty and what task they carry.

Filters

The main task of internal filters is air filtration, dust retention and various contaminants. They make the air cleaner, so they need regular cleaning. Manufacturers of air conditioners recommend cleaning them once every 2 weeks. Despite the simple operation, many people forget about it, and as a result - extraneous odors in the room or breakdown of the split system.

Cleaning algorithm:

Remove the cover of the indoor unit.
Carefully take out the filter.
Place it in a container of soapy water for 3 minutes.
Then rinse under running warm water.
Dry naturally. They cannot be exposed to hot air.
Installed in place.

The filter is a fragile item. Therefore, it is forbidden to use hot water, abrasives, solvents and bleaches to wash it. They can cause deformation and damage to the part.

There are two types of filters - mesh and pocket. If the first type can be washed and dried repeatedly, then pocket ones have an expiration date. If over time the air conditioner starts to work worse even after the cleaning procedure, then it means that it is time to replace the cassette filter.

Rotary turbine

With regular washing of filters, it is cleaned once a year in the fall or as it gets dirty. How to proceed:

Open the cover of the indoor unit and remove the filter.
A soapy solution is applied to all the blades using a brush with long bristles.
Leave for 5 minutes. Cellophane is placed under the diffuser grille and the turbine is turned on. All dirt and debris from the rotor is blown onto the floor.
Once again, the parts are cleaned of dirt residues.
Replace the filter and close the lid.

Evaporator grill

It is a system of tubes in which freon evaporates.

If you notice rust on metal parts during cleaning, contact the service center immediately.

Cleaning is carried out in the following sequence:

Open the lid of the split system.
Remove the front grill that covers the heat exchanger.
Take a soft brush with a long handle and a vacuum cleaner.
Using a brush, gently brush off dust and dirt, and collect with a vacuum cleaner with a narrow nozzle.

Drainage

Stagnation in the drainage system provokes the development of mold. And the clogging of the tubes with dirt and fatty deposits leads to a breakdown of the split system. Therefore, the drainage pan is periodically washed from dirt and excess moisture. After all, mold easily and quickly spreads along the walls and plates of the radiator and can become a source of musty smell.

The drainage system is cleaned depending on the degree of contamination in various ways:

With little pollution it is simply washed with clean water or soap, dishwashing detergent is added. Through the heat exchanger, the liquid itself enters the drain.
If there is a blockage or dirt has accumulated inside the tube, then the drain is disconnected for flushing. The pipeline is blown with a vacuum cleaner, thereby removing the blockage and cleaning it from accumulated dirt.
With a high degree of pollution use the most time-consuming, but very effective method - parsing the block. To do this, the air conditioner will have to be completely disassembled in parts. The pipeline is pulled out, blown and washed along its entire length, cleaning all bends and loops.

When the split system is completely washed and put in order, the final step is antibacterial cleaning. It removes odors, eliminates germs, fungi and mold. To do this, the air conditioner is turned on at maximum power, the mode is cooling, and a spray for cleaning air conditioners is sprayed inside.

Air conditioner cleaners

There are special products for washing air conditioners. On the shelves of stores they are presented in a wide range. These are mainly aerosols and foam in cans. They are used to clean the heat exchanger and drainage system.

Aerosols and sprays

How to clean:

The air conditioner is turned on at low power.
Spray the aerosol through the holes on the heat exchanger.
Wait 10-15 minutes while the cleaner is running.
Ventilate and dry the device in ventilation mode (see also - what are the modes in the air conditioner).

Some products need to be washed off additionally from the heat exchanger, the manufacturer must indicate this on the packaging.

minus funds: They are quickly consumed - on average they are enough for 2 cleanings, and with heavy pollution, they generally do not always cope with the task.

Foam

Foam is more often used to clean only the heat exchanger. How to clean:

Shake the bottle well.
Spray evenly onto the heat exchanger.
After a while, it turns into a liquid and, together with pollution, goes into the drainage system.
After cleaning, turn on ventilation to dry.

Video: Disassembling and cleaning the air conditioner

The maintenance of the air conditioner - cleaning filters and other elements of the indoor unit, will be discussed in the following video:

Whichever cleaning method is chosen, washing the filters and the outdoor unit can be done safely on your own. For a deep cleaning of the internal system, it is better to call professionals, since any, even the most miserable violation, can lead to improper operation of the system or to its breakdown.

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