Cleaning your window air conditioner regularly is good practice to keep your AC unit in good condition, prolong its useful life, and to prevent unnecessary and costly repairs in the future. Professional, deep cleaning is preferred to refresh your window AC unit, but you can do a general cleaning of your window units once a month for maintenance too!
How to Clean a Window AC Unit: A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Gather Your Materials
Gather the materials and equipment you'll need to clean a window air conditioner. Besides cleaning tools, you'll need to wear a pair of gloves, a mask, and eyewear to protect yourself from the dust that accumulated in your window AC unit. Here's what you'll need:
- Protective gear - gloves, mask, eyewear
- Screwdriver
- Dish detergent
- Fine-bristled brush or Fin comb
- Vacuum cleaner
- Compressed air
- Damp cloth
- 3% Hydrogen peroxide
- Spray bottle
- Garden hose - for the outdoor section
Step 2: Open Up the Air Conditioner
First, unplug your air conditioner. Use a screwdriver to loosen the screws holding the face panel in place, and carefully remove the face panel from the window air conditioning unit. Use your vacuum cleaner to clear any loose dust before they fly around the room. Keep all the screws on hand so you can place them in their correct positions later.
Step 3: Wash the Filter
Take out the air filter, and wash the filter under running water. Create a warm soapy water solution with dish soap and warm water, and use this cleaning solution to wash your filter. Set the air filter aside to air dry. Filter cleaning should be done once every two weeks for optimal air conditioner maintenance.
Step 4: Vacuum the Coils
Next, clean the evaporator coils of your window unit. Use your vacuum cleaner to remove any loose dust around the coils, and any area in your window air conditioner that you can comfortably reach. Use a can of compressed air air blow away deep-seated dust from inside your window AC unit. Remove debris using a soft-bristle brush, or a fin comb.
Step 5: Create a Disinfectant Solution
You can clean a window air conditioner and disinfect it with hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide at a 3% solution is an effective disinfectant, and an efficient cleaning agent that can kill bacteria, mold growth, and clear the dust from your air conditioning unit.
Step 6: Spray the Solution Around the AC Unit
Place hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle, and carefully spray it all over your window air conditioner. Apply the spray on the filter, the coils, and even the exterior housing of your window air conditioner. Use a damp cloth to apply the solution on your thermostat or remote control as well to disinfect them.
Step 7: Clean the Drip Tray
Take the drain pan, and dump out the condensation that accumulated from your air conditioner. Like the filter, clean the drain pain with soapy water. Spray a generous amount of cleaning solution on the drain pan to disinfect it, before setting it aside to dry completely.
Step 8: Let Everything Dry
Let all the components dry completely before you place them back together. The best way to dry the air conditioner indoors is to face a fan towards the opened AC unit, and let the filter and drip tray dry under the sun. This is the fastest way to dry your unit.
Step 9: Piece Everything Together
Place the pieces back together exactly as you found them. Attach the housing back on the unit, and secure them with screws - this is why it was important to keep all the screws together in the first step. Secure the face panel tightly, and give the exterior a good wipe with a cleaning solution.
Step 10: Clean the Outdoor Section
Make your way to the outdoors, and use a garden hose to spray down your window AC, letting the water trickle downwards, and not towards the indoor unit. The outdoor section is often exposed to dust and debris, and rinsing it will remove any loose dust inside the unit.
Looking to clean the aircon coils? Check this guide.
Tips to Maintain Your Window Air Conditioner
- Clean your air conditioner monthly. This includes the filters, the condenser coils, and the exterior of your unit - all of which should be cleaned monthly at home for the best care.
- Get professional cleaning once every 4 months. Professional cleaning gets deep into each component of your AC unit. Have your air conditioner cleaned professionally by one of our technicians at Luce Aircon at least once every 4-6 months. This will keep your unit durable, and find any faults in your unit before they become problems later on.
- Place a cover over your AC unit when not in use. Doing so will prevent dust in your unit from settling while you're not using the unit. The same goes for the outdoor section, but don't forget to remove the covers before using the unit again.
- Dry your AC unit thoroughly, particularly at the drip pan. This will prevent mold growth and bacteria from festering in your cooling system.
Keep Clean the Easy Way
When your schedule is already packed with so many things to do everyday, cleaning your AC unit might be at the bottom of your priorities. Don't fret the aircon maintenance, and let our technicians at Luce tackle the air conditioner cleaning for you!
Contact us today to schedule your first aircon cleaning session!
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