While there are a number of commercially available coil cleaning solutions on the market, air conditioner coils can be cleaned with a solution of a mild household detergent and water. The detergent and water mix is applied to the coil using a low-pressure sprayer.
This is a surefire way to make your air conditioner maintenance feel like it's taking forever. Instead, make a list of the things that you'll need to clean your air conditioning system. You'll need an evaporator coil cleaner, condenser coil cleaner, a fin comb, an air filter that fits your AC system, and some bleach.
Using a vacuum or your hands, remove leaves and any other debris from the equipment. Clean the fins. Never use a pressure washer for cleaning your outdoor AC unit. Instead, get a garden hose and spray through the fins from the inside to loosen up dirt and debris buildup.
Next, spray a generous amount of WD-40 in the cooling fins of the A/C, going from left to right. Let the solution sit for 15-20 minutes. This cleaning agent will expertly go deep into the cooling fins, while any other cleaning solution would only clean them up from the outside.
How much and when do you use vinegar for the air conditioner? There is no exact amount and frequency for using vinegar to clean your AC coils. Still, about ¼ of a cup of vinegar will do the trick in most cases. As for the frequency, you can get good results by cleaning the coils every month or every couple of months.
You can prevent a clogged AC drain by performing routine cleaning. By pouring a ¼ cup of vinegar into your AC's drain line, you will kill any mold, algae, mildew, and other forms of bacteria or fungi, preventing it from forming a buildup and causing a clog. Repeat this monthly for the best results.
The good news is that you absolutely can spray water on your air conditioner if it needs a cleaning, and nothing bad will happen. Spraying water on your AC's condenser also helps it run more efficiently. In fact, your condenser needs a regular spritzing in order to keep doing a good job.
If you feel comfortable removing the cover to your condenser unit, you could also clean the fins of your air conditioner. By taking a hose with moderate water pressure, and spraying the unit from the inside out, you can effectively remove grime and buildup from the fins of your unit.
Once you have cleaned your evaporator coils, you may need to allow your system to dry before turning the AC back on. Leave the access panel off and wait 30 to 60 minutes before turning the system back on.
Despite these factors it is important to remember that your manufacturers warranty suggests to get your air conditioning units cleaned at least every 12 months. Regular maintenance can increase the lifespan of your unit, decrease energy consumption and save you money on unnecessary repairs.
The frequency of cleaning depends on various factors such as usage, the environment, and the unit type. As a rule of thumb, we recommend availing an aircon cleaning service every 3 to 4 months for residential units. For AC units used in businesses, aircon cleaning should be done at least every 3 months.
Ideally, air conditioning maintenance should be performed twice a year, though once is sufficient for some systems. Between visits, the condenser coils can be cleaned by removing large debris and rinsing the coils with a hose, after shutting the power off.
Dirty filters restrict the flow of cold air which can cause it to build up inside the air conditioner. The final result could be the formation of ice on the coils. Anyone in your home suffer from allergies or asthma? A dirty filter can make their symptoms much worse.
The short answer. Dirt & grime on AC coils makes it harder for your equipment to transfer heat. That means it has to run longer and work harder to do it's job, using more energy and causing parts to wear and break down. Dirty coils also get corroded which leads to refrigerant leaks.
Spraying water on your air conditioner can help it run more efficiently if you remove enough dust, dirt and debris to help improve airflow and prevent it from overheating. It's certainly not going to damage your AC unit to do so. It's a good idea to spray off the condenser coils in particular a couple times a year.
Do Outdoor AC Units Need to be Cleaned? The short answer is yes, your air conditioning unit does need to be cleaned. If you are experiencing issues with your outdoor unit, these issues can often be resolved by simply giving it a good cleaning.
Checking your condenser coils every couple of months and using a brush to gently clean off debris can be an easy way to keep your system up-and-running in between tune-ups. AC repair can be costly, so keeping your system clean year-round can save you big bucks in the long run.
By putting a quarter of a cup of distilled vinegar into your air conditioner's drain line, the vinegar kills mold, mildew, algae, fungus and bacteria.
Vinegar – When the air coming from your air conditioner smells sour, like vinegar, the problem could be from an electric motor that is emitting ozone. Other possible reasons could be excess condensation on the coils, a malfunctioning filter, a clogged condensate pan, or mold in the ductwork.