How to Clean an AC at Home?

Now that you have purchased your AC and used it for a few months, you may be wondering how to maintain it so that it has a long lifespan. Cleaning and maintaining an AC is a complex task and can take up a lot of your time. But if you are planning to take the Do-It-Yourself approach anyway, then you’ve come to the right place. 

How Can I Clean an AC at Home?

To understand how to clean an AC at home, you should first know that window and split ACs require different types of cleaning procedures. However, you need not fret because we have made things easier for you. Here’s a brief step-by-step guide on how to clean an AC at home.

If you have a window AC, then you should:

• Unplug and remove the unit.
• Clean the filters.
• Clean the interior and exterior.
• Reinstalling the unit.

On the other hand, if you have a split AC, then you should:

• Turn off the power.
• Clean the filters.
• Clean the indoor unit.
• Clean the outdoor unit. 

But when following this, several things could go wrong. So, if you wish to clean an AC at home without the intervention of professionals, then read on to know exactly how to execute each of the above-mentioned steps. 

Cleaning Window AC at Home

Since the window AC only has one integrated unit, you may think it is easier to clean without consulting experts. But in fact, you will need at least two people to effectively clean a window AC at home. You can do this with the help of a friend or family member. Here’s how:

Unplug and remove the unit

First, you need to switch off your AC and unplug the power cord. Then comes the toughest part – carefully detach the AC from the window or the wall and place it on the floor. However, you must remember to thoroughly read the manufacturer’s instructions before attempting to clean your AC at home in this way.

Clean the Filters

The filters are components of your window AC that accumulate dust, debris, and other unwanted material the quickest Hence, you need to pay added attention when cleaning these. You can do this by cleaning the filters with a mild detergent or soap water and then putting them out to dry. 

Clean the Interior & Exterior

Start by cleaning the evaporator coil with a brush attachment of a vacuum cleaner. Proceed to do the same with the blower wheel and the fan blades. Once this is done, you can then use a wet cloth to wipe down and clean the exterior of the AC unit. While this may seem like a relatively easy process, there are always chances you can get water into areas of your window AC that are not water-resistant. 

Reinstall the Window AC Unit

Once again, you need to carefully read through the manufacturer’s instructions when reinstalling the window AC unit into the window or wall. Finally, you should check twice to ensure that there are no leaks at the seams of the frame where you have reinstalled your AC. 

Cleaning Split AC at Home

If you have a split AC and plan to clean your AC at home, then the process is quite different from that of a window AC. However, you can do this yourself without the help of another person. Here’s how:

Turn Off the Power

First and foremost, you need to turn off the power and unplug the cable. In case you also have a circuit breaker for your split AC, you must locate it and flip it off just to be on the safe side. Then you can begin to clean your split AC at home. 

Clean the Filters

You should start by removing the filters in the body of your indoor unit. If your split AC has not been cooling efficiently for some time, you may notice accumulated dust and debris in these filters. You can wash these filters with detergent or soap water just like those of a window AC, dry them and re-insert them into the indoor unit. 

Clean the Indoor Unit

Once filter cleaning is done, you should proceed to remove the front panel of your AC’s indoor unit. This will expose the evaporator coil and other internal components of your split AC. You should focus your cleaning on the evaporator coils. You can clean these coils with a soft brush or a vacuum cleaner. But be careful not to damage the delicate fins of the evaporator coil. 

Clean the Outdoor Unit

Next, you should proceed to the outdoor unit. This unit has condenser coils which can also gather a lot of dust and debris from the outside environment. To clean this, you can jet wash it with water using a garden hose. Start from the top of the coil and slowly work your way down covering every inch of the condenser coil. But just like the evaporator coils, be careful not to bend the fins due to the high water pressure. 

Benefits of Cleaning AC at Home

Now that you are acquainted with the steps on how to clean an AC at home (both window and split), you should know that there are certain benefits to doing this. Firstly, you can save on the costs of hiring highly trained professionals. Secondly, you will get a better idea of how your AC works by observing its internal components firsthand. Moreover, it can be a fun family experience too if you properly guide other family members on how to clean an AC at home. 

Risks of Cleaning AC at Home

However, every coin has two sides and in this case, the risks may outweigh the short-term benefits. ACs, whether window or split, have delicate components, all of which may not be waterproof. Trained AC technicians know exactly which components these are and can carefully clean your AC to avoid getting water on such components. Apart from that, if you unknowingly damage any component of your AC, you could incur costs higher than hiring trained professionals to clean your AC. 

The Takeaway

While cleaning your AC by yourself at home can be an educational exercise, it has its risks. Hence, it is always recommended to trust the experienced technicians provided by us to clean your AC regularly. Our trained professionals at Al Imran Technical Services have years of expertise in AC coil cleaning as well as duct cleaning of ACs and HVACs. Not only that but with our two decades’ worth of experience in this field, we have developed safe and results-oriented procedures for AC cleaning and maintenance. 

So, when it comes to cleaning your AC at home, you can relax stress-free and let us do the dirty work.