All electronic devices need maintenance and repair. For air conditioning systems, this consists in timely cleaning, disinfection and recharging of the system with refrigerant. The article will help you figure out how to clean the air conditioner, and tell you about the basic principles of proper air conditioning service.
Why do you need to service household split systems
During operation, devices that include fans pass through a certain amount of internal air. It may contain various impurities that are unsafe for your he alth. They are harmless in airborne concentrations, but accumulation in one place can be dangerous.
The air conditioner in its design has filters and heat exchangers that create resistance to flow. Dust, dirt, allergens and microorganisms linger on them. Most of the harmful components settle on the filters and can spread throughout the room.
Depending on the number and type of filter elements, allergens, house dust particles, germs andviruses. Not in all cases it is necessary to call specialists, because there is a lot of information in various sources about how to clean the air conditioner yourself.
Consequences of late service
As already mentioned, when the air conditioner is used for its intended purpose, it accumulates particulate matter contained in the air, microorganisms and allergens. This will cause the appliance to malfunction and may also make people in the room feel uncomfortable.
Untimely maintenance is fraught with respiratory infections and colds, the appearance of an unpleasant odor that is difficult to get rid of, breakdowns and failures of system components. The operation of the device deteriorates, its performance drops, it ceases to perform the functions assigned to it. All this can lead to a complete shutdown of the system. Repairing an air conditioner after failure due to improper and untimely maintenance is much more expensive than the cost of cleaning.
Best time for service
It is better not to allow pollution, and if this happens, you must definitely think about how to clean the air conditioner. The need for maintenance is determined by the following phenomena:
- the system cannot maintain the user-defined air temperature (sometimes this can be caused by incorrect power selection or unexpectedly high outside temperatures);
- air flow even at maximum fan speed is significantly less than usual;
- bad smell;
- reducing the amount of condensate flowing from the drain hose;
- extraneous sounds during system operation;
- freezing of the heat exchanger;
- water leaks from the indoor unit.
When any of the above signs appear, you should think about how to clean the air conditioner. Even if the operation of the device does not raise any questions, there is scheduled maintenance to help prevent deterioration.
Service work order
There are well-defined work routines and recommended maintenance schedules by equipment manufacturers. They can be specified in the instruction manual or on the manufacturer's website. These documents will help you understand how to clean your air conditioner at home.
The service of devices that are used for commercial purposes, as well as industrial and semi-industrial systems, is best left to specialists.
Procedure for servicing a household split system:
- The device needs to be de-energized. If the power comes through not through the plug, but directly from the electrical panel, then you need to turn off the circuit breaker.
- Open the cover on the front panel - this can be done using the special tabs on both sides of the case.
- You need to get the mesh and all additional filters, if any.
- Carefully remove the horizontal louvers from their attachment points.
- The next step is to disassemble the case. To do this, unscrew the screws located in the lower part of the case underprotective caps and near the display, then remove the front cover.
- Clean and reinstall all components.
Cleaning and replacing the filter
If you ask a simple split system user a question about how to clean the filter in the air conditioner, in most cases you will hear the answer: "Pull out and rinse." This is partly true. If the contamination is strong, then first of all you need to clean the filter from adhering dirt with a dry brush, then rinse thoroughly in warm soapy water or using any detergent. After complete drying, it is treated with a disinfectant solution.
Some types of filters need to be replaced with new ones. These can be additional cleaning elements with a deodorizing and anti-allergic effect. They are not adapted to maintenance, and you should not think about how to clean the air conditioner yourself. The device must be provided with such filters in advance.
How to clean the air conditioner radiator and fan
The next important element is the heat exchanger. When it is clogged, the power of the system drops and the efficiency of its work decreases. After removing the filter and the front of the case, you can start cleaning the radiator. To do this, use detergents and brushes. A steam generator will also be useful. The control unit must be covered with foil.
A degreasing solution is sprayed on the surface of the heat exchanger, which does not react with copper and aluminum. After 15-20 minutesThe heat exchanger must be rinsed with clean water and brushed. If necessary, repeat the procedure several times. The steam generator greatly simplifies cleaning work.
Let's explain the issues related to how to clean the air conditioner drain. First of all, it is necessary to rinse the bath to collect condensate. If necessary, the drainage tube is cleaned both from the side of the street and inside. The centrifugal fan is cleaned in the same way as the heat exchanger - with a brush, washing liquid and a steam generator.
System assembly
When all surfaces are cleaned and dried, it is necessary to assemble the split system. This is done in the following order:
- the drain pan returns under the radiator to the stops - you need to make sure that there is no gap between the heat exchanger and the pan;
- reinstall the front cover, tighten the fixing screws;
- carefully inserted into the holes of the airflow direction louvers - you need to check that they are in the right position;
- power is on, the system is turned on in cooling mode, and the heat exchanger is treated with an antibacterial solution;
- Replace the filter and close the lid.
We hope that these simple tips on how to clean your air conditioner at home will help you do everything right. It is important to follow technology and safety measures.
Outdoor unit service
Those users whothinks about how to clean the home air conditioner, they believe that only the indoor unit needs it. This is not so - the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit is also clogged. To clean it, it is necessary to provide access to the device, turn off the power and disassemble it.
The heat exchanger is cleaned with a dry brush from street dust, poplar fluff, pollen and debris. Next, you need to rinse it with water and detergent solution. Care must be taken to ensure that water does not enter the compartment with electrical communications. The washed and dried block is collected and its operation is checked. For these operations, we strongly recommend to invite specialists.
Refilling refrigerant
In some cases, it may be necessary to add the missing amount of freon to the system. This may be indicated by weak cooling power even after cleaning. In order to accurately determine the need for refueling, you need to use the instruments to check the parameters of the refrigeration circuit:
- system pressure;
- temperature of heat exchangers and compressor;
- no or presence of compressor oil leaks at service ports.
It is impossible to assess the need for this procedure without special instruments, and in no case can one draw a conclusion about a freon leak. Sometimes a complete refrigerant change may be required.
How to clean the air conditioner in the car
The specifics of servicing an automotive device differs markedly from a household one. Due to the special working conditions of this type of equipment, cleaning is performed differentlyprinciple. In the car, the air conditioner is subjected to a large vibrational load, which leads to frequent leaks even in properly installed systems. To search for and eliminate them, special solutions are used that are visible under ultraviolet light.
To clean, you need to perform a series of actions:
- purchase liquid for cleaning car air conditioners;
- start the car engine, open all windows and turn on the air conditioning system at full capacity;
- spray liquid into the external air intakes of the climate system, turn it off and wait a while;
- switch the system to recirculation and repeat the procedure for the internal grids.
Recharging is carried out using a special rubber hose, which must be connected to the port of the refrigeration circuit. Then freon of the desired composition should be supplied from the cylinder. In the absence of skills and components, it is better to do this in a car service.
Safety measures
All work on the installation and maintenance of split systems must be carried out in strict accordance with the rules and regulations for handling electrical appliances. It is forbidden to clean the air conditioner if it is connected to the power supply. After maintenance, it is necessary to wait until all surfaces and parts are completely dry before plugging it into the outlet. Strict adherence to the recommendations of equipment manufacturers and generally accepted safety standards will help you figure out how to clean the air conditioner with maximumefficiency.
