How to Clean An Air Conditioner?

Summers have officially arrived, and everyone wants to sit inside, chill & relax in their houses with friends and family rather than going out in the scorching heat. During summers, the temperatures inside the home start to rise with high humidity levels in which fans become ineffective, making it necessary to switch to the air conditioners. 

Like all other household appliances, AC also needs proper servicing, maintenance, and repairs to get ready for the warmer months. Since technicians will be in too much demand during summers, it might be difficult for you to make last-minute bookings.

But don’t worry as we would not want you to drip your sweat and wait for one; hence we have provided you with a step-by-step guide on how to clean your Hitachi, Daikin, or Voltas air conditioner. Keep scrolling the page and tighten your belts prepare yourself for the summer. 

List of the necessary items required to clean the air conditioners

Given below is a list of certain items that are required to clean both the internal and external split ac unit:-

Internal Unit

• Cleaning Bag
• Gentle detergent
• No-rinse evaporator spray
• Air blower
• Flush kit
• Anti-bacterial and anti-fungal spray
• No-rinse evaporator spray

External Unit

• Vaccum
• Brush attachment
• Hose
• Screwdriver
• Knife
• Fin comb kit

Steps to clean or service the indoor unit

Since now you have gathered all vital components, it’s time to unveil the step-by-step procedure to clean your AC. 

• Turn the source power off and put a cleaning bag around the entire system in a way that the dirt and debris do not fall on the ground. 
• The next step is to unlock the front panels by undoing the latches of the front part. This will enable you to lift the window while giving access to the interior parts. 
• Remove the air filters from the inside compartments of your Daikin air conditioner. These are long rectangular-shaped pieces that rest on the front of the appliances. They can be removed & washed to flush out dust and maintain them in good quality. But, if the dirt is too thick to remove under the tap then you can use a sponge and mild detergent to clean it. Then, rinse them off to let them air dry.
•  Use an air blower and add a thin canister attachment to it. This acts as a small vacuum that sucks up the dust from the internal compartment of the air conditioners. Blow the air over the entire surface area of the cooling fins. The cooling fins are a frame-type setup of fine metallic lines where dust can get accumulated.
• Now use a no-rinse evaporator spray and clean the coils and let the product sit and dry for about 20 mins. The coils are round-metal pieces that are found in the center of the indoor unit.
• Use anti-fungal spray or cleaner on the coils to prevent spores and other toxic particles to grow in the appliance. Spray this concoction on the places where toxins are more likely to get accumulated. Let it be there for 5 minutes and then put back the air filters. 
• Also, disconnect the pipe and the hose that separates both the outdoor and indoor units and use a pressurized flush kit to clear all the water from the drainage pipes. After that, let it air dry for at least an hour so that the cleaning liquid gets evaporated and connect back the hose together. 
• Now turn back your Voltas air conditioner and check its functioning. 

Steps to clean or service the outdoor unit

Congratulations, you have successfully cleaned the inside unit of your AC, now it’s time to service the outer one. Carry out the procedure mentioned below step by step to avoid any last-minute hassle. 

• Switch off or unplug the outer condenser part of your unit, so that you didn't get hooked up while cleaning.
• Attach the brush attachment to your vacuum or air blower. The condenser fins are thin vertical lines from which the brush attachment can easily suck off all the visible dirt & dust. 
• You might find some fins bent or in distorted shape, use a kitchen knife for rating them back to their shape.
• The next step is to unscrew the outer lid and detach the fan, using a screwdriver or some other pointed tools. Separate the electrical unit and the fins of the fan and use a garden hose to rinse the fan completely to make it as clean as possible. 
• Reattach all the detached parts of the condenser such as fans and the outer lid using appropriate tools and switch back the power supply of the condenser to check if your Daikin Air Conditioner is working properly. 

Over to you!!

Although cleaning an AC is no rocket science, it is still advised to take a look at the installation manual guide before commencing the process. Also, do not forget to remove the drain plug to allow the dirt and grime to wash away rather than flowing in the wash bag instead. 

Cancel all your technician appointments now. Collect the required stuff and start repairing your Daikin air conditioner today.