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Ah yes, the air conditioner! It’s a modern creature comfort that’s considered a necessity to those who are used to any middle-class lifestyle worldwide. However, air conditioners are expensive, so replacing them yearly is not practical.
That’s why I will let you in on a few cleaning secrets to make your air conditioner last much longer and run much better. You could be doing your health a real favor if you follow these tips!
Let me ask you a question to help answer the question as to why you need to clean your air conditioner unit regularly. What would happen if you never took out the trash? Garbage would pile up everywhere, your house would stink, and your home would become the perfect breeding ground for gross creepy crawlies that can transmit deadly pathogens.
You would not want that scenario, now would you? In the case of your AC unit, you need to clean it regularly to ensure that it runs better and more efficiently. You’ll smile when you have a dramatically lower energy bill at the end of each month.
What’s even better is that your AC unit will last much longer. Don’t be surprised if it outlives its projected life expectancy. But perhaps the most significant benefit is that you won’t be breathing polluted air full of mold specimens.
That’s crucial since mold is airborne. Its spores cause respiratory problems and infections. Also, mold can breed deadly bacteria, which invites insects to come to your house through your air ducts!
Calling the AC repair guy for regular cleanings can add up since they tend to charge $100 for a service visit. So what would you say if I told you how to clean your AC unit yourself? If that sounded like music to your ears, please continue reading!
For best results, clean your AC unit at least once a year. You’ll get the best results and the most out of your air conditioner if you thoroughly clean it out before the summer season starts.
It’s a good idea to clean the filter about once a month. It’s best to buy a new filter at least four times a year.
You need to make sure that it’s scorched first. Then disinfect it thoroughly. You do that by mixing some hydrogen peroxide with water and applying the solution to the parts in your AC unit.
Hydrogen peroxide will kill any mold and fungus growing in your air conditioner. It has antibacterial properties to eliminate any pathogens in your air conditioning unit!
Clean your AC unit with hydrogen peroxide before cleaning the parts. Remember to use the hydrogen peroxide sparingly since a little bit goes a long way! You’re best off if you use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution.
Please use common sense. Because of its chemical composition, any liquid will generate electricity quickly and easily. So, please do yourself a favor and unplug your unit after thoroughly disinfecting it. Your team will still be somewhat moist. That’s the perfect condition to generate electricity. Remember that electric shocks can kill you!
All you have to do is unplug your unit. Then, go to the primary energy panel in your house (usually in the garage) and turn off the electrical flow to your AC unit.
This is the part of the air that people can see. It can accumulate dirt, which makes for the perfect condition for mold and bacteria to grow! It is generally made from metal or plastic.
You may need to remove the filter along with the face panel since some units have the filter in the face panel. You’ll learn how to clean the filter later on.
So you want to make sure that you take the face panel off. It will be secured tightly, so follow all instructions in your unit’s user manual for this step.
It would help to spray the hydrogen peroxide and water solution you made all over the front panel. They will loosen any caked-up dirt and grime that may have accumulated on it since the last cleaning.
Be sure to wait a few hours to let the solution sink in and get to work. Then wipe it dry with a clean towel or spray it in your front or back yard!
This part is crucial since it cleans the air that you breathe. It’s obvious why you don’t want or need a dirty filter in your unit. You will damage your air conditioner if you clean it while it’s still attached to the unit!
Be sure to detach the drain pan, the fan, the blower, the evaporator, and the condenser since these are all part of the filter! Vacuum all parts thoroughly with a vacuum cleaner. Pay special attention to the metal fins since these are the central apparatus that cleans the air you breathe.
You may want to wear thick gloves when you do this to avoid the risk of cutting yourself on the razor-sharp parts of the filter. Set it aside when it’s thoroughly cleaned.
You will want to thoroughly vacuum the inside of your air conditioner before you reassemble it. AC units can and do collect a lot of debris and dust. These particles attract mold, fungi, and mildew.
You already know why that’s dangerous for your health. You should also use a soft brush to clean the metal fins. Be careful when doing that since the panels that make up the fins are thin and delicate. So they can bend easily. It’s easy to straighten these out!
You do that by running a blunt-edged knife along their surfaces.
Clean the interior and exterior cabinets entirely with water and hydrogen peroxide. Wipe these completely dry with a clean rag or towel for best results.
Do the same with the condenser and coils. These will collect a lot of gunk. You can wipe them clean and dry or hose them down and then let them air dry.
Use hydrogen peroxide to clean the interior out. Let it air dry. Ensure the fins are straight before you put your AC back together.
Yes, doing that is recommended since it will clean the air conditioner better.
It would help if you used hydrogen peroxide.
You have to know how to do that. Now, you can have the best of both worlds in clean air!
