How To Clean Air Conditioner?

Having an air conditioning unit is common in Singapore homes and offices because of the tropical weather in the region. If you want to be able to work and move around comfortably, you need to constantly keep your AC unit running to provide you a cool environment. AC units, however, are not cheap and having them running round the clock can significantly raise your monthly electric bills. Most owners believe that this comes with having an aircon. What you do not know is that you can minimize your expense if you regularly clean your air conditioners.

There are actually two benefits in cleaning your AC units, namely, comfort and economic savings. An air conditioning unit that has a clean filter and condenser will be able to work efficiently. Therefore, it can cool down the temperature of your room or home faster and consistently. If you notice that having the same setting is no longer providing the same cool and comfortable environment, it may be time for you clean your air conditioner. Since cleaning your AC unit will make it efficient, it also follows that it will require less energy to do its work. This equates to lower electricity bills. A clean and maintained unit is also less likely to encounter problems that would require major repairs. In essence, you can prevent it from breaking down and you can prolong the life of your unit.

As a rule, the air filters of an AC unit should be cleaned every two weeks. If you own a Daikin aircon, you will find that this is the specific instruction of the manufacturer. The purpose of which is to remove any dirt or dust that may be blocking the airflow. The air filter is different from the air-purifying filter. The latter helps remove smoke, pollen, and very fine dust. It cannot be cleaned, but should instead be replaced every three months or when its color turns dark.

How to Clean the Air Filters

It is very easy to clean the air filters of a Daikin aircon or any other AC unit. There is no need to call a technician to do this task. The only important thing to remember is to have the initiative to do this every two weeks. Having a very busy schedule in Singapore should not be an excuse. You can easily allot one weekend for this task. Once you get the hang of it, you can finish cleaning the filters fast and efficiently. 

What you would need is a screwdriver, a facemask for protection, a vacuum, a tub of water, and vinegar. The first thing that you have to do is to turn off the unit. Different AC units have different setups, so you may want to refer to your manual to find out how to remove the air filter. Some can be easily pulled out, while some need to be unscrewed from their cases. Once removed, you can proceed to vacuuming the filter to remove all the dirt and dust. You may then submerge it in a tub of water. You can add some vinegar to the water to thoroughly clean and disinfect the filter. Let the filter sit on the solution for about five minutes and then you can dry it and attach it back to the unit. 

How to Clean the Condenser

Most central air conditioning units have an outside unit called the condenser. It houses the fan, compressor, and fins. As the fan sucks air from the environment, it also sucks with it dust, dirt, and even leaves. To clean the condenser, make sure to turn off the unit first. You can then use a vacuum to remove all dust and leaves that may have lodged on the fins. You may then remove the fan by unscrewing it from the unit’s body. Make sure that you do not pull it off, which may result to stressing the electrical wires. Remove any leaves or debris that you can find and wipe the surfaces with a slightly damp cloth. To further clean the cooling fins, simply hose it from the inside with water. Install the fan back and you are done.

As you can see, keeping your Daikin aircon or any other AC unit clean is not complicated at all. However, do not do more than these regular simple tasks. All other maintenance services required by your unit should be done by the experts, such as checking of coolant levels and chemical cleaning. Still, do not underestimate the benefits of keeping your air filters and condenser clean, as they will definitely prolong the life of your unit.