8 way to clean a window air conditioner

Air conditioner these days is one of the vital electrical appliances that help keep your home comfortable and relaxed. But if you want the AC to offer cool air all day and night, it needs regular maintenance and cleaning your AC. The reason is that with time, the AC air filters and various other parts of the system are clogged or covered with dust, which can make the unit’s performance down.

Apart from that, regular cleaning of the device keeps the air of the home clean and also keeps the unit energy-efficient. The question arises of how to clean a window air conditioner in 8 simple ways?

Well, the cleaning process of the window air conditioner seems like a hectic task, but it can be cleaned easily if you follow the guide which we have explained below. So, let’s get started: –

Things needed to clean the window air conditioner

• Garden hose
• Vacuum
• Cleaning rug or cloth
• Face mask
• Rubber gloves
• Fin comb
• Spray bottles that need cleaning solution and hydrogen peroxide solution
• Eyewear for protection
• Manual for AC
• Very mild detergent, or you can also use commercial coil cleaner
• Screwdriver
• New air filter
• Bucket

Before you start the cleaning process of your AC, ensure that you disconnect the AC from its primary power for safety reasons. But don’t remove the device from the window where you have installed it. On the other hand, if you live in the second-story window where you cannot access the outside portion, you must remove the unit to clean the back side and comb the fins.

Ways to clean the window air conditioner

1. Take the help of hydrogen peroxide solution to prevent mildew

One of the best pro tips to keep your window air conditioner in good condition is to clean it regularly. That means the mildew issue is a very common problem that needs special attention, especially in the summer season. So, ensure to check your unit in the summer season, and if your system is offering a distinctive scent, it can be due to mildew.

However, to clean the mildew, make sure to use the best cleaner, which is alcohol, or they can bleach-based cleaners, as they cause toxic fumes and always stick to a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution.

• Clean the front panel regularly

The face panel is the front portion or plastic body of the AC, which is secured with clips and sometimes screws at the bottom. So, to clean this panel, you have to unscrew it and then take it off from the unit. Once you take off the panel, take the help of a homemade cleaning solution made with mild detergent and warm water.

Remember one thing: don’t use bleach or vinegar to clean the face panel as it can corrode the metal part. After applying mild detergent to the panel, let it sit on the panel for 2 to 3 minutes, and then wipe it off with a soft cloth. Moreover, if the stains of the cover are quite tough, take the help of a brush to scrub them.

• Clean the air filters every month

Air filters are one of the essential parts of the AC, which require regular cleaning. This step becomes quite crucial if you have pets in your home or you are living in a dusty area. However, due to dust or pet dander, the air filters get clogged, due to which the system loses its overall efficiency of cooling.

So, to clean the air filters, remove the front portion of the unit and then pull the air filters out. After that, rinse these filters with warm water, or you can also take the help of a vacuum having a crevice tool attached, which helps remove dust.

• Comb the system fins every season

Every season you have to clean your system deeply so that it will lose its overall efficiency of cooling. However, the cleaning process of the air conditioner seems daunting, but this way is relatively easy and effective. That means to clean the fins, you must take the help of a made-for-purpose comb that can easily clean the dust and debris from the unit but ensure to be careful while cleaning the fins as they are sharp.

• Clean the interior cabinet

After you have cleaned the air filters and fins, it’s time to clean the inside portion of the air conditioner. With time the inside unit of the AC can attract various types of debris and dust which needs cleaning to make its performance optimum. For this, you need to vacuum and clean the front side, fan, condenser, drain pan, and also the blower on the back.

But be careful while vacuuming it as you are not an expert in this field.

• Unclog the drain system

Every air conditioning unit removes moisture from the home while spreading cool air in your room. When the system works, this moisture gets collected in the drain pan, which needs regular cleaning as it also collects debris and dirty water.

So, to clean this drain system, you must take a wet-dry vacuum or take the help of a damp cloth. If you have noticed the drain pan is cracked by chance, you can visit an air conditioning service in Los Angeles or use quality water-resistant sealant to seal the crack.

On top of that, if the whole tray is corroded with rust, then it is best to replace it as soon as possible. In addition to that, drain holes also require cleaning to make the system more effective. However, when you get to the drain hole, tilt the system to drain water. This step needs one more hand as the window AC unit is quite heavy, and if by chance the hole is plugged, you must remove the cover to pour the water.

• Cover the AC when it is off-season

This is another essential step you must follow when the system is not in use. When the season is off, remove the unit, store it in your garage or attic, and cover it with any damp cloth.

Moreover, if you cannot remove the unit, you must invest some money in the air conditioner cover, which will cover the unit.

• To deep clean, the unit takes the help of a coil cleaner

Your system needs deep cleaning once every season, and it is mandatory if you have bought a second-hand unit. In the process of deep cleaning, you have to remove all the parts of the window air conditioner like the face panel, back side of the unit, etc. After that, buy any good coil cleaners and go for deep cleaning.

The bottom line

The above are the absolute most ideal ways by which you can clean your window AC. But if you think that the work is risky and you can damage the unit while cleaning it, then you need air conditioning service Los Angeles who have years of experience, skills, and qualifications for the job. Apart from that, they will first inspect the unit and then do the needful so that your unit will work for a more extended period of time. So, if you want your system to run efficiently without any issues, you must visit an air conditioning service in Los Angeles.