How to Clean a Room Air Conditioner

A unproblematic cleaning is all it takes to proceed your room air conditioner bustling.

Every editorial product is independently selected, though nosotros may be compensated or receive an chapter commission if y'all buy something through our links. Ratings and prices are accurate and items are in stock every bit of time of publication.

Introduction

Air conditioners work more than efficiently when the evaporator and condenser coils or cooling fins are clean and the fins are direct. Salvage coin and keep your house cooler by cleaning a room air conditioner yourself.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • A/C coil cleaner
  • Electric motor oil
  • Household cleaner

How to Clean Your A/C Unit of measurement

Nearly people presume warm air from their air workout unit means it'due south depression on refrigerant. That'southward not always the cause. Many times, window and through-the-wall A/C units tin't blow cold air because the evaporator and condenser coils or cooling fins are chock-full. Here are some air conditioning mistakes you can avoid.

Professional cleaning costs more than than $100. Simply you lot tin do the entire job yourself in about an hour with a few dollars in supplies. If cleaning doesn't do the trick, you can always telephone call in a pro (or buy a newer, more efficient unit of measurement). But before you lot do that, cheque out our step-by-step air conditioner cleaning instructions beneath.

Plus, here's where you shouldn't install your A/C.

Project stride-past-stride (6)

Step 1

The Cleaning Process:

First, remove the plastic filter holder/trim panel. Information technology ordinarily snaps off. Then remove the unit from the window or slide it out of the wall. (Go aid. It'southward heavy.)

If you're working on a window A/C unit, remove the mounting frame and the case. The case screws are unremarkably located along the bottom edge. Note the location of any odd-length screws since they have to go back in the same spots upon reassembly. Plus, your air conditioner won't work fully if you don't practice this.

Step 2

Comb Out the Mats

  • Straighten the aptitude cooling fins with a fin rummage.
  • Match the right cease of the air conditioner fin comb to the fin spacing on your coils.
  • Then insert the air conditioner fin comb and pull upwards to straighten the fins.
  • Clothing leather gloves to prevent nasty cuts.

comb out air conditioner mats

Stride 4

Clean Out the Crud

  • Buy 2 cans of A/C unit coil cleaner (we used Ac-Condom No. Air conditioning-920 from The Home Depot.).
  • Before applying the cleaner, vacuum all visible buildup from both coils.

clean out air conditioner crud

Step 5

Use Foam Cleaner

  • Shoot the spray over the entire surface of both coils and let the foam do the work for yous.
  • If the buildup is heavy, castor in the direction of the fins with a nylon-bristle castor.

AC Unit Coil Cleaner

Step 6

Service the Fan Motor

  • While the foam works, clean the fan blades with a household cleaner and a rag.
  • If the fan motor has plastic- or rubber-capped oiling ports, pop them and squeeze in a few drops of electric motor oil (pros use the Zoomspout oiler) and recap.
  • Finally, wash (or replace) the air filter and reinstall the unit.
  • It just might accident a lot cooler. If not, y'all have other problems!

And if you don't have an air conditioner, bank check out these creative ways to stay cool all summertime long.

service air conditioner fan

Originally Published: July 28, 2020