Air Conditioner Cleaning by yourself

In this article, there is an instruction on how to clean your air conditioner by yourself; although we recommend you leave this work to a HVAC technician to do it in a professional way. For air conditioner cleaning, call us.

How to Clean the Indoor Unit

1. Purchase a new air conditioner filter at your local home improvement store. Be sure to purchase the appropriate size for your unit. The required size can be found in your air conditioner owner’s manual as well as on the outside of some units.
2. Turn off the power to your furnace or blower. This is an important step to ensure your safety as you begin working on your unit.
3. Open the blower compartment and vacuum any dust or debris that you can see. If your motor is equipped with lubrication ports, squeeze five drops of lubricant specially designed for electric motors into the ports. If you are unsure whether your blower motor has lubrication ports, consult your owner’s manual.
4. Remove the plastic condensation tube from the unit and check for any signs of algae growth. If the tube is clogged, pour a 1:16 bleach to water solution through a funnel and into the tube to clean it out. Set the tube aside to dry while you perform the next steps.
5. Take a pipe cleaner or a small bristled brush and clean the drain tube.
6. Hook the drain condensation tube back to the unit, hook the drain line back up, replace the filter, replace the blower door, and reconnect power.

How to Clean the Outdoor Unit

1. Shut down power to the outdoor unit. This may be done by shutting off power at the exterior switch or turning off the fuse that controls the air conditioner.
2. Vacuum the condenser fins on the top of the air conditioner. Use a soft-bristled vacuum attachment. It may be necessary to remove the protective grate from the top of the unit to access the fins. Be sure to remove any dust, grass, leaves, or other debris that may inhibit airflow. Be sure to vacuum the fins gently as they have a tendency to bend if too much pressure is applied. Take this opportunity to cut any branches, limbs, or bushes that may be within two feet of your air conditioner.
3. Unscrew the top grille of the air conditioner and carefully remove the fan without disturbing the electrical connections. Wipe any dust or debris from the fan with a soft, damp cloth.
4. Most fans do not have lubrication ports, but if your fan does, place five drops of a specially made fan motor oil into the lubrication ports. Do NOT use WD-40 or other all-purpose lubricants.
5. Spray the inside of the empty air conditioner unit with moderate pressure from a water hose.
6. Return the grille and fan back to their proper positions and allow the air conditioner to sit idle for 24 hours before restoring power and restarting the air conditioner. This allows the unit to dry before being started completely.
7. Turn your air conditioner on and allow it to run for 10 minutes. Pull back the insulation from the pipes coming out of the compressor. One should feel warm while the other should feel cold. If the temperatures of these pipes are off, the unit needs to have its coolant levels adjusted by a professional.For any information about air conditioner maintenance, call Air Magique 24/7!

Source: https://www.farnendermer.com/blog/2017/may/how-to-clean-your-air-conditioner-all-by-yoursel/