How to Clean a Room Air Conditioner

A simple cleaning is all it takes to proceed your room air conditioner humming.

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Introduction

Air conditioners work more than efficiently when the evaporator and condenser coils or cooling fins are make clean and the fins are straight. Save money 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 Make clean Your A/C Unit

Most people assume warm air from their air workout unit means it's low on refrigerant. That's not e'er the cause. Many times, window and through-the-wall A/C units tin can't blow cold air considering the evaporator and condenser coils or cooling fins are clogged. Here are some air conditioning mistakes you lot can avert.

Professional cleaning costs more $100. But you can do the entire job yourself in about an hour with a few dollars in supplies. If cleaning doesn't do the trick, yous can always call in a pro (or buy a newer, more efficient unit). Only earlier you do that, check out our step-by-pace air conditioner cleaning instructions below.

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

Project step-by-footstep (6)

Step ane

The Cleaning Procedure:

First, remove the plastic filter holder/trim panel. Information technology usually snaps off. Then remove the unit from the window or slide it out of the wall. (Get help. It's heavy.)

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

Step 2

Rummage Out the Mats

  • Straighten the bent cooling fins with a fin rummage.
  • Match the correct stop of the air conditioner fin comb to the fin spacing on your coils.
  • And so insert the air conditioner fin comb and pull up to straighten the fins.
  • Wear leather gloves to prevent nasty cuts.

comb out air conditioner mats

Stride three

Air Conditioner Fin Comb Details

  • Fin combs are available for most common air conditioners.
  • Become fin combs on Amazon.

air conditioner fin comb

Step 4

Clean Out the Crud

  • Purchase two cans of A/C unit roll cleaner (we used AC-Safe No. Air conditioning-920 from The Home Depot.).
  • Earlier applying the cleaner, vacuum all visible buildup from both coils.

clean out air conditioner crud

Step 5

Apply Foam Cleaner

  • Shoot the spray over the entire surface of both coils and allow the cream exercise the piece of work for you.
  • If the buildup is heavy, brush in the direction of the fins with a nylon-bristle brush.

AC Unit Coil Cleaner

Step half-dozen

Service the Fan Motor

  • While the foam works, make clean the fan blades with a household cleaner and a rag.
  • If the fan motor has plastic- or rubber-capped oiling ports, popular them and clasp in a few drops of electrical motor oil (pros employ the Zoomspout oiler) and recap.
  • Finally, wash (or replace) the air filter and reinstall the unit.
  • It just might blow a lot libation. If not, you have other problems!

And if y'all don't accept an air conditioner, check out these creative ways to stay cool all summer long.

service air conditioner fan