Dust and various bacteria settle on the heat exchanger of a cooler operated in a private house or car, which actively proliferate in a humid environment. In order to eliminate the appearance of an unpleasant odor and not to breathe mold, an annual antibacterial cleaning of the air conditioner and home split system is performed. Do not call a service wizard or visit a car service center - it is better to save money and do the decontamination of the air conditioning system yourself.
Choose a disinfectant
The market offers a wide range of various liquids and sprays intended for servicing domestic and automotive air conditioning systems:
- alkali-based liquid reagents sold in cans and plastic bottles with a manual spray gun;
- foam cleaners in aerosol cans;
- Often, home craftsmen use various medical antiseptics to save, for example, a solution of chlorhexidine.
All of these products have a disinfecting effect, but differ in price and purpose. When it is necessary to clean too dirty heat exchangers of a split system that has not been serviced for several years, it is recommended to use an alkaline spray for a thorough washing.
How to clean both air conditioner units yourself, read the detailed manual.
You need to understand that the annual disinfection of the air conditioner in an apartment or car is a preventive measure. Maintenance involves partial disassembly and a low degree of contamination of the apparatus. Hence a number of tips on choosing a disinfectant:
- If the evaporator and turbine (impeller) of the fan are covered with a layer of dirt, before disinfection, clean the elements with a strong composition such as Cond Cleaner, Top House or Carlyclean.
- The best option is a penetrating foam composition in an aerosol package. According to manufacturers, after washing, the reagent leaves an antibacterial film on the edges of the heat exchangers, which lasts several months.
- Cleaning conditioners with medical antiseptics is acceptable, but not too convenient. Unlike foam, liquid weakly penetrates into inaccessible air channels. This is a significant minus for the handling of an automobile cooler.
Reference. Foam disinfectants for air conditioners are produced by many manufacturers, it is unrealistic to list them. Popular brands are Liqui Moly and Step Up.
Aerosol foams disinfect the air conditioning systems of private houses and cars equally well. One condition: for servicing the machine, you should buy a special nozzle with a long flexible tube mounted on the cylinder (often included).
Processing instruction
Regardless of the design and type of air conditioner, antibacterial foam cleaning is always carried out in the same order:
- Disconnect the cooling unit from the power supply. In the car, just turn off the engine and turn off the ignition.
- Open the cover of the indoor unit, remove the filters. On the car you need to pull out the element filtering the cabin air.
- Shake the can well, apply the product liberally on the fins of the evaporator and, if possible, on the fan impeller (turbine). Do not save or leave part of the liquid “for later”; 1 package is designed for one treatment.
- Wait for 5-15 minutes, the exact time interval is written on the balloon.
- Switch the unit on for ventilation; fan speeds are maximum. If the reagent manufacturer indicates in the instructions, put the air conditioner in heating / cooling mode.
- Thoroughly rinse removed filters with a soft brush and kitchen detergent. After drying, replace the elements and close the lid.
Note. After disinfection and start-up of the cooler, the foamy liquid drains into the pallet and goes outside through the drainage.
Our list does not contain an important stage of work - partial disassembly of the apparatus. We suggest considering it separately for each type of air conditioner.
Removing bacteria from a split system
The simplest method of disinfecting the internal module does not require additional description - remove the top cover and proceed according to the instructions above. But there is a nuance: in this way, it will not be possible to remove bacteria from the turbine, and after starting up this evil will again be in the evaporator.
We recommend spending an extra 20-30 minutes and getting to the fan, guided by step-by-step instructions:
- Remove the filters and the cover. By carefully bending the plastic in the middle, remove the swing shutters. The ends will exit the nests without any problems.
- Find and unscrew all self-tapping screws holding the front panel of the indoor unit. Part of the fasteners is hidden under the plugs, another pair of screws is located under the cover of the compartment with an electrical connector (shown above in the photo).
- Unlock the plastic latches and completely remove the panel. The latches are usually located on the top and sides of the unit.
Some split models are equipped with an LCD display integrated in the front panel. Before removing, locate the display connector, disconnect it from the pad.
Window and mobile cooler cleaning
The monoblock design allows relatively easy access to the filters and the front of the evaporator - just remove the cover and pull out the mesh element. You can foam the heat exchanger from the outside and calm down on this, but first think about what is happening inside the device.
Superficial antibacterial treatment of the air conditioner will not give a 100% result, since the impeller of the axial fan, the tray and the heat exchanger - condenser will remain dirty. What is proposed to be done with a window monoblock:
- Disconnect the device from the network and pull it out of the installation opening. Another way to remove the outer casing is impossible.
- Place the appliance on a large table and loosen the screws on the sides of the cabinet. Remove the cover.
- Disconnect the front cover (or the entire panel) and remove the filters.
- Using a brush, brush and detergent, clean the inside of the unit - both heat exchangers on both sides, the condensate bath and the impeller.
- Treat the evaporator and internal elements with disinfectant chemistry, covering the electrical contacts and compressor with foil. Work further according to the instructions.
If necessary, the internal radiator can be unscrewed and gently pushed aside, as far as copper tubes with freon allow. After washing / drying the filters, assemble the window unit and put it in the opening, then turn it on and check the operation.
Mobile room air conditioning is easier to disassemble - the device does not have to be pulled out of the window, just disconnect the duct. Then the side panels, covers, filters are removed, and cleaning is carried out in the same way.
Car air conditioning service
Unlike household “splits”, getting to the evaporator in the car is very difficult. Together with the radiator of the cabin heater, the heat exchanger is hidden in the depths of the dashboard, behind the center console. Access to the fan depends on the brand of car - in some models the turbine can be seen from the engine compartment with the filter removed, in others you need to unwind the glove box.
For these reasons, the antibacterial cleaning of the air conditioner is done without disassembly in the following order:
- Remove the cabin filter. The element after disinfection is best changed.
- Find the drain pipe leaving the evaporator. In most cars, it is located on the right side of the center console, on the front passenger side.The tube is closed with a decorative plastic casing.
- Remove the decorative panel or pull it to the side, disconnect the pipe from the drain fitting.
- Fasten the nozzle with the long tube to the cylinder. Push the end of the tube into the fitting until it stops. Be careful not to bend the aluminum fins of the heat exchanger.
- Blow foam into the evaporator, gradually removing the hose from the fitting. At the end, quickly put the pipe back on, so that the foam does not stain the floor covering.
- Blow the rest of the liquid into the air ducts from the side of the street. Wait for the set time, start the engine and turn on the ventilation.
An important nuance. In some cars, for example, Kia Sportage III crossovers, instead of drainage you will find an evaporator temperature sensor. This is not a problem - pull the device out of the socket and insert the hose into the hole, as shown in the video.
Having immersed the cylinder tube inside the duct, seal the gaps in the fitting with a rag, otherwise the foam will come out into the cabin. During the drying period, fully open the front doors of the machine so that the chemical vapors erode out.
Conclusion
As practice shows, the main problem of antibacterial cleaning of air conditioners is the reluctance of many users to carry it out. The operation remains simple until the evaporator is covered with a thick layer of mold and begins to “smell”. Then the foam from the cylinder will not save - you have to disassemble the device and clean out all the details.