How To Clean Split Air Conditioner

How to clean split system air conditioner

Step 1: Turn off the power

Step 2: Cover the indoor unit with a cleaning bag

Step 3: Clean the filters

Step 4: Wipe the fins

Step 5: Spray the coils

Step 6: Vacuum the outdoor unit

Step 7: Schedule a service once a year

How often do you clean your air conditioner? If the answer is rarely, or even never, you could be putting yourself and the other people in your home at risk, not to mention paying more for your cooling bills than you should be.

Read this guide to find out how to clean a split system air conditioner to keep your home safe and energy-efficient.

Why it's important to clean your air conditioner

Air conditioner filters trap dust, pollen and other debris in the air to stop it from circulating, but if this is allowed to accumulate, it will impair the system's performance. That's because less air will be able to pass through the system, so it has to use more power to cool the surroundings to the set temperature.

If you've noticed that your air conditioner isn't working as productively as it used to, the filters should be the first thing you check. Simply cleaning out dust can lead to instant improvements in energy savings. If anyone in your home has asthma, allergies or other respiratory conditions, dust, mould and other contaminants could also pose a health risk.

Air conditioner maintenance schedule

Your cleaning and maintenance schedule will be influenced by factors such as your local climate, how much dust is in the air and how often you use the air conditioning.

For most people, it's recommended that you clean or replace the filters at least twice a year. If you have pets, or someone in your home has asthma or allergies, it's recommended that you clean the filters every few weeks.

Professional air conditioner maintenance should be scheduled annually or whenever the system develops a fault.

How to clean a split system air conditioner

The following guide applies to split system air conditioning, which is the most common type used in Australian homes. These are air conditioners that have separate indoor and outdoor units connected by wiring and plumbing through the wall.

Read more: What Is a Split System Air Conditioner?, How to Install a Split System Air Conditioner

If you have ducted air conditioning or a different type of system, many of these cleaning tips will still apply, but you should check the manual that came with your air conditioner to check.

Step 1: Turn off the power

Before you open the air conditioner and start removing components, make sure both the indoor and outdoor units are turned off or unplugged at the wall for safety.

Step 2: Cover the indoor unit with a cleaning bag

If you're worried about dust being released during cleaning, you can buy a special cleaning bag or improvise with a plastic bag. This should completely cover the indoor unit so it catches all dust and debris released.

Step 3: Clean the filters

Open or lift the front panels and carefully remove the dust filters, making sure you don't spill the dust inside. Most dust can be removed by brushing, scraping or lightly banging the filter. More stubborn dust and grime may need to be cleaned with water and detergent and left to dry.

Step 4: Wipe the fins

The cooling fins that the air passes over can get dusty or dirty over time. These can usually be cleaned by rubbing them with a dry cloth or vacuuming with a brush attachment, but a damp cloth may be needed for more stubborn dirt.

Step 5: Spray the coils

If you can access the round metal coils inside the indoor unit of your air conditioner, these can be cleaned using a special no-rinse evaporator spray. This should be left for around 20 minutes before wiping the metal clean.

After this, you can replace the filters (making sure they're dry if you used water) and close the unit.

Step 6: Vacuum the outdoor unit

The internal components of the compressor unit should only be cleaned by a professional HVAC technician or electrician, but you can help the unit to run efficiently by vacuuming the air intakes to remove dust.

For ground-mounted compressors, you should sweep the outside area regularly to keep leaves and debris from getting inside and clogging the system.

Step 7: Schedule a service once a year

Most manufacturers recommend that their air conditioners are inspected and cleaned by a technician at least once a year. While this isn't always necessary, regular maintenance can extend the life of the system.

Cleaning inside an air conditioner yourself can risk damaging parts and invalidating your warranty, so you should use a professional air conditioner technician.

Alt: Cleaning mould split system air conditioners

Cleaning mould: split system air conditioners

If you see signs of mould on your air conditioner (black, brown or green stains), this is always a cause for concern. Even if you can't see it, symptoms such as itchy eyes, coughing or difficulty breathing could indicate that mould or mildew is inside the system and needs to be removed as quickly as possible.

Wearing a face mask and gloves to protect yourself from mould spores, dismantle the indoor unit and vacuum it thoroughly. Clean the filters with water and detergent and wash all surfaces with a commercial air conditioner cleaner or warm, soapy water. Once everything's dry, it can be reassembled and all cleaning materials disposed of in airtight bags.