How to clean your air conditioner: Tips for AC unit maintenance

Air conditioners require regular maintenance and annual deep cleaning to ensure they’re in good working order, which will improve the comfort level of your home and keep energy costs down.

Routine maintenance is simple: Regularly check, clean and/or replace the filter to remove buildup that causes airflow blockage. Even with routine maintenance, air conditioners will need to be deep cleaned to ensure that the entire unit, including the coils and fins, is in good working order. With the help of experts, we’ve broken down everything you need to know about how to clean and maintain an air conditioner. And, if you’re in the market for a new window unit, check out our guide to the best air conditioners.

"An air conditioner condenser should be deep cleaned once per year," says Brian Shaunfield, a store manager at Lowe's. "However, a unit's air filter should be changed regularly to reduce allergens and allow good airflow."

Shaunfield recommends changing or cleaning the air filter every one to two months. Some models have filters that need to be cleaned more often than others, so check the owner's manual for guidance and take the needs of your home into consideration. For example, "if you have pets," says Traci Fournier, the vice president of operations for One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, "you might need to replace the filter more frequently."

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After cleaning and/or replacing the filter, it can be helpful to make a calendar entry a month or two down the line to remind you when you next need to perform that task. (Consider, too, making an additional note for cleaning hard-to-reach places.) However, even with reminders, it can be easy to overlook cleaning an air conditioner as regularly as needed. These signs are some signs that your air conditioner is overdue for cleaning:

• The unit isn't cooling as well as it used to.• The unit is blowing hot air.• An unpleasant smell is present.• There is a buildup of dust and dirt on the filter.

The most crucial part of the air conditioner to clean is the filter, which can be done with a vacuum, rag or running water from a faucet or hose. To deep clean an air conditioner, some specialty cleaning agents may be needed.

Using a vacuum fitted with a soft bristle brush attachment is a quick way to remove buildup on air conditioner filters. Most vacuums come with a dusting attachment, but if you need one, replacement attachments can be purchased separately.

The exterior as well as the filter can be wiped clean with a microfiber cloth. Use it dry to pick up dirt and dust, or damp to remove any stubborn buildup.

"Not many tools are required to clean an air conditioner, which makes it easy for homeowners to efficiently and easily clean their units," Shaunfield says. However, when deep cleaning an air conditioner, it is a good idea to wear work gloves when clearing debris from the bottom of the unit.

Once a year, deep clean air conditioner coils using a coil cleaner. "A high-concentrate, nonacid air conditioner coil cleaner for aluminum coils and fins is recommended," Shaunfield says. "A light spray of this product thoroughly cleans both coils and fins, while more heavily soiled coils may require multiple uses, rinsing between applications."

Take the time to inspect the unit's fins, which are delicate and easily bent, when deep cleaning an air conditioning unit. An inexpensive fin tool can be used to make repairs; if there is significant damage, professional repairs may be needed.

While cleaning an air conditioner is a relatively simple task, incorrect cleaning techniques can lead to major damage. "Condenser coils and evaporator coils have fins that can bend easily," says Yooshin Kim, a senior engineer at LG Electronics. "Avoid touching these areas to avoid damaging the fins."

When cleaning an outdoor unit, be aware that certain tools should not be used for the job. "Never use a pressure washer to rinse the inside of an air conditioner unit," Shaunfield says. "A strong force of water can damage air conditioner unit fins, which are very delicate." Damaged fins can be repaired using a fin tool, or by professionals.

As with all electronic household appliances, care should be taken to dry all components before returning them to the AC unit. "Also, avoid putting a wet filter back into the unit," Kim says. "Make sure the filter is dried before reinstalling."

Unplug the air conditioner and open and/or remove the cover from the front of the unit. Using a microfiber cloth, wipe both sides of the grille cover to remove dirt and dust. If needed, spray the cloth with an all-purpose cleaner.

Locate and remove the filter, consulting the user's manual for instructions on how to do so. To clean it, either use a vacuum fitted with a brush attachment, wipe it with a damp microfiber cloth or use a sink faucet or hose spray attachment to dislodge buildup. Dry the filter thoroughly before returning it to the unit.

Use a vacuum fitted with a soft brush attachment to clean the interior of the unit, including the fins on the condenser and evaporator. When vacuuming the fins, take care to work vertically, or top-down, and use a gentle touch to avoid bending or damaging them.

Use an air conditioner coil spray cleaner, following the manufacturer's usage instructions, to remove buildup from the unit's coils.

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Check the air filter and replace or clean it if it's dirty. To clean it, either use a vacuum fitted with a brush attachment, wipe it with a damp microfiber cloth or use a sink faucet or hose spray attachment to dislodge buildup. Dry the filter thoroughly before returning it to the unit.

Check the vent, register and grilles and remove airflow blockages if there are any. Then, visually inspect the lines leading to and from the air conditioner unit; if there is any damage or missing insulation in need of replacing, arrange for service.

Turn off the breaker and remove the top of the air conditioning unit. Remove debris from the bottom of the unit by hand or with a vacuum.

Spray the fins with an air conditioner coil cleaner, following the manufacturer's instructions. Rinse the coil cleaner using a hose.

Using a hose or a rag, rinse off the outside of the unit. When the filter is dry, replace it, put the top back on the unit and turn the power back on.