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COMFORT BLOG

Mar 28, 2023 3:41:08 PM by Logan Donahue

Disinfecting Your Air Conditioner 101

Do you remember the last time you cleaned your air conditioner? Keeping your air conditioner clean is vital to the comfort and indoor air quality of your home. Allergens, bacteria, or viruses can get find their way into a system that is not properly cleaned. When this happens, these particles and germs can be challenging to remove. Central air conditioning systems require heavy effort when it comes to cleaning. Taking the time to properly disinfect your AC is worth your family's health and peace of mind. 
 

What Steps Should I Take To Regularly Clean My AC?

There are products specifically designed to clean and disinfect your AC system in between annual AC tune-ups from a professional HVAC technician. These products must include instructions and application methods and should be effective at destroying bacteria, mold, viruses, and other germs. These specific instructions must include: how much of the product to apply and the amount of time you must leave the product for it to work. Check out the recommended products:
 
Taking general care of your air conditioning system can make a huge difference in its function and prolongs its life. Below are a few tips homeowners can use when cleaning their systems. 

Taking these steps to ensure your air conditioner stays in peak condition will help it run more efficiently and last longer. Keeping these filters fresh and clear will help keep your air conditioner cleaner and free of dust and grime reaching your coils, electrical components, or fan blades. Built-up grime, pollen, dander, dead skin cells, hair, and dirt will prevent your air conditioning unit from properly cooling your home. 
 

6 Steps to Disinfect Your Air Conditioner

1. Turn your AC Off 

An air conditioner needs to be off in order to perform maintenance. For a window unit and potable options, unplug the unit. For regular central air units, switch the thermostat to off and flip the power switch in the breaker box outside next to the outdoor condenser unit.

2. Remove Hoses and Covers

On a portable air conditioner, there is a vent hose that needs to be disconnected from the back of the unit. Remove this before the next step. 

3. Remove and Clean All Of The Filters

Remove all lint and dust from the filters and clean them. Then, use a household cleaner or bleach to disinfect the filters. Let it sit for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, rinse the filters and allow them to completely dry before reinstalling them.

4. Remove the Housing

After carefully removing the housing unit, use suction to remove lint, dirt, or dust. Be aware of the surrounding parts of the air conditioner

5. Clean the Coils 

Spray coil bleach solution on the evaporator and condenser and let this soak for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, rinse the coils with a hose to remove any residue or grime.

6. Replace the Housing, Filters, and Covers

After all of your parts have completely dried, you need to reinstall the housing, filters, and hoses. When this is finished, you can turn on your AC.
 
 
Overall, disinfecting and maintaining the cleanliness of your AC system is beneficial to its life, your family's health, and the money in your pocket. Leaving air conditioners in a filthy state will eventually lead to bigger problems or complete failure of your unit.
 
The dirtier the unit becomes, the harder it is to clean. Air conditioners not only cool your home, but they also circulate clean and healthy air throughout your home. If your air conditioner is not properly cleaned, these particles can contaminate the air, resulting in illness. Even worse, a dirty unit provides a breeding ground for germs, fungi, bacteria, and mold to thrive. Lastly, a dirty air conditioner will use a significantly larger amount of energy than a clean one, resulting in higher electricity bills. 
The Importance of Annual AC Tune-Ups
ECI Comfort recommends getting your air conditioner serviced yearly. Now more than ever, maintaining the cleanliness of the air in your home is a priority. The perfect time to book an AC service is right now before the peak cooling season. Use the button below to contact us for an AC service. 
Schedule My AC Tune-Up
 

 If you live in the Delaware Valley/Greater Philadelphia area and would like to find comfort within your home, visit our website or give us a call at 215 - 245 - 3200 to learn more.

 

This entry was posted in AC window units, Bucks County, Comfort Tips, Home Performance, Efficiency, Tune ups, Air Filters, Spring, Ductless, Air Conditioning

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