How to clean the air conditioner outdoor unit 🥝 in the apartment

Modern air conditioners are not limited only to air cooling, they still clean it with the help of appropriate means. Therefore, each climate control system requires periodic cleaning and disinfection. Depending on the complexity of the cooling system, as well as the level of contamination of the air conditioner, service specialists distinguish 2 types of cleaning: standard and deep. Many consumers are interested in the question: how much does it cost to clean the air conditioning in the apartment. We will analyze the answer to this question in this article, because the prices vary significantly between standard and deep cleaning, since in the first case a complete disassembly of the device is necessary, and this will take much more time of the wizard. Yes, and the power of the air conditioner, its installation location directly affect the time and effort spent for cleaning.

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Why is it necessary to clean the air conditioner?

A working air conditioner actively collects dust from the air, so cleaning and disinfection of the device must be carried out periodically. How often this needs to be done depends on whether or not the air conditioner is constantly on and how carefully the cleaning is carried out in the room where it is installed.

Important! Manufacturers recommend at least once a year to carry out preventive maintenance of the air conditioner.

Scope of work

Some consumers, relying on the user manual, believe that the work of cleaning the air conditioner is limited only by washing removable strainers. But the fact is that it is this function that is initially assigned to the consumer, since such cleaning does not require the participation of a specialist.

Therefore, only washing the filters in the instructions is indicated as the necessary regular cleaning of the indoor unit. Everything else must be done by professionals from the after-sales service of split systems. Therefore, the question of how much it costs to clean the air conditioning in the apartment, for those users who are responsible for their health, remains invariably relevant.

The effect of the air conditioner device on the cost of cleaning it

The split system itself consists of two blocks: external and internal. During cooling the air in the apartment, the indoor unit acts as an evaporator, and the external one as a condenser. When the device is working, the split system transfers heat from the room to the street.

There is a fan in the outdoor unit. He, taking air from the street, cools the tubes along which freon moves. The external unit consists of small radiator plates and tubes. We will take into account that both a classic split system for each room and multifunctional equipment - multisplit systems can be installed. This changes the number of blocks that require cleaning, respectively - the answer to the question of how much it costs to clean the air conditioning in the apartment will be different.

Important! If dirt and dust get on the radiator grilles, air exchange deteriorates, while the air conditioner loses up to 30% of its power. Similarly, air exchange also deteriorates when poplar fluff enters the radiator grilles.Even after a year of operation, the efficiency of the device is reduced by at least 10-20%, that is, ⅕ of the consumed electricity when the air conditioner is in use is wasted.

Cleaning time

As a rule, many consumers call a service technician only when the air conditioner stops supplying cold or water flows from the indoor unit. And some use the device until there is an unpleasant odor from the air conditioner, and already in this case not only the entire system needs to be cleaned, but also its disinfection is needed.

Therefore, if you do not clean the air conditioner for 2-3 years, or even more, then this can lead to such wear on the components of the device that cleaning problems can no longer be eliminated. As a result, the amount on request, how much it costs to clean the air conditioner, will differ significantly.

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What can I clean in the air conditioner myself?

If you find out how much it costs to clean the air conditioner, but so far decided to save on this procedure or if you want to clearly imagine what you will give the money for, first of all, you need to deal with the device of your model.

A classic air conditioner, consisting of two units - indoor (indoor) and outdoor (outdoor), can be cleaned in three ways:

• Mechanical (using brushes).
• Using special chemistry.
• Washing with a high-pressure apparatus.

Important! Basically, professional services use the second and third methods to clean the external unit of the air conditioner, using chemical cleaning agents for cars and the Karcher high-pressure apparatus.

Cleaning the air conditioner indoor unit

The cleaning of the internal unit of the device must be carried out especially carefully, with complete disassembly and disinfection.

On each indoor unit of the wall split system there is a service panel, which opens without much difficulty. Under the panel there are mesh plug-in filters that any consumer can get out and rinse with plain running water (any water temperature, just not boiling water).

Important! In any instructions for the air conditioner, there are schemes for extracting and installing filters, as well as drawn manuals for washing them. If you use this information and clean the filters at least 2 times a year, then the participation of a paid specialist will not be required.

If you decide to clean yourself, proceed as follows:

1. Remove the front panel, plastic housing, filters and condensate tray from the indoor unit.
2. Rinse the removed elements under running water, and if it is very dirty, clean the components with a brush and special chemicals.
3. Use a vacuum cleaner and brush head to clean the heat exchanger and fan drum.
4. Use a spray bottle with an antibacterial composition to wash all the inside of the air conditioner.
5. Wipe all surfaces of the device with a cloth.
6. Assemble the indoor unit according to the instructions.

Important! It is highly discouraged to clean the outdoor units yourself, especially if your apartment is above 1 floor. Firstly - it is dangerous and fraught with a fall from a height. Secondly, you need to thoroughly know the device of the outdoor unit of the split system in order to understand what and how to clean it.

The absence of such knowledge, skills, and special devices for working at height can lead to a complete failure of the equipment. As a result, you will already be wondering how much it costs to clean the air conditioner in the apartment, but how much it will cost to repair or buy new equipment.

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What kind of cleaning requires the participation of a qualified craftsman?

Not only outdoor units, but also many parts of the indoor unit must be cleaned only by specialists of suitable qualifications.

Cleaning the heat exchanger radiator of the indoor unit

Flushing the filter is not a difficult job, but it’s better not to touch the other parts of the air conditioner without special preparation.In addition to strainers during operation of the device, in the indoor and outdoor units, heat exchangers and radiators are subject to contamination.

During operation, condensate moisture constantly accumulates on the radiator itself, so part of the dust adheres to the fins of the radiator heat exchanger and gradually reduces the efficiency of cold (heat) transfer. In addition, condensate can turn dust on the fins of the radiator heat exchanger into a film, and fumes containing fats and resins can eventually damage the air conditioner.

The outdoor unit is subject to even greater pollution, but it is not often remembered about it, however, its clogging can cause the failure of the air conditioner. Cleaning heavy contaminants on the heat exchanger radiator requires serious efforts, and the nature of the contamination requires decisive measures, such as flushing with cleaning fluids. In this case, qualified craftsmen can come to the rescue, who, with the help of special flushing fluids intended for radiators, powerful vacuum cleaners, and steam cleaners, relieve the working nodes from dirt.

Cleaning the fan and turbines of the indoor unit

The design of modern models of air conditioners is designed in such a way that the turbine deals only with air that has passed through the filter and radiator. But on some models, air enters the fan, regardless of the filter. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor its cleanliness constantly, since after some time the fan blades are covered with sticky dust, a mud coat. As a result, a putrefactive smell appears in the room. In addition, the accumulation of dust and moisture is an excellent medium for the propagation of microorganisms.

Important! If the fan is not cleaned for several years, then the dirt accumulated on it will increase the load on the engine rotating the fan. Such additional loads will significantly reduce the service life of both the engine and bearings. The result - when the fan is operating at high speeds, there will be unpleasant noise from the device. To prevent the occurrence of this problem, use the services of professional craftsmen from the service center. Which one - decide for yourself, based on how much it costs to clean the air conditioner in a particular company.

Cleaning the outdoor radiator

The quality of the air conditioner also seriously depends on the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit of the split system. The radiator, together with the fan, must constantly cool the outdoor unit of the air conditioner, which means that when the efficiency of the unit decreases (especially in the hot season), the outdoor unit will overheat.

In a properly working air conditioner, in such a situation, a sensor will instantly work, which will turn off the entire cooling system. Until the outdoor unit temperature returns to normal, the device will not work. If the sensor fails, then this malfunction can lead to failure of the entire outdoor unit.

Important! Since the state of the atmosphere in a large metropolis leaves much to be desired, due to the gas contamination of the streets, a lot of dust, fluff, the radiator grille of the outdoor unit is quickly clogged. Therefore, to clean it, a stream of water supplied under pressure is necessary. Such wet cleaning is only possible for craftsmen with special equipment. Be sure to check how much it costs to clean the air conditioner taking into account this service.

Cleaning the drainage system

Due to a clogged drainage system, air conditioning may leak. A large amount of grease and dust can clog the drainage system, and in some cases even a colony of fungi. The cause of such pollution is a dirty atmosphere in the room or prolonged use of the device. Less commonly, such problems arise due to improper installation of the drainage system.

To identify the causes of water leakage, it is necessary to diagnose the operation of the split system. You can fix the problem only by flushing the drainage system.Specialists carry out this work by pumping water under pressure into a tube.

In addition to regular cleaning of the system itself, it is necessary to clean the drainage bath inside the indoor unit. If preventive cleaning of the drainage system and the drainage bath is not carried out, then the mold can spread not only on the radiator, but also on the walls of the housing.

Important! Conclude a contract with the company not only for installation, but also for subsequent maintenance of the device. Regular qualified service will save you a lot of problems, and the life of the air conditioner will increase significantly. In addition, in this case, cleaning the air conditioning in the apartment will cost much less.

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How much does it cost to clean the air conditioner?

The prices for cleaning the split system depend on the list of works, the power of the air conditioner, the type of device and its design. You can get acquainted with the prices on the price list of any service company. The cost of a full standard complex robot usually includes:

1. Diagnostics of the air conditioner.
2. Cleaning the air conditioner with a steam generator.
3. Disinfection of the internal unit of the device.
4. Freon refueling if necessary (up to 300 g).

Of course, you can clean the above nodes of the device yourself. However, it is better to entrust this procedure to specialists for the following reasons:

• To get to the radiator or fan of the indoor unit, you need to remove the external plastic casing, which is attached to the case with special screws and plastic clips. Such manipulations require knowledge of the mounting device of various models of air conditioners, as well as the correct movements developed over the years, a good vestibular apparatus and strong nerves.
• Cleaning radiators for heat exchangers and fans requires careful operation using a steam generator. In addition, it is necessary to choose the right brushes and brushes, so as not to bend the grille and not to break the case of the device.
• Cleaning complex contaminants requires the use of special cleaning solutions, which are usually not commercially available.
• Refueling of air conditioners is carried out only after a set of works, including diagnostics and cleaning.
• Qualified specialists can carry out all the work in your home at your convenience.

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Stock footage

Follow the rules of operation of the air conditioner and follow the recommendations of the manufacturers, and in case of problems, contact qualified masters of special services.