Cleaning Air Conditioners: When to call a professional

Published by: Elizabeth Gormley
Published on: 2010-01-10 15:26:13

Your Connecticut home's air conditioner cools the interior, but one of the important functions of an HVAC is also cleansing the inside air. This requires regular maintenance of the system. An air conditioner is great when it is hot outside, but if it is allowed to accumulate dust, debris, mold, and bacteria, it can spread these undesirables throughout the household, making the inhabitants ill or vulnerable to long-term diseases. It's best to familiarize yourself with how to clean your air conditioner for its optimal performance—and the health of your family.

Today's standard window air conditioners are easiest to maintain. Older models usually have a foam screen instead of the more effective polypropylene electromagnetic mesh. Foam is not microbial-resistant, whereas the polypropylene mesh has a static charge that prevents ions from entering the air conditioner. You might consider creating this type of filter by purchasing polypropylene at your local hardware store and cutting it to size. The material is relatively inexpensive. On most window air conditioners, the filters easily slide in and out. There will be overlapping layers that you can scrub with soap and water, using a lint-free rag. Be sure the filter is dry before replacing it because standing moisture can breed mold, another toxin, and you do not want the machine's components to sustain water damage.

The larger, standing air conditioners outside the home usually have more than one filter. It is recommended to simply replace these filters every couple of months, rather than clean them. The filters outside get quite dirty, accumulating leaves, dirt, animal hair, twigs, etc. Cleaning them will involve high-pressure water spray, brushing and combing the screens, scrubbing the fins, and sweeping. If you decide to clean your air conditioner this way, it is extremely important to shut off all electrical power to the unit when using water.

Simple air conditioning maintenance is fine to perform for the do-it-yourself homeowner, but all HVAC systems should be checked regularly by a professional. This person should be a licensed technician. There are industry guidelines to which the technician must adhere, such as factoring in climate and ductwork. High-humidity areas tend to see more microbial contamination. If you live in this type of climate you should call a professional for cleaning. Some types of ductwork are more fragile than others and a technician will know when to proceed gingerly with vacuuming, or when to use air whips and brushes on standard sheet metal.

The most responsible way to go about maintaining your air conditioner is to handle the small jobs yourself, like window unit filter cleaning, or maybe larger unit filter replacement. Other HVAC tasks should be handled by a certified technician. The interior air you inhale is worth it to avoid a clogged, malfunctioning system and potential sickness.

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