How To Clean Ac Filter With Simple Green

Dan has been in the HVAC industry for 23 years with experience ranging from installation and service to sales and distribution.

Here comes the sun...and heat.

J.South. Matthews

Cleaning Your Air Conditioner Increases Efficiency

We long for that summer sun to smooth down so we can become outside to enjoy the solar day but when the twenty-four hours is done and information technology'south fourth dimension to come in. Oh, and burn down upwardly the A/C because no one wants to sweat inside.

Like so many other things, our air conditioners demand to exist serviced. Often the repair and maintenance costs related to furnaces and air conditioners are non cheap. Well hither is a step-by-pace guide to preparing your air conditioner for the upcoming heat. Information technology's free, it'south simple and information technology can help to keep your air conditioner running efficiently which we all know can salve us coin.

Chillin' With Your A/C

Things You'll Demand to Clean Your Air Conditioner

There are many items needed to do this job and you probable have them in your business firm already.

• Hex Head Nut Commuter (Size may vary, see photo)
• Towel
• Hose (hooked up to running water of course)
• one cup of Elementary Green (or like cleaning product)
• Air filter (size volition vary)

Hex Head Nut Drivers

Cre8tor

four Steps to a Clean Air Conditioner

1. Disconnect the power.
2. Remove the top of the air conditioning unit.
3. Start cleaning the air conditioner.
4. Modify the air filter and clean the bleed.

1. Disconnect the Ability

Every bit always the commencement thing we desire to practice when working on HVAC equipment is making sure that the ability is off. Most air conditioners have a service disconnect mounted to the home within a few feet of the condenser (the condenser is the function of your air conditioning organisation that is located outside).

When you open the chapeau on this disconnect there should exist a handle that can be pulled out and in turn, disconnects the ability supply to the air conditioner. Once you have removed the handle, make sure to close the lid on the disconnect. Annotation that I said it disconnects power to the unit...not the disconnect. The incoming ability here is still live and you practice not desire to spray this with the door open.

If you want to exist actress safe or practice not accept a disconnect, locate the billow in your electrical panel that is dedicated to the A/C system and shut it downwards.

Condensing Unit (or Air Conditioner Unit of measurement)

2. Remove the Top of the Air conditioning Unit

Now that the power is off, use your hex head nut drivers to remove the bolts that are mounted around the superlative of the unit of measurement. Once these bolts are removed, the whole top will exist able to be lifted off of the condenser along with the fan and motor. Practise not remove the bolts that hold the fan and motor to the lid.

At that place will also even so be wires attached from the motor to the service panel on the side of the unit. Leave these wires attached as I do not desire to involve yous with any of the electrical components in the service area. You should have enough slack that you tin swing the lid off to the side and set it upwards and then that the wires are non stressed or rubbing on annihilation sharp.

NOTE: While performing this maintenance, information technology is important not to smash the fins that are wrapped around the condensing unit. These fins allow air to be pulled into the condenser. If smashed or clogged, the air cannot pass over the coils and compressor fluidly and will decrease efficiency and potentially crusade the unit to overheat. If you lot do smash a few or a few were already smashed, they practice sell combs for opening dorsum up these fins. If y'all do not have a comb, others items may suffice in opening them support with a little extra time and care.

Read More From Dengarden

Spray water from the inside of the towards the outside.

3. Starting time Cleaning That A/C

With the chapeau removed y'all should at present be able to easily access the inside of the condensing unit. Start cleaning by removing whatever debris (leaves, "helicopters", etc...) in or out of the unit of measurement that can be removed by hand. This will proceed water from being trapped under leaves and such that lead to the eventual rust and breakdown of the unit'southward construction. Now, place a towel over the service console area. This will non prevent all water from entering the panel but tin can help to catch a fair amount.

At present spray away. That'southward right, spray your hose from the inside out in the unit. Remember, the air is existence pulled into the unit thus spraying from the outside-in only forces the dirt deeper into the fins. At that place is no need to worry nearly the water. These units are fabricated to be outside so zippo you lot're doing here is anything nature hasn't washed already. Just be sure of a couple of things.

1. Don't have the pressure set and so high that information technology bends the fins effectually the unit of measurement.
2. Practise your best not to spray straight into the service panel area or at the service disconnect. Once more, I'k not too worried nigh these items as they are rained on regularly just there's no reason to test their limits.

Once you're done spraying out the clay, you should be able to look through the fins or brushes and see daylight. That's it. Remount the lid to the air conditioner's condensing unit equally it was and bolt it downward.

For an even more in-depth guide on cleaning the coils of your air conditioner, have a look at my guide How to Clean Air Conditioner Coils (with Pictures).

The PVC (white pipe) in this photo is the drain. If your drain doesn't have an opening at the meridian like mine, you may simply want to skip this step.

Cre8tor

four. Change the Air Filter and Make clean the Drain

Spring is a slap-up fourth dimension to replace that air filter. After being cooped upwardly all winter with the dust and pet hair, it is probable that this is the time of year your filter is the dirtiest. Air conditioning is very finicky and sensitive to airflow. If the filter is clogged, your fan will have to work much harder and the evaporator coil is likely to freeze solid. This is not skillful, causes a mess, and ultimately renders the A/C organisation useless.

Lastly, I similar to clean my A/C bleed every year. This is optional and doesn't necessarily affect the efficiency of the unit but nasty deposits practice build upwards in this line which could atomic number 82 to blockage. A cup full of Simple Greenish is what I utilize because it works and is environmentally safe.

A Few Parting Tid-Bits Well-nigh Air conditioning Systems

The evaporator curl is the 2nd part of the divide air conditioning arrangement. This is the portion that is on top of your furnace. Here in the photo above, you can see that I have room between the furnace and evaporator coil.

If you have this likewise and have the tools to create an access panel here, that is a adept idea. Reaching into the bottom of this coil, you may be able to remove blockages from dirt and pilus that may take gotten past the filter. (Again, being conscientious of the fins.) If this cannot be done with ease, then I suggest y'all contact a professional person HVAC technician to bank check this for you.

I also 100% stress that you are not to interact with the refrigerant at all. If you've cleaned the unit of measurement and information technology seems to nonetheless not exist operating properly, get out information technology to a professional to check the refrigerant accuse in the system. This requires specialty equipment, is very unsafe and if caught without the proper certification, carries a very strong fine and penalties. Potentially prison and tens of thousands of dollars courtesy of the EPA.

How Much Do You Know Near Air Workout?

For each question, choose the best respond. The respond key is beneath.

1. Which of the following is NOT a refrigerant gas?
   • r-22
   • 410a
   • HGH
   • r-12
2. What term describes the cooling capacity of an A/C unit of measurement?
   • Cubes
   • CFM
   • Tons
   • Square Footage
3. How many times a year should you add together refrigerant to your organization?
   • In one case
   • Twice
   • Monthly
   • None. Just if at that place's a leak and I've had it fixed.

Answer Key

1. HGH
2. Tons
3. None. But if there's a leak and I've had it stock-still.

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author's knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes just and does non substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.

Questions & Answers

Question: My house is extremely dusty, I think information technology comes from the heating system. Can I make clean my heating organization my self?

Answer: I have another commodity on cleaning your ducts yourself. If you lot'd like to read information technology it may aid. Note that it'south a practise it yourself procedure that makes things better only is not equal to a professional person service.

Question: Our metal ductwork, installed in 99, has a blackness installation type cloth inside the metallic work. Some of the principal area going into the fan area is fabricated completely with this material. Is this material a source of dust and clay?

Answer: It can be yes. That's an acoustic lining or ductboard which I'm not a huge fan of simply that's my personal opinion. It'southward widely used.

© 2022 Dan Reed

viorel on Baronial 01, 2022:

Give thanks you for communication.

John-Rose from USA on Oct 28, 2022:

Even though summertime is over this is something that I really demand to piece of work on. I'm glad that I stumbled on your Hub. It was tery useful. Thank you ~ John

Dan Reed (writer) on July 25, 2022:

Give thanks you Peter. You're right, the bones concepts of air conditioning are the same in almost models and types. I'm glad y'all found this data helpful.

Peter Geekie from Sittingbourne on July 25, 2022:

Honey cre8tor,

Thanks for a very informative and helpful article. In the UK we tend to have mobile A/C but the basics are similar.

Kind regards Peter

Dan Reed (author) on July twenty, 2022:

@ The Engineer - Thank you kindly.

Dan Reed (author) on May 25, 2022:

Give thanks you Laura. FYI - An older unit that is stressed is more probable to break down. Even but shooting information technology with a hose will assistance if it's actually dirty to keep information technology running cooler. Merely a thought just practice understand if you're going with new.

Laura Schneider from Minnesota, USA on May 25, 2022:

I agree with daughter of Maat--fantabulous hub, self-taken photos that clearly show exactly what you lot're talking about, clear instructions--peculiarly the warnings about electricity (so important!) and where you can and tin can't get in problem with it. My A/C unit is also old to bother cleaning; I just plain need a new 1 that'southward Free energy Star Compliant. But, my mother'southward unit of measurement needs cleaning, and I'll follow all of your directions to the T. Thanks!

Mel Flagg COA OSC from Rural Cardinal Florida on March 16, 2022:

I will brand sure to swing by and leave a comment with our result. If information technology works, information technology'll be prissy to have a normal electric bill again AND a absurd house. Living in Florida is tough on a/c units. So I'm hoping this will work, we just had it recharged I think 2 years ago, and so I don't think that is the problem.

I'll go on you posted and thanks again!

Dan Reed (author) on March 16, 2022:

@ D.O.M. - Thank yous very much. I'd love to hear back on how it goes for y'all so that I know my instructions came through conspicuously.

Mel Flagg COA OSC from Rural Central Florida on March 16, 2022:

This was an excellent hub. Our A/C has been on the fritz and is running constantly during the day. WE change our filter monthly(nosotros have MANY pets) but have never cleaned the outside unit.My husband and I are going to try this over the weekend. Thanks and then much for this hub! Voted up, useful, interesting and SHARED!

Source: https://dengarden.com/appliances/Air-Conditioning-Maintenance-Spring-Is-Here-and-Summer-Is-Coming

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