Cleaning your air conditioner is routine maintenance, and skipping it has real consequences. A dirty unit pushes dust, mites, and pathogens into the air you breathe at home. Regular cleaning protects your health and keeps the unit running efficiently for longer.
Why clean your air conditioner?
Air conditioners are a direct route for dust, mites, and various pathogens to circulate through your home. When the unit is running, windows and doors are normally kept shut to avoid wasting energy. If the unit is dirty, that enclosed air is what you end up breathing.
Components like the filter, the coil, and the heat exchanger fins all contribute to poor indoor air quality when they are not kept clean.
There is also a practical side to this: a dirty air conditioner performs poorly and is far more likely to break down.
When should you clean your air conditioner?
It depends on how often you use it. For typical home use, a full clean 2 to 3 times a year is the standard recommendation.
The three ideal windows are:
- in autumn, before you start using the unit for heating;
- in spring, before the summer heat arrives;
- towards the end of summer, as temperatures begin to drop.
If you notice the unit is not performing correctly outside of these windows, an unscheduled clean may be needed.
How to clean your air conditioner effectively
Before you start, put on protective gloves and a face mask to avoid inhaling dust and pathogens.
1. Cleaning the air conditioner filter
Start with the filter on the indoor unit. It typically sits behind the plastic casing of the split unit and comes out without much effort. Some models have more than one filter.
Rinse the filter under running water to wash away visible dirt, then use a disinfectant degreaser for a more thorough clean.
2. Cleaning the coil
Once the filters are removed, you can reach the coil behind them. This component also accumulates grime, along with mould residue caused by condensation and humidity.
Mould circulating in indoor air is a serious health risk.
Do not wipe the coil with a cloth. The fins are sharp. Use the purpose-made fin brushes sold for this job, along with dedicated disinfectant spray products.
3. Cleaning the outer surface of the indoor unit
Once filters and coil are clean and back in place, wipe down the outer casing of the unit. Remove any dust, then go over the surface with a disinfectant and a damp cloth.
Professional air conditioner cleaning
The process described above works well for regular DIY maintenance at home.
For a genuinely deep clean, it is worth calling in a specialist company for professional air conditioner sanitisation. Trained technicians have the equipment and expertise to clean, disinfect, and sanitise your unit far more thoroughly than a standard home clean allows.
Professional servicing is strongly recommended for businesses, public premises, schools, hospitals, and any heavily used spaces.