How to clean the filter of an air conditioner?

Cleaning the air conditioner goes beyond dusting; a detail that many can inadvertently forget and then find that their equipment has broken down. To avoid this inconvenience, it is necessary to provide adequate maintenance and one of these steps focuses on the filters.

The air filter: what is it for?

An air conditioner is an appliance capable of lowering the temperature in rooms or entire properties, thanks to a cooling system that works with a fan, a compressor and, of course, a filter.

The air conditioning filter is responsible for protecting the interior of the equipment, by becoming the blocking of particles and dirt molecules that may be present in the air. If an air conditioner does not have a filter, its useful life could be significantly shortened.

In this sense, cleaning the air conditioning filters is a task that should not be taken lightly, since poor maintenance could lead to inconveniences that end up rendering the device useless.

To understand the operation of the filter, it must be understood that the conditioning equipment sucks the air from the environment, cools it and returns it to the room. This basically means that the air must pass through the interior of the equipment, in order to lower its temperature.

This is where the filtering system comes into play. The air itself can contain a high percentage of particles and this varies according to the hygiene habits of each home. 

This “dirt” is capable of accumulating in the pipes, motors, fans and other sensitive elements of an air conditioner, but a good filter is capable of trapping it and keeping it at bay, to prevent it from causing problems.

Due to this, it is considered a crucial element that should not be overlooked in the cleaning of the air conditioner, since, if neglected, the entire efficiency of the equipment can be affected.

How to clean air conditioning filters?

If you want to become an expert in how to clean an air conditioner, you cannot ignore the filtering system. However, this task involves following different steps, which are determined according to the type of air conditioner:

1. Window air conditioner

It is not necessary to know how to disassemble a window air conditioner to proceed with cleaning its filter, since this piece is usually located on the front of the equipment.

The first thing you should do is unplug it from the outlet and try to lift the cover by pulling it towards you. If it has tabs, you should remove them all before making any effort, to avoid breaking them.

When you are able to remove the lid, you will find yourself directly in front of the filter, which will be similar to a large mesh size. In addition, with the naked eye you can also notice the degree of dirt it has, so you must be careful to avoid spreading the dust.

Proceed to pull the filter from the bottom until it is removed and take it outside to take advantage of the fact that this piece can be washed with running water and detergent, in addition to allowing the application of air conditioning disinfectant.

Rinse the filter well until you have got rid of all dust particles and allow it to dry completely, before reinstalling it on your air conditioner and closing the lid.

2. Split type air conditioner

In this case, you do not need to disassemble an air conditioning Split either, since the filtration mechanism is usually handled in the same way as a window one.

Something you should do before handling the equipment is to turn it off with the best remote for air conditioning, as well as disconnect it from any power source to which it may be linked.

Once this is done, locate the safety tabs at the bottom of the internal AC unit and carefully lift them up to unlock the filter cover.

Depending on the model, you may find yourself with one or two filters, and you will have to handle them properly to avoid problems when putting them back in place.

Take them out carefully so as not to release the dust they have trapped and proceed to wash them with plenty of water. If the dirt is deep-seated, you can use a soft-bristled brush, but don’t use too much pressure, as you could break the mesh.

3. Comprehensive air conditioning

To find out if it is necessary to clean the ducts of the domestic air conditioning, you should check the internal state, to check the level of dirt or bad odors that may be accumulated.

This task can be a bit complicated depending on the installation characteristics, since, in integral air conditioners, the unit is usually located outdoors, while the air outlet is linked to the inlet of the duct system.

Position yourself near the integral air conditioning unit and remove the cover that protects the filter compartment, to remove it carefully and proceed to wash it with water combined with detergent. Remember not to rinse too hard and let the parts dry completely before reinstalling them.

Filter Care Tips

Apart from guaranteeing good maintenance and the necessary replacement at the right time, there are other tricks that you can use if you want to extend the life of your air conditioning filter system.

One of them is not to smoke with the equipment on, since, by extracting the air from the room to cool it, cigarette smoke is also included. This smoke contains molecules that, when broken down, can release bad odors and wear out filters.

It is also advisable to take advantage of the control for air conditioning and change the intensity of operation to the minimum, when possible, since this prevents too many particles from passing through the pipes and fans.