How to maintain your wall-mounted air conditioner

Poor maintenance of an air conditioner can cause various problems for your appliance as well as your health. It is therefore important to perform frequent cleaning and periodic maintenance. In this article, we explain the benefits of maintaining your air conditioner and share tips for optimal maintenance of your device.

Why maintain your air conditioner?

Ensuring air quality in the home

Air conditioning allows you to regulate the temperature in an enclosed space by cooling the air during the summer season and heating the space during the winter. However, if you do not perform adequate cleaning, the air inside your home can become more polluted than the air outside, which can harm your health and aggravate respiratory problems such as asthma.

Extending the lifespan of the air conditioner

A poorly maintained air conditioner tends to wear out quickly. A lack of maintenance is a common cause of air conditioning breakdowns, hence the importance of regular cleaning. This helps optimize the performance of the air conditioner!

Reducing electricity costs

Clogged exchangers and air conditioning filters considerably increase energy consumption. This increases your electricity bills, especially during periods when you use the air conditioner daily. Maintenance allows you to deep-clean the filters and remove all debris to facilitate its operation and limit energy consumption.

See also: 9 good reasons to clean your air duct

Preventing refrigerant leaks

It is necessary for the handling of refrigerants to be done by professional technicians. They will be able to detect leaks and carry out appropriate treatments to recover the refrigerants and allow the air conditioner to function optimally.

Saving money

Regular maintenance of your air conditioner helps prevent breakdowns that can be expensive to repair. Maintenance tasks are simpler and quicker than repair work, so keeping up with them generally costs less over the life of the unit.

See also: What is the cost of cleaning a residential wall-mounted air conditioner?

Who can maintain an air conditioning system?

You can clean the air filters yourself. However, deep cleaning should be left to a specialized cleaning technician, for reasons of safety and quality of work. Refrigerant checks and repairs are the job of a licensed refrigeration technician.

When to maintain an air conditioner?

Some new air conditioner models have indicator lights that flash or give a signal when the air conditioner requires checking or cleaning. In this case, it is easy to know when to maintain the air conditioner, which contributes to the proper functioning of the device and a longer lifespan.

If you own older devices, it is important to pay attention to the following signals indicating it is time to clean your air conditioner:

• Change in odour in the room
• Noise from the air conditioner’s operation
• Decrease in the device’s efficiency
• Change in the atmosphere within the space

Be aware that the frequency of maintenance depends on the frequency of use of the air conditioning. An air conditioner that runs daily should have its filter cleaned at least once a month. In addition to this cleaning that you can perform yourself, it is advisable to have an annual check-up by professionals to carry out thorough maintenance of the device.

How to properly maintain your air conditioner?

Here are the most important steps to follow to maintain your air conditioner.

Cleaning the air filters

Air filters serve to purify the ambient air of dust and pollen. If they are not cleaned, these filters trap all these particles and can promote the development of dust mites and cause respiratory issues for the users of the space. It is recommended to clean them once or twice a month, depending on the use of the air conditioner.

Here are some tips for cleaning your air filters:

• Open the casing to access the air filters located under the cover
• Extract the air filters from the device
• Dust the filters and remove all dust and pollen residue
• Use a vacuum cleaner to be certain to remove everything thoroughly
• Rinse the filter with lukewarm water
• Let the filters air dry

See also: Why clean your ventilation duct?

Replacing the activated carbon filter

Replacing the activated carbon filter prevents the appearance of unpleasant odours in the space where the air conditioner is located. The activated carbon filter absorbs bad odours as well as potentially toxic substances in the air.

The replacement of the carbon filter should be done annually, or twice a year if you use the air conditioning daily:

• Open the front panel and remove the activated carbon (deodorizing) filter, usually clipped onto the main air filter
• Rinse the filter with lukewarm water without using soap
• Dry the filter in an oven for five to ten minutes at a low temperature (only if the manufacturer recommends it)
• Place the filter back into the air conditioner

Maintenance of indoor and outdoor units

Cleaning the indoor and outdoor units of the air conditioner is done using a damp sponge. You can soak the sponge in lukewarm water and soap, then gently scrub the device. It is wise to empty and clean the condensate tray at the same time for a deep clean. Then, allow the device time to dry before using it again.

See also: What is the cost of cleaning a commercial wall-mounted air conditioner?

Tips for safe cleaning

• Unplug your device during cleaning
• Avoid household products that tend to be too abrasive and can cause irreversible damage to your air conditioner
• Avoid using solvents when cleaning the filters
• Check for any obstacles blocking the air outlets
• Respect the lifespan of the filters and proceed with a replacement at the appropriate time

What is the price for maintaining an air conditioning system?

The price for air conditioner maintenance depends on how often it is inspected and cleaned and on the type of system (residential or commercial). Regular cleaning contributes to energy and money savings, as well as to the safety and performance of the device.

To find out the cost of maintaining your air conditioner or wall-mounted heat pump, call us at 514 505-2500 or request a free quote.

See also: What is the cost of cleaning a ventilation duct?

Air conditioner cleaning services

Cleaning your air conditioner contributes to the quality of the air you breathe daily. The experts at Nettoyage Service Plus offer professional ventilation duct and air conditioning cleaning services. Our entire team holds high-standard training and has several years of experience in the cleaning sector.

Here is a list of the cleaning services we offer:

• Ventilation system cleaning
• Residential and commercial cleaning
• Wall-mounted air conditioning cleaning

Request a free quote

Frequently asked questions

Why maintain your air conditioner?

• To promote good air quality
• To optimize the operation of the air conditioner
• To extend its lifespan
• To save energy and money

When should you maintain your air conditioner?

Some air conditioner models have indicators that show when the device needs cleaning. As a general rule, the air conditioner should be cleaned monthly and professionally maintained once or twice a year.

How do you properly maintain your air conditioner?

Air conditioner maintenance involves several steps:

• Cleaning the air filter
• Cleaning the activated carbon filter
• Maintaining the indoor and outdoor units