What care for the split system. Cleaning the air conditioner with your own hands: the process of cleaning a home air conditioner, recommendations for use. Cleaning the drainage system

Nowadays, many owners of houses and apartments equip their homes with climate control equipment that is able to maintain a comfortable microclimate in the premises. One of the most popular appliances for this purpose is the air conditioner. Modern models can have not only one function - air cooling, but also be "all-season", multifunctional, that is, at any time of the year, maintain a normal temperature set by the user in the rooms.

However, the microclimate will actually be comfortable, and the use of air conditioning will not harm the owners if certain important conditions. In particular, such devices require some care, so they are usually serviced professional craftsmen. To do this, often contracts are concluded with the company that conducted, for further service maintenance. They also resort to one-time calls for masters - there are a lot of ads of such content in the advertising press.

But such a service is not cheap, so many device owners are interested in the possibility of self-care for them. One of important points in the maintenance of climate technology is the maintenance of all its components, especially filter blocks, clean. Therefore, the question arises of how possible it is to clean the air conditioner with your own hands? Yes, it's doable! And if you understand at least a little about the design of the device and know how such a process is carried out, then, indeed, you can put it in order on your own.

Is it really necessary to regularly clean the air conditioning equipment? Maybe it's just another "money scam" on the part of manufacturers and service companies? No, everything is much more serious!

Devices that cool or heat the air drive it through the filtering devices installed in them, since it is unrealistic to completely get rid of dust in the premises. Accordingly, quite soon a large amount of dirt and dust is collected in the filters.

Therefore, if you do not carry out periodic cleaning of the air conditioner, then the following problems will certainly arise:

There will be a clear fall functionality device, that is, a significant decrease in efficiency due to the difficulty of passing air through the filters.
If the air conditioner is not cleaned or is not done regularly, the heat exchanger with the freon inside it will start to overheat, which will increase the load on the compressor, and as a result, the device will quickly wear out.

Increased humidity and dust deposits inside and outside the filters contribute to the active reproduction of dust mites and various bacteria. Among pathogenic microorganisms, the most dangerous is legionella, which causes a serious lung disease - legionellosis (it is also called "Pittsburgh pneumonia"). Together with the flow of air passing through contaminated filters, spores of fungi and mold can spread throughout the premises, which can easily provoke allergic reactions, lead to asthmatic attacks and dermatitis.
Unpleasant smell in the room is probably the smallest trouble of all, which entails the pollution of the air conditioner.

It should be noted that air conditioners that are installed in high-rise buildings on the top floors, high altitude much less dust is concentrated than in the lower layers of the air. But this does not mean that they will not have to be cleaned - there may simply be less mud deposits.

Much more often it will be necessary to clean and disinfect devices installed in houses located near highways, in industrial areas of the city and in areas under construction, since the air is most polluted there.

Another negative phenomenon for climate technology is poplar and other plant fluff, which is capable of literally clogging air conditioner filters in a short time. Therefore, if the area where the house is located is planted with poplars or other trees (shrubs) with a similar form of flowering, then climatic devices must be monitored with particular care.

The air conditioner, as a rule, itself begins to “declare” that it needs preventive maintenance if it was not cleaned on time. So, such manifestations can be:

Constant or temporary noise or crackling when the device is turned on.
Unpleasant smell of dampness or preli.
A clear decrease in the cooling capacity of the air conditioner.
The device began to consume too much electricity with the same or even reduced output - this can be seen by taking readings from the meter.
The indoor unit began to leak while the air conditioner was running.

If at least one of the above signs appears, then this indicates that the device needs urgent preventive maintenance, otherwise the air conditioner may soon fail.

It's best to be warned similar situation, since it can result in the replacement of individual parts or structural blocks that have failed due to the banal carelessness of the owners, which leads to significant costs.

Be sure to clean the filters of the device in the spring, before intensive work in the summer.
Prevention should also be carried out in the fall, before the cold period, when the air conditioner is switched to the room heating mode.
Unscheduled prevention - urgently, in any case, if the signs mentioned above appear.

Thanks to timely preventive maintenance, the air conditioner will work out the entire resource, which is usually 8 ÷ 12 years or even more, without any problems.

Cleaning the indoor unit of the split system

The design of the indoor unit of the air conditioner

To figure out where to start prevention work, and what exactly should be subjected to the most thorough cleaning, you need at least a little familiarity with the design of the device. Most often, split systems have been used recently, and first of all, the indoor unit of the air conditioner most accessible to the user affects the microclimate in the room. Let's start with him.

So, the indoor unit consists of the following components and parts:

1 - Front panel of the device - This is a plastic case with a grille. Through it, the air from the room enters the device for cooling (or heating), naturally, with the transferred dust. The panel can be easily removed - if necessary, carry out maintenance work. For this, a system of locks (latches) is provided.

2 - Filter coarse cleaning - This is a fine-mesh polymer mesh, which is designed for collection of large dust particles from the air, fluff, villi of animal hair and other similar suspensions. Such a filter requires cleaning, or at least control, at least twice a month. In innovative models, some manufacturers provide for automatic cleaning of this filter. coarse filter pre-cleaning located just behind the front panel of the instrument.

3 - Filter fine cleaning . Usually, not one, but several filters are installed in a cascade, which can clean the air from various pollution. Each of them has its own structural features:

carbon filter, containing activated carbon, and designed to remove unpleasant odors and neutralize harmful substances. This type of filter is not cleaned, but replaced completely, on average every 4-5 months.
Zeolite filter made from porous mineral - zeolite. This filter option is able to absorb from the air chemical compounds, which include heavy metals, so it is more efficient than coal. In addition, unlike coal, the zeolite filter can be washed with water and can be used for up to five years with regular maintenance.
Electrostatic the filter cleans the air from fine dust by creating an electrostatic field. Dust particles, passing through it, become electrified and settle on oppositely charged plates. The service life of this filter is unlimited, and it is cleaned as it gets dirty.
Plasma filter works on the same principle as electrostatic. In it, under the influence of an electric voltage, a low-temperature plasma is formed that can destroy harmful substances and small particles dust, at the same time giving them a negative charge, due to which they settle on a positively charged plate. The plasma filter is also designed to remove odors and smoke. The service life of this filter is unlimited, and it is cleaned as it gets dirty.
UV filter necessarily includes an LED of a certain spectrum of luminescence, which is capable of disinfecting the air of the room, destroying viruses and bacteria. UV light can also prevent the growth and spread of mold and mildew inside the air conditioner. This option can be used alone or in combination with a photocatalytic filter.
photocatalytic filter is a porous substance titanium dioxide coated. This filter adsorbs on its surface all pollutants of the air masses passing through it, including toxic substances, unpleasant odors, fungal spores, etc. Getting under the influence of ultraviolet, which is included in the complex photocatalytic filter, all toxic substances decompose to water and carbon dioxide. This type of filter does an excellent job with both inorganic and organic air pollutants. The service life of this filter is limited only by the "life" of the UV lamp.
Antibacterial filter. Designed to neutralize various pathogenic microflora - microbes and viruses. It contains such natural active ingredients, as:

- catechin - an antiseptic found in apples and green tea;

Wasabi is a plant with antibacterial properties.

Antioxidant filter It is made on the basis of flavonoids, which contribute to the conversion of free radicals into inactive chemical compounds.

4 - Fan to circulate air through the air conditioner. As a rule, the fan can have three to four speeds of rotation.

5 - Evaporator. This, in essence, is a radiator in which freon evaporates, due to which the air passing through it cools.

6 – Horizontal blinds , regulating the direction of air flow vertically. They are controlled remotely, from a remote control, through an electric drive installed in the air conditioner housing.

7 - Display panel located on the surface of the indoor unit of the air conditioner. On it, using LEDs or a digital display, the operating modes of the device are shown, including the set temperature.

8 - Vertical blinds regulate air flow in horizontal directions. They can be moved manually or remotely, depending on the equipment of the device.

In addition to the above structural elements, it necessarily contains others that are not shown in the figure:

9 - Condensate tray. This part is placed under the evaporator, and it serves to collect water, which is then discharged through a drain hose from the air conditioner to the outside.

10 - Manager electronic board . A central microprocessor is installed on it, with the help of which the device is controlled. The board is usually located to the right of the indoor unit of the air conditioner. Usually, a terminal group is also placed near it - for connecting the air conditioner to the mains and for electrical switching of the indoor unit with the external one.

11 - Fittings located on the bottom rear of the indoor unit. Copper pipes connected to them serve to connect the outdoor and indoor units - this creates a closed circuit for the circulation of the refrigerant.

Several preparatory operations

Due to the fact that the air conditioner of a split system consists of two blocks, external and internal, their cleaning also differs somewhat from each other, which is important to consider when starting its prevention. On the outer block, attention will be focused below, but for now we continue to consider the inner one.

Before proceeding with preventive maintenance, it is necessary to protect the hands and respiratory tract, since one should not forget that there is a breeding ground for viruses and dangerous bacteria that got there along with dust from the air. They can easily enter the body, which threatens with serious diseases, even for a person with excellent immunity.
Next, the air conditioner must be disconnected from the mains. It would seem that this is an understandable action for everyone, but sometimes they forget about it, and remember it only at the moment when the first electric shock occurs. Well, if it is light, only in the form of tingling ....
Then, it is recommended to cover the floor area under the air conditioner with plastic wrap, which, after cleaning the device, is best to simply throw it away. It is especially important to protect the floor surface if the air conditioner long time worked without maintenance, and a large amount of dirt accumulated in it.

Procedure for general cleaning of the indoor unit

Sometimes it is necessary to clean only the filters of the instrument, as they are the first to get dirty. I must say that washing them yourself is not difficult at all. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out this procedure almost weekly, making it a rule to perform these simple steps before cleaning an apartment or house. Naturally, such frequent preventive maintenance is necessary if the device is used constantly.

If the climate equipment is put in order regularly, the house is kept clean, and thanks to this, the dust does not have time to clog all the pores of the fine filters and the coarse cleaning cells, then it is enough to dry clean with a vacuum cleaner.

If the filters of the air conditioner are heavily clogged, then they will have to be additionally washed with special detergents, and then with water.

Detergents are purchased in specialized stores for climate equipment or in service centers for its maintenance.

Illustration	Brief description of the operation to be performed
	So, the first step is to open the front cover of the air conditioner, on which the protective grille is located. This process is simple, especially since all owners need to do it quite often, checking the degree of contamination of the device. Next, the coarse filters are carefully removed. They can also be fixed in different ways. So, in some models, they can be removed without even opening or dismantling the front panel.
	Then the cover covering the fasteners is removed. AT various designs this panel can be fixed in different ways - in some models it is enough to simply remove it from the latches, while in others it has to be unscrewed.
	In this model, the plastic case of the indoor unit is fixed with screws located at the bottom of the structure. They are closed with protective plates, which must first be opened. For convenience, you can use a regular screwdriver - it picks up the closing screws of the cover, and then unscrews the fasteners themselves. Work must be done carefully, as plastic parts- quite brittle. Having unscrewed the fasteners, it is also necessary to dismantle the display panel connected to the electrical part of the air conditioner from the housing. This element, together with the wires, must be temporarily placed to the electrical unit.
	After unscrewing the screws, the plastic case of the air conditioner is removed. In different models, it is also fastened in different ways, therefore, having unscrewed the screws on one side, you should not pull the case. It must be gently pulled towards you, and if it is not removed, then you will have to look for places where it is additionally fixed. Next, the fine filters should be removed from the air conditioner.
	The next step is to make sure that the electrical unit of the device is protected from splashes of disinfectants and detergents, as well as water jets. Ordinary hospital shoe covers are perfect for this purpose - thanks to the elastic band located on them, they will fit snugly against the device, and the protection will not fall during operation.
	Now it's time to prepare for cleaning. For this purpose, you can use a large, durable plastic bag, but this "device" cannot guarantee reliable protection surfaces of the room from getting detergents on them together with dirt from the air conditioner. In specialized stores or on online trading platforms, you can purchase a kit specifically designed to protect the floor and walls during the cleaning of climate equipment. This set is more convenient, since it provides almost everything necessary elements both for fixing it, and for diverting dirty water into a bucket.
	Service package includes a large plastic bag special form with a funnel in the lower central part, on which a plastic spout is attached for easy fixing of the outlet hose. In addition, it contains a polyethylene apron installed between the wall and the bottom of the air conditioner, holders like stationery, with which the stiffening ribs inserted into the edges of the bag are fixed, and a tape for hanging it under the air conditioner. Unfortunately, the kit does not include elements that act as stiffeners, as well as a hose for draining dirty water. Therefore, you will have to take care of these details yourself. To do this, you need thin plastic or metal tubes, or even ordinary wooden glazing beads, which are used for fastening window glass. The length of these rigid inserts should be: 600 mm - 2 pcs. and 1200 mm - 2 pcs. The section of the hose should correspond in cross-section to the diameter of the spout fixed on the plastic bag - so that it fits snugly against the drain spout.
	In the bag along its edges, channels are provided in which stiffeners must be installed and fixed with stationery holders. A belt is fixed on one side of the package, with which the package will be hung on the air conditioner. When ready for use, this fixture looks something like the one shown in the illustration.
	Next, an apron is taken - this is an ordinary polyethylene sheet, which is slipped under the body of the device and with the help masking tape fixed on the wall. It will protect the wall from getting dirty lumps of wet dust. Then, a package with stiffeners is hung under the air conditioner, the belt is put on top of the device body. After that, a hose is put on a plastic spout, the second end of which is lowered into an ordinary plastic bucket standing on the floor.
	Further, if thick layers of dust are found after opening the indoor unit of the air conditioner, they can be removed with a soft brush or collected with a vacuum cleaner. After such a superficial removal of accumulated deposits, it will be easier to flush structural parts from more deeply ingrained dirt.
	After removing the external dust, you can proceed to the preparation of a washing disinfectant solution. It is made from products specially designed for cleaning the air conditioner. The solution is mixed in accordance with the proportions indicated on the packaging of detergents. To apply the solution, you will need a spray gun, in which the jet can be adjusted according to the spray diameter.
	next step ready solution applied to all elements of the indoor unit. Especially carefully it is necessary to spray the fan and radiator of the device. A huge amount of dust collects on the impeller blades of the fan roller, which eats into the surface of the material from which it is made. Therefore, it is simply impossible to clean this part of the air conditioner from dirt without special tools. The radiator is equipped with numerous heat exchange plates, between which dust also accumulates, and it is quite difficult to remove it with plain water, so you can’t do without special equipment either. The disinfectant cleaning solution should cover all the details of the structure, since if unwashed areas remain, they will later become a favorable place for fixing new layers of dirt.
	Detergents are usually applied in two stages. Liquid detergent disinfectant (in this case, Alfadez) is sprayed first, followed by Winns 30202 detergent, which is sold in cans and gives a rich foam that helps to better soften and peel off the dirt. After the detergents are applied to the surfaces of the indoor unit, they must be left for some time, approximately 20-25 minutes, so that the solutions corrode the outer and inner dirty layers. When the foam has settled, a control check can be made to see how easy the dirt will be removed.
	After the foam settles, you can start flushing the split system with water supplied under high pressure with a thin stream. With self-washing, you can use the same spray gun, but this will take a lot of time and a large amount of water.
	When flushing the system, the dirt on the bottom of the air conditioner body will drain into a plastic bag suspended under it, and from there into a bucket. It is important to ensure that the container is not overfilled, as dirty water and disinfectants can seriously damage the flooring.
	Flushing the indoor unit of the split system starts from its rear. Then the radiator is thoroughly washed, after which it is necessary to clean the inside again, since dirt from the heat exchanger grill may be on the surface of the fan blades.
	At a time when the indoor unit will soak under the influence of detergents, you can clean the parts of the plastic case removed from the structure. They are also sprayed with disinfectants and detergents. If necessary, the dirt on them can be rubbed with a soft brush, and then these structural elements are washed under running water.
	In addition to the rigid parts of the body, it is necessary to rinse the coarse air filters. First, they also need to be sprayed with detergents. Then they are left for a while - until the dirt is separated from them, and then washed under running water.
	The filter is washed, but not wiped - the water should drain from it spontaneously, and it should dry naturally. When washing the filter, do not use ordinary detergents, as they can negatively affect not only the filter itself, but also the indoor unit of the air conditioner. In addition, one should not forget that the molecules of solutions household chemicals subsequently enter the air of residential premises.
	It is more difficult with fine filters, since among them there are options that cannot be washed, and dry cleaning will not bring results, and therefore they will have to be replaced with new ones. So, I would like to remind you that replaceable filters include coal, antibacterial, antioxidant, and also vitamin. Washable filters include electrostatic, photocatalytic, plasma and zeolite filters. New replacement filters are usually sold at air conditioner service centers or at service centers of manufacturing companies.
	When all the insides of the unit and all the parts removed from it dry well, you can remove the hanging bag and shoe covers from the electric unit and assemble the air conditioner in reverse order. The fine filters (new or washed) are returned to their place, then the washed housing is fixed, the indicator panel is fixed to it, and the coarse filters are installed last.
	Now that the cleaning work of the air conditioner has been completed, you can turn it on, check its operation and proceed to normal operation, until the next maintenance.

Cleaning the drainage system of the air conditioner

One of the common problems that air conditioner owners face is water leaking onto the floor or walls from the indoor unit. Most often, leaks occur for the following reasons:

Due to pollution drainage system appliance when condensate cannot pass through the clogged pipe and therefore starts to drain from the indoor unit into the room. In this case, the drainage system must be cleaned. Drainage clogging occurs due to the fact that the air conditioning units were not cleaned in time - the dust turned into dirt and clogged the tube.
If the amount of freon (refrigerant) in the system is reduced, then the temperature of the evaporator also becomes lower, therefore frost forms on it and water does not pass into the pan, and also flows down to the floors of the room.
If the air conditioner does not have a pressure regulator, then when the temperature drops outside, the pressure drops and in the system, as a result which also reduces the temperature in the evaporator. However, it should be noted that pressure regulators are usually installed in all modern models of air conditioners.
Freezing of the drain pipe - this occurs if the air conditioner is used in winter to cool the premises.
Another cause of stagnant phenomena in the drainage is wasps or other flying insects, which quite often clog the edge of the pipe located on the street.

If the drain pipe is clogged, then before proceeding with its cleaning, it is imperative to flush the drain pan, as well as other elements of the air conditioning system. Work on cleaning the drainage is carried out with the device turned off from the network and is carried out in the following order:

The first step is to remove the coarse filters.
Next, the lower narrow panel is dismantled, hiding the body mounts to the air conditioner.
Then the drainage pan is removed - in each design this operation is carried out differently, but it is not difficult, and it is quite possible to figure it out on the spot. It is necessary to remove this structural element in order to clean it of dirt, and also in order to get to the hole into which water flows from the pan and to which the drainage tube is connected.

The next step is to disconnect the drain tube from the air conditioner and connect the compressor hose to it ( hand pump), a steam generator or a vacuum cleaner with a blow function.

Another option for cleaning can be a mechanical method. To do this, take a long, enough hard, but at the same time, a flexible wire (something like a television cable is good) that goes into a drain disconnected tube or directly through a hole in the tray. It is pushed through the entire drainage system. Thus, it should appear from the pipe facing the street, through which the condensate escapes.
However, these are not all the steps necessary in this process, since it must be taken into account that the cork was removed from the tube, but the dirt in it still remained in the stacks. When the air conditioner is running, new dust will easily stick to these residues of dirt, and the plug will be restored. Therefore, the tube must be thoroughly rinsed. This can be done with a pump or homemade device, consisting of plastic bottle and a piece of silicone hose put on her neck.

To flush the drainage tube, it is recommended to use chlorhexidine, which is an excellent antiseptic and is sold in a pharmacy. For flushing, approximately 400 ml of liquid will be required.

If flushing will be carried out through the drain hole, that is, without removing the tube from it, then the flushing liquid can be poured through it. The bottle with chlorhexidine has a spout, which allows you to perform this procedure without the use of improvised means. After 15 ÷ 20 minutes, the system must additionally be purged with a vacuum cleaner or pump. After cleaning the system, it is recommended to check it immediately. To do this, one and a half liters of ordinary water is poured into it again using one of the methods described above, which should freely pour out through a pipe on the street.

In the event that the air conditioner is equipped with a drainage pump, that is, condensate is not discharged to the street, leakage may occur for the following reasons:

Failure of the pump - it may not work at full capacity or even burn out. In any case, the device must be checked, and for this it will have to be removed.
If the float chamber is clogged and the float is fixed in one position, the pump will stop discharging water.
The float or proximity sensor does not work.
Air tube is kinked.
Insufficiently good contact of the pump power terminals.

To find the cause of problems in models with a drainage pump, you will have to invite a specialist in the repair of climate equipment. It is not recommended to meddle in this system yourself.

Automatic air conditioner cleaning system

Some modern models air conditioners are equipped with an automatic cleaning system. The principle of operation is quite simple - with a certain frequency, the device switches to idle operation, and the air passing through the filters dries all the details of the structure.

In addition to the usual automatic cleaning, ionic air purification is installed in some models. Thanks to the latter, dust particles are ionized, so they easily fall into the dust collector. In another version of the devices, water ionized dust is used to protect against the occurrence of unpleasant odors - this is a system of full ionization and filtration.

In addition, such air conditioners are usually equipped with touch sensors that can control the composition of the air. If necessary, they give a command to the automatic cleaning system to turn on.

These features extend the life of your air conditioner and make it easier to maintain. However, do not think that you will not have to clean the device manually or call a wizard for this purpose, since automatic system will not be able to remove and wash its filters, and this is necessary to do, one way or another.

Find out and also read the criteria for evaluating devices in a special article on our portal.

Cleaning the outdoor unit of the split system

The design of the external unit of the air conditioner

Now, having figured out how to clean the indoor unit of the split system, you need to consider how the preventive work of its external part is carried out.

Unlike the indoor unit, the outdoor unit is washed once a year, but it is still necessary to do this, as it is clogged not only with dust, but also with leaves, poplar fluff, small twigs and other debris. From this it becomes clear that it is absolutely impossible not to clean this part of the air conditioner. It is most difficult to carry out preventive measures if the device is installed on the upper floors multi-storey buildings, in this case, you can not do without specialists.

The design of the external block consists of the following blocks and parts:

1 – Fan, occupies a large part of the body of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner. Its functions are to blow the heat exchanger-condenser.

2 – Capacitor located along the inner walls of the case, near the fan. It is a set of copper tubes, inside which freon is pumped, which is cooled by a working fan.

3 – Compressor ensures the circulation of freon in the general closed circuit conditioner. This device is of two types - piston and spiral. The piston version of the compressor is more affordable, but less reliable, unlike a piston device. This factor is especially important, given the conditions of low winter temperatures.

4 – Control board, but it is only in air conditioners inverter type. In other climatic devices, all electronics are located in the inner case, since the outer natural factors may adversely affect electronic components.

5 - Four-way valve it is installed only in models of reversible type air conditioners, that is, capable of not only cooling, but also working for space heating. This control unit is necessary to change the direction of freon movement when switching the device to heating mode. After that, in fact, the outdoor and indoor units change their functions - the outer one starts to work for cooling, and the inner one - for heating the air pumped through it.

6 - Fittings there are both on the indoor and on the outdoor unit, since copper pipes are connected to them, connecting the air conditioner department into one common refrigerant circulation system.

7 - Filter for cleaning the refrigerant is installed in front of the compressor and protects it from the ingress of small particles and copper chips, which often remain in the circuit during the installation of the air conditioner.

8 - Protective cover, covering the terminals of electrical cables and fittings. However, in some models, this cover is provided only for electrical connections while the valves remain open.

Cleaning the outdoor unit of the air conditioner

Cleaning the external unit of the air conditioner can be done by hand only if it is installed in a private house, and you can safely work from a stepladder, or on the balcony of a high-rise building. Independent work at a height without special equipment, an insurance system and experience is strictly prohibited!

The cleaning process is carried out in stages, in the following order:

The first step is to turn off the device completely.
Next, the front panel of the outdoor unit is dismantled. Having removed it, the owner will surely immediately see the whole volume upcoming work.
First, all large debris found in the case is removed - it is he who slows down the operation of the air conditioner. Large debris is usually removed by hand, and no tools are required for this process.
The next step is to remove dust layers from hard-to-reach places in the case. For this purpose, brushes of different widths and a hand-held vacuum cleaner are used.

The fan blades can also be vacuum cleaned and, if necessary, wiped with a damp cloth. Produce wet cleaning Care must be taken so that water does not get on the electrical contacts. If it is necessary to use a large amount of water to wash the fan, then the electrical box should be covered with plastic wrap.
The capacitor has smooth smooth surfaces, so it will not be difficult to clean it - this can be done with an ordinary damp cloth or sponge.
Before reinstalling the front panel, it should also be thoroughly rinsed and dried.
Do not touch the electrical unit of the device. Its repair and prevention should be carried out by specialists.
Turning on the air conditioner can be done only after it has completely dried.

Learn how to do and also check out a few simple models with step by step instructions, in a special article on our portal.

At the end of the topic, I would like to give a few useful tips, which will help not to make mistakes during the operation and cleaning of climatic devices.

When purchasing an air conditioner, it is recommended to conclude an agreement for service maintenance device. During warranty period it can be done free of charge.
Timely preventive maintenance will extend the period of trouble-free operation of the air conditioner and save you from many problems.
It is recommended to entrust the first cleaning and disinfection of the air conditioner to specialists from the service department. At the same time, it is worthwhile to carefully monitor how they carry out preventive measures, in order to then use their experience when performing independent work.
If the air conditioner began to malfunction, then you should not think that the malfunctions will go away by themselves. It is necessary to disconnect it from the mains and call the wizard for diagnostics and possible repairs.
If you decide to clean it yourself, then you need to use special detergents and disinfectants. In addition, to clean the radiator of the indoor unit, it is convenient to use comb brushes, which are designed specifically for this purpose.

Cleaning the air conditioner will be better if you use a steam cleaner for it. A jet of hot steam not only removes dirt, but also carries out preventive disinfection of structural parts.
Assembly and inclusion in the network can only be done after complete drying of all parts of the air conditioner.
Do not start the air conditioner when detergents are applied to its internal surfaces and the fan. It is extremely dangerous to do this, as water can get into the electrical unit of the device, which will cause a short circuit in the network. In addition, the dirt accumulated on the fan blades will scatter throughout the room, hitting the surfaces of the walls, ceiling, floor, furniture and other interior items.
In order for the device to serve for a long time, it is necessary to follow all the rules for its operation specified by the manufacturer in the instructions.

So, from all of the above, it becomes clear that it is quite possible to carry out work on cleaning climate equipment on your own, if you know the design of the device and the procedure for carrying out this process. If the owner can carry out the preventive maintenance of the air conditioner on his own once and understand all the nuances, he will no longer have to call the master for this purpose, since the specialist will only be needed to solve more serious problems.

And, probably, an interested reader will find a video story useful in which an amateur craftsman shows how he cleans his air conditioner on his own.

Proper care of the air conditioner allows you to enjoy its excellent work longer and get cool on hot days. In this article, the online edition " " talks about how to properly care for the air conditioner and split system.

Many consumers, when buying an air conditioner or a split system, forget to take care of them for years, which leads to a quick breakdown of the split system. Therefore, it is very important to adhere to the basic rules for caring for the air conditioner during operation.

The first thing you need to watch is the filter inside the block. Filters trap dust and dirt, do not allow them to get into the air. In order for the filters to collect dust well, they should be cleaned once every three months. For rooms with flooring in the form of a carpet or carpet, the filter is cleaned once a month. If the filters are not cleaned in time, the air conditioner performance deteriorates. Once a year it is worth calling the master who will carry out a complete cleaning of the split system. If the air conditioner has not been cleaned for a long time, then the equipment will have to be cleaned using special solutions.

The second point, which allows you to maintain the operation of the system, is associated with the timely refueling of the air conditioner with freon. Freon is a substance that cools the air and without it the operation of the air conditioner is impossible. If this substance leaks, the equipment will stop working. It should be noted that freon leakage is possible with poor-quality installation of a split system. Therefore, after installation, it is necessary to check the reliability of the vacuum. Refueling the air conditioner with freon is recommended to be carried out once every two years.

Freon leaks are easy to spot. First, the air in the room will not be cooled to the desired temperature. Secondly, ice or frost forms on the fittings of the outdoor unit. If freon leaks, turn off the air conditioner and call the wizard.

In winter, the air conditioner works to cool rooms where a lot of equipment is located or to heat the room. In the latter case, the system is not recommended to be used, because it will not be able to heat the room to the desired temperature. The air conditioner must be adapted for operation in winter time. If this is not the case, then when turned on, the condensate does not flow through the pipe, since an ice plug forms. As a result, the condensate is poured out.

For the operation of a split system in winter, it is required to install a device that will heat the compressor crankcase, the heating controller of the outdoor unit and drainage for insulation.

If you follow all the rules for caring for an air conditioner, it will last about 15 years.

Thus, proper care behind the conditioner is as follows:

Timely cleaning of filters;

In the event of a system malfunction, call service specialists;

Once every 2 years, carry out a complete maintenance of the air conditioner;

Do not use the system in winter if it is not equipped with special devices.

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Due to the use of advanced technologies and high-tech components, modern split systems can do a lot: filter, cool and purify the air, cope with a huge amount of work in large rooms, work throughout the year, etc. However, the quality of their work and service life depends entirely on compliance with the rules for operating the air conditioner.

Maintaining an air conditioner is a daily responsibility of the buyer: having bought an air conditioner, you are obliged to ensure that it is properly maintained or, in extreme cases, constantly monitor the timing when a scheduled technical inspection is required.

This means that in order for your air conditioner to serve as long as possible, you need to know about those cleaning and maintenance measures that you have to do regularly.

We clean the filters of the indoor unit

This is the same unit that is placed indoors and supplies you with fresh cool air. You should be aware that ensuring the cleanliness of the filters of the indoor unit of the air conditioner is not included in the mandatory warranty service activities, however, if you ignore this procedure, you can get unpleasant consequences. The fact is that if the filters become dirty, this leads to a significant deterioration in heat transfer, which contributes to the formation of ice on the radiator of the air conditioner. It is clear that when the device is turned off, the ice will melt and water will flow from the block. Similar unpleasant consequences will also make themselves felt if the drainage system of the air conditioner is contaminated, since the contamination of the filters of the indoor unit forms a blockage inside the drainage pipes.

All this can be prevented by simple filter cleaning procedures. The filter itself is fine mesh impermeable to dust and various small particles. Depending on the level of dust in the room, additional linings can be inserted into the filters to provide more effective cleaning air. In order for the split systems to work smoothly and efficiently, the filters of the indoor unit must be washed well with a stream of water at least twice a month.

Refill with refrigerant (freon)

Freon is a very specific gas that inevitably seeps through internal communications. Refrigerant should not be allowed to leak, if it is not enough, it may disrupt the operation of the air conditioner or completely disable it. In modern split systems, there are special indicators, sound or light, which, in the event of a decrease in the amount of freon in the system, will promptly give a signal about this. Such a signal will mean that it is time to call specialists and refuel the air conditioner with gas.

If the leak is natural, then refilling the air conditioner with freon can be done once every one and a half years. However, with poor-quality installation of the air conditioner, when the leakage occurs in significant volumes, the system must be refueled more often.

Cleaning the outdoor unit of the air conditioner

Cleaning the outdoor unit is also the most important step in air conditioner maintenance. Usually produced by service center specialists and is also not included in the circle warranty obligations. The outdoor unit is cleaned at least twice a year: in the spring - before the active operation of the split system and in the summer - during or after the invasion of poplar fluff. Summer is also rich in an abundance of dust, urban dirt and insects, which causes serious blockages outdoor block. Therefore, sometimes during the summer it needs to be cleaned twice.

Getting your air conditioner ready for winter

Most air conditioners that are supplied to our country are not subject to operation in the winter. The device is turned off in the range from 0 to -5 degrees, at which the operation of the air conditioner is undesirable, since at this temperature the drainage system begins to freeze, and the operation of the compressor is complicated. Before the onset of severe frosts, you need to do a preventive cleaning of the system and turn off the air conditioner from the mains.

But in general, operation in winter is quite possible, it is just necessary to supply the split system with a special adaptation kit that protects internal communications and provides reliable performance in cold weather.

All of these air conditioner care procedures must be taken seriously. Indeed, often simple preventive maintenance will prevent complex repairs, additional material and time costs and, most importantly, increase the life of the air conditioner for many years.

Air conditioning can do a lot to alleviate the summer heat. However, unlike other household appliances it needs cleaning and maintenance. During operation, the air conditioner pumps huge volumes of unclean air through itself. Also, the outdoor and indoor units of the air conditioner are constantly in contact with condensed moisture during operation. Therefore, cleaning the air conditioner is mandatory.

How does an air conditioner get dirty?

Unlike other household appliances, such as a TV or microwave, changes in the operation of an air conditioner accumulate gradually and are not striking. However, these changes are taking place. Factors affecting the degree of wear and pollution of the air conditioner:

- air humidity;
— degree of air pollution;
- the height of the air conditioner above the ground.

Air conditioners located on the upper floors (12th or 15th) “swallow” less dust than their brothers near the ground, where there is more dust in the air. There is a lot of dust near highways, enterprises, quarries. worst enemy conditioner is poplar fluff. All this accumulates on the radiator fins in the outdoor unit and significantly reduces the efficiency of heat exchange between the air that must be cooled and the freon in the system. If this pollution is not eliminated in time, then the temperature of the freon will begin to rise in the system, the load and the compressor will increase, and wear will begin.

In a special sump compartment of the air conditioner, along with moisture, which should be there, dust and dirt are collected, which are washed off the radiator. This often leads to clogging of the drain pipe through which the condensate drains. As a result, the condensed water will not be drained into the sewer, but will be collected at the bottom of the outdoor unit. The result is that water will begin to flow from all possible openings of the air conditioner. In winter, frost may form on the block, in warm weather, mold or fungus can start.

If you do not maintain and clean the air conditioner, then over time problems may appear with indoor unit-evaporator. Due high humidity a favorable microclimate is created in the indoor unit for the reproduction of fungus and microorganisms. As a result, the air begins to acquire bad smell mold.

Air conditioners are equipped with filters to clean the air. As a result of clogged filters, the performance of the air conditioner decreases and its energy consumption increases. Ultimately, all this significantly reduces the life of the air conditioner.

Method and frequency of cleaning the air conditioner

To avoid unpleasant consequences, it is necessary to carry out preventive cleaning of the outdoor and indoor unit of the air conditioner. Manufacturers recommend clean the entire system 2 times a year:

- in the spring before the start of operation;
- in the autumn before its transition to the off-season mode.

Caring for the air conditioner will allow your system to fully develop its resource without additional repairs. The resource of a split system is from 7 to 12 years, depending on the class of the device and its type.

Cleaning the indoor unit filters

The indoor unit filter is a fine mesh. A mesh is located under the front panel of the air conditioner, through which air is sucked into the device. The filter captures dust from the air, which helps protect both the home and the air conditioner radiator.

Caring for air conditioner filters includes washing them warm water. Next, the filter must be dried. It is very easy to remove the filter from the air conditioner, as well as to install it. Here you will be helped by the instruction for the care of the air conditioner, which describes in detail how to do it.

The filter of the indoor unit should be washed once every 2-3 weeks. However, if there is a lot of “dirt” in the air, flushing should be done more frequently. The main criterion is that the filter must remain clean.

If the air conditioner filter is not maintained, then:

- the airflow of the radiator of the indoor unit of the air conditioner decreases;

- the air in the room is cooled much worse;

- the operating mode of the refrigeration system of the air conditioner may be disturbed. As a result, the copper piping of the air conditioner may freeze. And when the air conditioner is turned off, the ice will start to melt and the air conditioner will “drip”;

- possible contamination of the drainage system. If a lot of dust accumulates on the filter, dust balls will be created. The result - water from the air conditioner will flow in a stream;

Cleaning the air filters

The air filters in the indoor unit of the split system must be cleaned once a week. These filters run on an electrostatic effect, so a small amount of dust or other dirt on them greatly interferes with the filters to do their job.

It should be noted that the maintenance of the air conditioner filters should be carried out by the owners of the devices themselves, since this is not included in the warranty service.

Cleaning the heat exchanger of the indoor unit of the air conditioner

Such an action is carried out at least once a year. The procedure for cleaning the heat exchanger of the indoor unit of the split system:

— open the front grille;

- remove the front grille;

- then with a vacuum cleaner or a brush with a long bristle, we clean the heat exchanger fins. Please note: when performing this operation, it is easy to injure your hand and damage the heat exchanger. Therefore, everything must be done very carefully.

Control of normalized freon leakage

Freon leakage in the air conditioner occurs constantly. Even the most quality installation air conditioner, since the interblock connections of pipelines are carried out by flaring. Rationing freon leak 6-8% per year.

If the refilling of freon in the air conditioner is not carried out for more than 2 years, then its critical drop may occur - below acceptable level. Since the air conditioning compressor is cooled by freon, if the freon level is low, it can overheat, the site writes, and then jamming. The cost of replacing an air conditioner compressor is half the cost of the entire air conditioner. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the level of freon, although this requires specialized equipment, as well as for refueling the air conditioner with freon. Therefore, if a decrease in the refrigerant level is detected, it is necessary to contact specialists.

However, by the mode of operation of the air conditioner, you can determine the presence of freon leakage. Signs of leakage (reduction) of freon:

- the formation of ice (hoarfrost) on the union connections (this is the place where copper pipes are connected);

— insufficient cooling of the room. It must be remembered that the temperature difference at the inlet and outlet of the indoor unit of the air conditioner is equal to at least 8-10 ° C in normal operation.

The listed actions for cleaning the air conditioner can be performed on your own, but you can contact specialized companies. The cost of cleaning the air conditioner is from 250 to 300 UAH. Plus - specialized firms have the set of equipment and tools that consumers do not have. Specialists will not only carry out preventive maintenance of the indoor unit, but also diagnose the outdoor unit, check the condition of the radiator and drainage system, eliminate minor malfunctions or refuel with freon. Specialists can purge the air conditioning system with a special gas or chemical reagent to eliminate all kinds of pollution.

Automatic air conditioner cleaning

Today, air conditioner manufacturers, trying to attract customers, introduce additional features into the design of the unit that contribute to smooth operation systems and in some cases performing the functions of automatic cleaning. Their essence boils down to the ability of the air conditioner to drive air through the system, drying the baths and the heat exchanger.

Ionic air purification will be used. A special device binds oxygen or nitrogen ions from dust microparticles, thereby giving them a certain electrical charge. Such particles are much easier to capture with a dust collector, which has an electrical potential. In some models of air conditioners, ionized water dust is used for air purification, multi-stage air filtration and ionization systems that can eliminate odors.

Sensors in some air conditioners control the composition of the air and at the right time can start a self-cleaning system. All this, of course, useful inventions, they are able to provide high purity of the passed air, but it should be understood that not a single air conditioner will remove the filter from the indoor unit and wash it in warm water.

Seasonal preparation of the air conditioner

1. Preparing the split system for the summer season. Before the start of the warm season, it is necessary to clean the heat exchanger of the external unit of the air conditioner, check the device in all modes. It must be remembered that cleaning the outdoor unit, as a rule, is not included in the warranty service. To carry out these measures for the care of the air conditioner, it is necessary to involve a specialist.

2. Preparing the air conditioner for winter. In most cases, air conditioners sold in Ukraine are not equipped with an adaptation kit for winter operation. Air conditioner manufacturers are countries where winters are much less severe than in Ukraine. Temperature regime split systems without adaptive complex down to -3°С. At lower temperatures, the operation of the compressor becomes more difficult and the drainage system may freeze. If an ice plug appears in the system, then the condensate that forms during the operation of the air conditioner will not be discharged through the drain pipe, and after a while (usually 30-40 minutes of air conditioner operation in cooling mode), water will flow from the indoor unit of the air conditioner.

Any air conditioner can be adapted to winter. Adaptation is the integration of a compressor crankcase heater and an outdoor unit speed controller into the air conditioner. Installation of a "warm" drainage is possible. The adapted conditioner can work the whole year.

Care professional advice

- maintenance of the outdoor unit is not the lot of housewives, since it requires certain qualifications, access to the unit hung behind the balcony is not always easy and not always safe;

- disassembling the air conditioner to a non-specialist can result in equipment breakdown;

- when buying and installing an air conditioner, it is best to conclude a service agreement;

- it is best to entrust the first two or three cleanings of the indoor unit to specialists and, having adopted their experience, do it yourself in the future;

- clean the filters of the indoor unit at least once a month;

- if the air conditioner does not function normally, you must immediately turn it off and contact the service. Signs of a bad air conditioner copper pipes frost has appeared, water is dripping from the indoor unit of the air conditioner, the air conditioner does not cool the air well, the split system works with crackling or other extraneous sounds);

- do not turn on the air conditioner without an adaptation complex for winter at an outside air temperature of less than 0 ° C;

- follow all the rules for caring for the air conditioner, since failure to follow them may lead to the loss of the warranty for the device.

Choosing the right split system for your needs is only part of the story. It is also important to correctly mount it. The choice of specialists who will install the air conditioner should be taken seriously - after all, poor-quality installation can affect the efficiency of the device and its reliability in the future. Manufacturers recommend contacting authorized assembly organizations whose specialists have experience working with equipment of this particular brand. Otherwise, installation errors are not ruled out, which can lead, for example, to freon leakage and subsequent failure of the compressor or, if the electrical connections are incorrectly switched, the air conditioner electronics.

Refueling is possible at the level of the 15th floor and above

Air conditioners need regular inspection by specialists. In the case of a household cooker system, it is advisable to inspect twice a year - before the start of the season (spring) and after it (autumn), if this is not possible, then at least once a year - in the spring. Split systems operated for a long time with a high degree loads (such as those installed in offices) need more frequent inspections.

What happens if you leave the air conditioner without scheduled inspections? Its performance depends largely on effective work heat exchangers. However, over time, their surfaces become contaminated with dust, fluff, etc. If the dirt is not cleaned periodically, the heat transfer will deteriorate and, as a result, the operation of the air conditioner will become less efficient.

However, the poor performance of the split system is not so bad. Much worse, dirty heat exchangers can lead to overheating of the compressor and its failure. In addition, over time, the system may leak refrigerant, which threatens to reduce the performance of the air conditioner, and in some cases, the failure of the compressor. Therefore, leaks also need to be detected in advance.

Conduct Maintenance split systems should only be specialists with both equipment and skills for this kind of work. They will check the condition of the air conditioner, its operating parameters, if necessary, clean the filters and heat exchangers of the split system, and if they detect a freon leak, they will refuel with the required type of refrigerant.

Scheduled inspections of climate control equipment can also be carried out by specialists of the company that installed the air conditioner (if the contract provides for it), but you can also contact another organization that provides such services. It is important that the service company is authorized to work with the brand of equipment to which your air conditioner belongs.

It must be said that the manufacturers of split systems themselves guarantee the trouble-free operation of their models only if the operating rules are observed. Some companies may refuse warranty repair if it turns out that the instrument has not undergone a proper annual inspection by specialists.

I clean the filter myself

Maintenance of the outdoor unit of a split system should be left to professionals (especially since it is usually located at a high altitude, and only people with special equipment and skills can get to it). But the user himself can take care of the cleanliness of the indoor unit.

Cleaning the indoor unit of a split system is necessary not only for the sake of extending its service life, but also for own health. The fact is that condensation forms in the indoor unit during the operation of the air conditioner. High humidity and an abundance of dust create a good environment in the device for the development of bacteria and mold fungi.

This focus is doubly dangerous because microorganisms can spread throughout the house with the air flow and cause diseases. Therefore, you should not neglect cleaning the indoor unit - you need to periodically wash the case, clean the fan blades and the heat exchanger (this can also be done with a vacuum cleaner), rinse or replace filters in a timely manner (if they are replaceable).

Of course, many manufacturers try to keep this work to a minimum - they make self-cleaning filters, cover the surfaces of the housing and heat exchangers with antibacterial or dirt-repellent compounds, and use dehumidification systems. However, cleanliness is still necessary.

Get a replacement!

Special attention deserves the issue of replacing obsolete or failed models with new ones. Split systems, as you know, consist of two blocks (internal and external), connected copper pipes through which the refrigerant circulates, as well as interconnection wires.

The technical parameters of all elements of this system (number of wires, diameter and design of pipes) may vary depending on the brand, performance and features of each particular model. Therefore, it is possible to install new blocks on pipes already laid in the walls only when all the parameters of the old and new models match - and it is not so easy to choose such a replacement.

As a result, in most cases it is necessary to completely change the entire system and lay new pipes. Things may be somewhat easier if new model- the same brand as the old one, they may have the same many parameters. Some manufacturers even specifically provide for the easy replacement of their equipment with updated versions.

AT last years On the market, there was a massive replacement of split-system models operating on R22 refrigerant with new models on R410A refrigerant. This happened in connection with the tightening of requirements for the environmental safety of freon mixtures.

Therefore, owners of air conditioners filled with R22 freon (such models were very popular in the Russian market due to the combination of low cost and good performance) may encounter problems when replacing a device that has served its purpose.

It is impossible to install new equipment operating on R410A freon on tubes from a model using R22. Rare exceptions are split-systems with R410A refrigerant with the possibility of installing them on tubes from R22 without prior flushing of the lines.

It goes there - it blows cold, it turns back - it will be warm

Most modern split systems can not only cool the air, but also heat it. This is possible thanks to the " heat pump": the device swaps the functions of the heat exchangers, as a result, the indoor unit begins to give off heat to the air, and the outdoor unit - cold.

Under good conditions (not very low temperature outside the window), air conditioners heat the room even more efficiently than, for example, electric heating appliances. After all, the latter are not able to produce more than 1 kW of heat per 1 kW of electricity consumed, while the split system will cope with this task. It spends electricity not on heating the air, but on transferring heat from one medium (outdoor air) to another (indoor air) through the operation of the compressor and fans.

But still completely replace heating appliances air conditioners will not be able to - when the off-season changes to winter, the heating capacity of the device will begin to fall little by little. After all, the lower the outdoor air temperature, the lower the efficiency of the split system. And at very severe frosts appliances and will not be able to work for heating at all. Therefore, a decrease in the thermal power of devices with a decrease in outdoor air temperature is a natural phenomenon, and not a consequence of a split system malfunction.

A significant part of the air conditioners that are supplied to the Russian market are able to heat the air at frosts of about 5-15 ° C below zero, although some models are specially equipped with the so-called winter kit - they are more “frost-resistant” and work even at 20-30 ° C . So that the condenser of the outdoor unit does not freeze when working for heating in cold weather, many companies provide for the possibility of automatic defrosting of the heat exchanger.

Caring for the indoor unit does not require much effort from the owner: it is enough to periodically wipe the case and monitor the condition of the filters. Over time, air filters become clogged and can even become a source of pollution themselves. Therefore, they must be washed in a timely manner (if they are washable) or replaced with new ones.

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