How to Clean Your Air Conditioner

Jul 20, 2020

How to Clean Your Air Conditioner

We would like to share with you how to clean an air conditioner (AC) filter in Japan.  There are several types of air conditioners used in Japan, but we will focus on the two most common types; the air conditioning unit, and the central air conditioner.

Cleaning Unit Air Conditioner Filters

Cleaning the AC filter is considered the tenant’s responsibility, but it is also in the renter’s best interest to do so because cleaning helps to reduce power consumption (cheaper power bill) and prevents the growth of unpleasant smells from the air conditioner.  Especially if you have small children in your house, we recommend you to clean them once a month.  The manufacturer recommends every two weeks!

To clean a unit air conditioner, you will need:

• Air conditioner cleaning product (product options (Amazon)    (Suggested Product (Amazon)
• Unnecessary papers (i.e. newspapers)
• Towels

Here are the steps to follow to clean your unit air conditioner.

1. Open the panel.
2. Take out the filter (s).  Be careful because the parts can be fragile.
3.  Take the filters to the bathroom or outside of your house and spray the filter from about 20cm away with either water or cleaning product. If using a product, bubbles will spray out onto the filter. When the bubbles disappear, rinse the filter in water.
4. Wipe the filter dry with the towels.
5. Put the filters outside in the shade to dry, on the “unnecessary papers.” ※Do not use a hair dryer, as the filter shape will warp in the heat. 
6. Return the clean and dry filters to the device, and you are done!

Cleaning Inside Your Air Conditioner 

More care than just cleaning the filter is required to avoid the potential of fire with your AC. Of course, it is easier and more reliable to ask a professional to do this, but the following points may help you do it yourself.

1. Before cleaning, read the manual. It shows how you how to open the AC cover, separate the parts, and will make the whole thing simpler for you.
2. Turn off your AC and unplug it. A simple, but important step in avoiding injury!
3. Avoid a cleaning method that may damage the AC. For example, using a hard scrub brush on the cover, or inserting a stick into the vent itself.
4. Keep in mind that you cannot “deep clean” inside the AC. You are limited to the cover, filters, fins, and other visible parts. To go further than visible areas, you will need to consult a professional who will dismount and clean the device for you.

Using AC Cleaning Spray

1. Use the right spray for the specific part you are cleaning. There are different sprays for different parts and using the wrong one could cause your AC to malfunction.
2. Cover parts with plastic sheets carefully when spraying other, specific parts with the correct spray.  Incorrectly using sprays on the wrong parts could cause your AC to malfunction. Additionally, there are electric cables around the fins that are hard to see, so be careful!
3. Be careful of water leaks, or clogged drain hoses. AC cleaning sprays, when used incorrectly, may cause water leakage or clog the drain hose completely.
4. Do not use AC cleaning sprays on or near electric cables, as it could start a fire.

Anytime the AC is plugged in there is the potential for fire, There is a possibility of fire anytime the AC is plugged in, even if it is not on. If you smell smoke, or something doesn’t sound right, stop using the AC immediately and unplug it before you call for professional maintenance.

Professional cleaning is recommended every 1 to 2 years. Calling a professional will make this process more painless and convenient, as well as offer less chance of mistakes creating an unsafe situation in your home. If you understand the risks and still plan to do this on your own, be VERY careful when you clean your own AC.

Cleaning a Central Air Conditioner 

Next, if your house has a central heating system, please watch the s quick video tutorial by our President, Bryce Conlan: How to Clean Your Central Air Conditioning Unit.

Santeri Viinamäki [CC BY 4.0], from Wikimedia Commons

Cleaning drawings used from Panasonic air conditioner manual.