If money is tight, the last thing you want is to pay for an AC cleaning. Why hire it out when you can do it yourself? Here is a step-by-step guide to basic air conditioning cleaning. However, it is important to note that if your AC unit is under warranty and the warranty warns you against cleaning the unit yourself or else it will become void, it is best to get professional AC cleaners to do the cleaning for you.

1. Gather the materials you need to open up the machine and the cleaning supplies needed for the unit. Rags, a plastic scrubber, water with dish soap, and clean water (you can use the garden hose) are all you need. If the unit is a bit greasy from being exposed to cooking (like an AC unit in the kitchen) or from being exposed to outdoor elements, you might need to use a stronger cleaner to cut through the grease. Just make sure to rinse it well. You also will probably need some screwdrivers or ratchets to take apart some inside and outside parts of the unit for deep cleaning.

2. Unplug the AC unit if you are able. If there is an on and off switch, then turn it off. It’s best if all power is cut off when cleaning the unit so you can turn off the breaker to the electric circuit feeding the unit and surrounding areas. Be sure to double check with an electrical reader to make sure that there is no power going to the unit before working on it. You don’t want to get electrocuted or have your hands chopped off by the fan so don’t forget this important step.

3. Take pictures or take note of how the machine is put together so that you can put it back together properly later before taking it apart. Have the manual handy to know where you can begin to take it apart or to learn the different parts of the machine. Take apart the protective shell from the unit. Be careful not to hit any electrical wires or coils. Unscrew any screws and take apart any bolts. Store all the small parts like the screws and bolts in a small clear bag so that they’re together and will not get lost. It’s frustrating to have one missing bolt when putting things back together later.

4. Vacuum away cobwebs with a shop vacuum and wipe away dust with a rag. Wash the metal shell parts that have no electrical or coils. You can wash them down with a soapy rag to get rid of any residue and dust and then the parts can be rinsed free of soap with fresh water. If you’re in a hurry, you can just spray the metal shell parts clean with a garden hose.

5. If you have an inside AC unit, check the manual to see how you can take off the plastic filters inside. You can gently wash these plastic filters with soap and then rinse them with fresh water for a quick clean.

Have you had your air conditioner installed by Brisbane Air AirConditioning & Electrical? If you have any questions about the maintenance and cleaning of your particular air conditioning unit, don’t hesitate to talk to them. They can give you the best tips on how to keep your AC clean and working well for a very long time.

If you live in a tropical climate, then you will agree that air conditioning has got to be one of the best things ever invented. Without it, we couldn’t even mention where sweat would travel to or collect. Not only does air conditioning cool you down, it contributes to a more efficient work environment as well. The system itself is very simple. It’s nothing more than two coils, pipes, and refrigerant. As the cooling cycle begins, the refrigerant starts to circulate where it heads to the outside unit, releases heat, and cools down it then takes a U-turn back to the inside unit and is released as the cool air that we love. Enough boring stuff, what we really want to know is how we can keep costs down.

How can you keep things economical?

If we’re not careful, the above process can leave us feeling a little pain in our wallets. What can we do to maximize energy savings? What is the most efficient temperature? Some people like to set the temperature at 16 degrees Celsius as soon as they get inside. Be careful with that because you’re asking your air conditioner unit to do a lot especially if the temperature outside is really hot. Sometimes setting it to too low of a temperature will overwork the unit because it just might not be able to reach that temperature that you have set it to. So what can you do? Some say that 24-25 degrees Celsius is the perfect temperature setting for the machine. This is a temperature that your air conditioner will be able to maintain without having to overwork. Overworking it will only mean that your power bill will be huge at the end of the month. Remember, every degree that you change can mean huge energy savings in the long run. You need to find a balance between comfort and the perfect temperature setting for the unit.

Besides the above information, there are some other practical things that can help you save on power. In the summer, make sure to use curtains, blinds, shutters or anything you can get your hands on to cover your windows, thus providing shade inside your home. Experts say this will reduce heat absorption to almost 80%.

Make sure to keep up the maintenance on your air conditioner. Depending on the model you purchase, there will more than likely be filters that are re-washable that if dirty can cause a lot of problems.

Where is your outdoor unit located? Sometimes people will maintain the indoor unit but completely neglect the outdoor unit. Remember that both units are equally important.
On a regular basis, check to make sure that your air conditioning unit is free of debris that has started to pile up around it or on it like cobwebs. Debris will stifle air flow making the machine work harder and making it use more power.

Whether it’s setting your unit to the ideal temperature or keeping up with the maintenance, there are a lot of things that can help it to work more efficiently. However, no matter how much you maintain it you will at least once a year need to call in a professional like Brisbane Air AirConditioning and Electrical to give it a thorough clean. Don’t try to do it yourself. There are electronic parts that if wet could completely destroy your air conditioner. Once cleaned, you will immediately notice a change in air quality and savings in your power bill.

Did you know that you can check your area air quality in real time? That’s just what the Real-time Air Quality Index Visual Map does. If you want to spend a lot of time outdoors on any given day or want to do some hard labour or strenuous exercise outside, you can check the air quality outside first by going online and typing into the search engine to see how the air quality is in your area. With this tool, you will be able to see if there are any dangers lurking in the air such as wood smoke from a forest fire or pollutants that have been released into the air by accident. At the moment, if you look at Australia’s Real-time Air Quality Index Visual Map, you can see that the air quality in major areas are green or gauged as good. However, there are a few major areas in the yellow or moderate section meaning the air quality is okay but for people with sensitivities, the air quality has a few pollutants that might irritate them. When the air quality in any given area becomes red, violet, or even darker red, then it is hazardous to be outdoors being exposed to the pollutants in the air. If people are outdoors at those times when it is hazardous to be out, their health can immediately start to suffer. What can you do if your area is prone to bad air quality and you are not able to move out? Here are some things you can do to lessen the effects of poor outdoor air quality on your health.

1. Stay away from areas where there are a lot of cars running or areas where there is a lot wood burning. If you can’t avoid traffic or are in it every day when commuting, always make sure your car air conditioner is running and your windows are sealed tight. Make sure the air filter in your car is cleaned regularly or more often than is necessary to keep the air quality in your car better than outdoors.

2. Wear a mask that filters air if riding your motorcycle for your commute to work. If there is wood smoke temporarily in your area, it’s best to wear a mask as well when outdoors for that time. Although it might not look nice on your face, at least you’re protecting your lungs.

3. If you suffer from chronic lung conditions, it’s best to not go outdoors at that time and make sure your medications or respirators are with you at all times.

4. Make sure you install a good air conditioner or air cleaner that filters out pollutants from the air coming in from outdoors. Brisbane Air AirConditioning & Electrical can install for you the best air conditioners with filters that give your home great indoor air quality. You can breathe easier (literally) by having clean air circulating in your home. Always remember to have your air conditioner cleaned and maintained regularly as well to continue to have breathable air in your home.

5. If you have to go outside, don’t do any exercise or strenuous work so your lungs aren’t working hard while being bombarded with pollutants. Do your exercises at home or at a gym where they have good air conditioning and air filter systems that keep outdoor air pollution at bay.

Remember to use common sense. When pollutants are about, don’t go out.

How has your health been lately? Have you experienced any of the following symptoms: dizziness, headaches, ear infections, hearing loss, sneezing, nosebleeds, fever, chills, muscle pain, rashes, asthma, lung cancer, watery eyes, redness, nauseas, vomiting, coughing, or throat irritation? The list is long but if you are dealing with any of the above problems, what do you think could be the culprit? According to one report, these things could all be caused by poor indoor air quality. Some of the worst culprits for indoor air pollutants are tobacco smoke and biological sources. Let’s take a look at some ways you can detect and deal with bad air quality.

How is the air in your home? Is it stuffy or smelly? It’s time to do something about these things. You need to figure out ways to get better ventilation in your home. We can get in the habit of locking our place up like a prison cell. We shut the doors and windows and this completely stifles air flow. You need to have a balance because you don’t just want to open up all the windows because there is a lot of pollution that lingers outside as well. So what can help? Something that has become popular is trickle ventilation. This screen will fit on most windows and will not only let air in but filter it at the same time. This will allow your house to breathe a lot better.

Turn on your air conditioner. If you don’t have one, then get Brisbane Air to install one for you. There are a lot of things floating in the air that will cause bad air quality. The air conditioner will remove water from the air, thus removing pollutants in the process. HEPA air filters are something that work well with AC units. You can also purchase HEPA air filters that are stand alone units. They usually use a fan that will suck in air and clean it. Be careful as they are a little noisy.

Make sure to check your appliances that use gas. You need to ensure that these burn clean because if not, it can contribute to bad air quality. Make sure to contact a technician who can come and clean the jets on your gas appliances. Its been said that these irritating gases can cause wheezing in people that don’t even have asthma. When using your stove keep your window open and turn a fan on.

Clean your home wisely! What does that mean? If you’re not careful, your cleaning products can contribute to poor air quality. VOCs or volatile organic compounds can be found in some cleaning products as well as paints and some floor polishes. These VOCs can go into the air as a gas and cause irritation. Good cleaning products to use are fragrance-free cleaners or ones that say they have little to low VOCs.

We all love them, but the truth is the air quality in your home will improve if you do what you can to keep your pets outside. If you find this something that will be difficult to do then at the very least try to keep your pet outside of your bedroom. Of course, regular dog grooming will go a long way.