Ducted air conditioning

The air conditioner is one of the most important appliances in the home, it’s responsible for maintaining a comfortable climate all year round. Over time, the internal parts can accumulate a significant amount of dirt and grime. As a homeowner, it’s important to know how to clean split system air conditioner, window air conditioners or any air conditioning appliances to ensure they continue to operate well throughout the seasons.

What is the difference between air conditioning units?

Ducted A/C – Ducted air conditioners cause air to be sent through ducts, allowing each room in the house to be cooled at the same time.
Split system A/C – This type of air conditioner uses different components from both an outdoor and an indoor air conditioner. The indoor air conditioner has filter and distribution components, it’s usually mounted high on a wall and controlled with a remote. The outdoor unit houses the condenser fan and compressor parts.
Window A/C – A window air conditioner features everything needed to cool the room in one main unit. It’s mounted in a window cavity and cools or heats that particular room.
Portable A/C – Portable air conditioners are designed to cool a single room and sit on the floor. This type of AC is compact in size, which makes it easy to move to different rooms of the house.

Outside air conditioner unit/Condenser fan / Source: Hobart Heating And Refrigeration

Materials and tools

Screwdriver – Remove the exterior parts with a screwdriver
Stiff brush or duster – A stiff brush will make it easier to clean some of the parts and remove excess dirt
Vacuum – A vacuum is necessary for suctioning dirt and grime in the hard-to-reach places
Antibacterial solution – This product will disinfect the internal components of the AC, including the inside fins to ensure the air is clean and healthy to breathe
Coil cleaner – This product is a spray that works well for stripping dirt and grime from the coils
Fin comb – A fin comb is necessary for straightening the evaporator and condenser fins

How to clean an indoor air conditioner

Turn off the power – Turning off the power ensures it’s safe to clean all the different parts of the air conditioner. Shut off the breaker or unplug the air conditioner from the outlet, depending on what type of unit you own.
Check your manufacturer’s instructions – If you want to learn how to clean an air conditioner, read the owner’s manual to determine what the manufacturer recommends to avoid mistakes or causing damage to the parts. There may be certain types of cleaning products or tools that you should use depending on the specific model you own.
Clean your filter panels – Clean the filter panels by removing the front panel. Remove the filter and use a soapy water solution to clean and rinse it thoroughly. It should completely dry before installing it back onto the unit.
Vacuum the AC filter – If you want to learn how to clean air conditioner filter, you’ll need to gently vacuum it with a hose that has a soft bristle attachment. Disposable filters aren’t designed to be cleaned and reused.
1. Soak the AC Filter – Soak the AC filter in soapy water to remove the build-up of dirt and grime.
2. Spray the AC Filter – Spray the AC filter with clean water to remove all the soap.
3. Dry the AC Filter – Allow the AC filter to dry for several hours before you reinstall it onto the unit.
Clean your air conditioner’s louvres – Wipe down the louvers with a cloth. If you can remove them, soak the louvres in detergent before rinsing the soap off and allowing it to dry before reinstalling.
Clean the exterior unit – Clean the exterior of the air conditioner by using a damp cloth. This will remove excess debris that has accumulated. If you want to learn how to clean air conditioner vents, start by unscrewing the vents. Use a scrub brush and vacuum cleaner to remove the dirt.

Ducted air conditioning / Source: Eco Air Services

How to clean an outside air conditioner unit

Disconnect from power – Disconnect the air conditioner unit by shutting turning off the main power switch. This will allow you to safely handle the parts without the risk of electrocuting yourself.
Remove AC grill & clean – Gently unscrew the AC grill and hose it off. Direct the spray at different angles to remove more of the dirt that is hiding in the small crevices.
Clean the AC coils and fins – If you want to learn how to clean air conditioner coils, you can do this by hosing off the unit. Spray from the top of the unit and work your way down. Use a fin comb to straighten the fins and loosen any debris, cobwebs, etc.

Contact local air conditioning technicians

How often should you clean your air conditioner?

Weekly – Run the ‘dry out’ program if your air conditioner has it for added convenience.
Quarterly- Dust the filter screens and wiping down any ducts or vents with a soft damp cloth.
Annually – Clean the outdoor unit and remove any vegetation or obstructions that are present, which can affect the operation of the unit. Spider webs that are present also need to be removed. Hire a professional technician to service the air conditioner to ensure they can inspect all the parts and determine if any potential issues are present. An air conditioning technician will also know how to clean air conditioner if you want to leave the work to an expert.

How do you hire an air conditioner technician?

If you want to hire someone who knows how to clean ducted air conditioner filter, it’s important to find someone that has several years of experience in the industry to ensure they’re qualified to perform the work. They should have the proper qualifications and certifications to ensure they can get the job done correctly the first time.

Ask the technician for at least three references to ensure you can contact their customers. It’s also necessary to look up their license to verify they’re qualified to provide you with AC services.

Ducted air conditioning is one the most popular means of maintaining a desirable temperature in a home. The best part about ducted air conditioning is that it can be used for heating and cooling as well.

Characteristics of a Ducted Air Conditioning System

A ducted air conditioner consists of a main compressor to cool the air and a series of ducts that then distributes the cooled air through the house. For total convenience, you can also select a reverse-cycle ducted air conditioner capable of both cooling your home in summer and heating it in winter. The base unit is installed either on the roof, under the floor, or outside on a deck or concrete pad, depending on your home. The air conditioning system can also be fitted with energy efficient inverters that monitor the internal temperature and cycle on and off at the energy level needed to operate.

Ducted air conditioning is a subtle option for keeping your home cool and comfortable / Source: Clear Finish Painting & Decorating

Advantages of a Ducted Air Conditioning System

Ducted air conditioning systems are suited for most buildings and have features that make them superior to other types of air conditioners. Primarily, a ducted system can keep your entire home at the same temperature. However, if energy efficiency is important to you and only need to keep parts of your house cool, you should consider a zoned system that can be programmed to operate in certain rooms at certain times. For example, you can cool the kitchen and living room during the day and the bedrooms at night.

Another advantage to ducted air conditioning systems is that they are hidden from view. The only part you see inside your house are the vents on the ceiling or the floor. The units are either outside or on the roof. This means no more losing a closet to an old-fashioned water cooler or having an unsightly window unit spoiling the appearance of your house.

However, ducted air conditioning system are not an out of the box solution. The compressor, the air handler, the ductwork, and all the wiring must be sized and installed separately. Talk with a professional who can design and install the correct size of system for your home. Too large a system runs inefficiently and too small a system runs up your bills without giving you the cooling you want. This is not a do-it-yourself project.

Factors to consider before getting ducting air conditioning

Understand the energy star rating system – Every air conditioning system is given a star rating based on the balance between energy consumption and the ability to heat or a cool. In technical terms, this rating is known as Coefficient of Performance (COP) for heating systems and Energy Efficient Ratio (ERR) for cooling systems. When you start looking for an air conditioning system, this is the first thing you should take into account.
Choose the right capacity – Depending on the area of the room that needs to be cooled or heated, you must decide the capacity of an air conditioning system. The capacity is directly proportional to the amount of energy consumed by a system and is measured in kilowatts(KW). It is crucial that you choose the right capacity according to the size of a room. If you choose a lower capacity system for a large room, the cooling won’t be efficient and the energy consumption will be sky-high. Follow this equation to calculate the ideal capacity – for the living area, choose a system which consumes 125 watts per square metre of space while for the bedroom, 80 watts per square metre is ideal. Also consider the height of the ceiling and the insulation mechanism of a room; a room with a high ceiling and open doors or windows will need a system with higher capacity.

How to increase the energy efficiency ofducted air conditioning?

Even after choosing the perfect air conditioning system, there are a few steps that can you take to maximise energy efficiency. Firstly, insulate the room by using double glazed glass; this will ensure that the cool air doesn’t escape the room. Secondly, set your air conditioning at the right temperature; a difference of a single celsius can reduce energy expenditure by almost 15%.

If you have a particularly large house, you can consider getting a zoned system, i.e. a system with separate motors in different parts of the house. This will lead to quicker and more efficient cooling, but it will also increase cooling expenses. To reduce expenses and save energy, ask your air conditioning experts about inverter technology. This form of technology adjusts a compressor’s speed according to the temperature of a room. This feature is very beneficial for people who live in areas with high temperatures where air conditioners are forced to work round the clock.