Is this something people get done annually, every couple years or not at all?
It looks like more than just cleaning the filter, they use chemicals to remove any mould or grime built up etc.
Just wondering is this a necessary service?
If you don’t bother with such service and your a/c works fine, how long has your a/c been going without a clean?
You have a great landlord.
For my own house, I just hose down the intake filter just before summer.
I'd be doing it more often but I don't use my RC aircond for heating.
The intake filter on the unit outside? Can you pull it out?
Prob the filter insert in the internal split
Or from a comment below on ducted, maybe not!
Depends how often you use it. Could prob stretch it out to 18 months. Machines run better, and cleaner.
The guy I got in to clean ours showed us inside and it was caked in years of dust and mould
What do they actually clean?
Clean inside of what?
Inside the actual aircon. The filter and the machine itself. Open it up and wash it out etc.
Just do it yourself. It's not rocket science.
Yes, get it done. AC heads start to carbonise and spit out rubbish if you don't.
You have to breathe the stuff in. Clean heads and vents regularly, keep the unit clean from leaves, service as recommended
It looks like more than just cleaning the filter, they use chemicals to remove any mould or grime built up etc.
Yes its more than just cleaning the filters, its a chemical clean of the inside unit. Only needed every 4-6 years depending on how much its used and what for. ie cooling only creates wet coils on the inside that get dust stuck to it etc. So needs to be cleaned a bit more often. If its only used for heating, then its dry and less dust sticks etc.
We had ours done once at the 10 year mark.
Guys came out, checked the temp on every vent in the house, cleaned the filters and gave it a once over.
Happy we had it done moreso to make sure the unit was still working as expected.
Ducted or split?
Ducted
Thanks for the replies. How much did you guys pay and for what sort of system?
I think we paid about $250 for a full home ducted system. I just called up where we bought it from and they recommended someone.
We paid just under $300 for two units (split ACs). They were in good order after 10 years or so as we regularly clean them ourselves.
The filters that we got replaced we purchased direct from Fujitsu and they were like $10? Dirt cheap direct.
Learn to do it yourself if you have ducted - especially the intake vent. Otherwise you'll find the performance of the AC will rapidly decline if the filter is jammed with dust. I find I need to do ours about twice a year (half our house is carpet - but we have 2 pets and 2 kids).
Where do you get the chemicals and equipment from?
Just remove filter, clean(vacuum/wash whatever is easier) return filter.
Can't say i know anyone is chemically cleaning units for residential air conditioning. Will clean out drain pan and give unit a spray of general disinfectant if odour is an issue for customer.
You don't get much done in an hour which is all most people want to pay.
As long as you keep your filter clean that's majority of what gets done in a service.
Also keep your garden away from your AC unit outside, they like bugs about as much as you do. Don't use it as storage space either.
-Work in the AC industry
Yes bugs like to fry circuitry and air-con manufacturers do not like replacing that under warranty.
I just vacuum ours - if you washed it you'd just end up matting it badly and end up having to buy a new one.
Where is the drain pan?
@idonteven
Use a fogger, and something containing "high" concentration of Hydrogen Peroxide (5-15%), and something with polarity such as Colloidal Silver (10-100 ppm). Just note, this is toxic to plants, animals, and people. So once you set it, leave the house and don't use it for minimum 12 hours. It works, but requires you to set it up properly (close windows, doors, any holes and seals). Again, this works very well but it is harmful, be careful when using it, but it cleans better than most professional cleaners and is much cheaper in the long run.
https://www.oxypharm.net/en/?produit=nocolyse-one-shot
https://www.oxypharm.net/en/?page_id=1363
How do you do split air cons without voiding warranty?
You contact the importer or installer and get the information, if the installer was accredited by the importer you'd use them, otherwise ask the importer who they accredit.
I mean to DIY
Filter need cleaning whenever dust can be seen. For very rarely used split or car A/C that have a foul smell some ozone does wonders. But make sure you know what you do and adhere to all safety requirements.
DIY once every year or 18 months. Definitely getting help for pest inspection, gas/electrical safety inspection every 18-24 months or so.
What's a reasonable price per head in a multihead/split system?
We got quoted some outlandish amount (close to $1k) on our 3 head, 1 compressor system… and whilst I appreciate there's value in preventative maintenance, this just sounded crazy at least compared to what I remembered it cost back in Singapore where rental agreements included mandatory air cond maintenance/cleaning (receipts must be provided).
(and yes I'm aware very different market)
I do the filters of my ducted myself - allowed and encouraged by the manual - but still get the installer in to service the system yearly.
I've been in hotels and holiday rentals where they clearly never had the a/c serviced, I can pick an unmaintained/cleaned system within an hour of switching it on.
My health and comfort is worth a few bucks. Thankfully, my guy isn't gouging me for the services.
We clean the filter in the return air in the ceiling regularly. I didn't know there was anything else that needed doing, ours is 12 years old.
Clean indoor head unit filters, every 6 months if using for heat and cool. If dirty (can’t see thru them at all) then performance will be degraded especially on heat cycle. Drop back to 3 months. Set a reminder on your phone calendar app.
The chemical clean ppl describe here is just a spray foam into the condenser fins on the head unit. The idea is as the spray expands it brings out any trapped dust with it (rather than mechanically insert anything into the fins…. Like a brush etc which may cause damage to the fins). Then you just vacuum the spray off.
RE: the outdoor unit, keep it clear from plants and other stuff, wipe down with a wet cloth by hand to make it look nice, a feather duster type thing to get rid of cobwebs etc, a bit of bug spray around it won’t hurt if applied in areas that can be affected.
The chemical spray cans can be purchased from total tools, prob Syd tools, ebay, aircon/refrigeration supplies businesses. Google condenser cleaning spray.
Do it yourself. Paying for it is a rip off. The most difficult part of the process is opening the cover to get to the filters. (Which should last the life of the unit but are replaceable if damaged). And accessing the head unit if it is in a difficult position . Eg above a staircase, or way up high.
( I used to work admin for a business that installed RC SS A/C).
Yes, reverse cycle AC needs the filter pad on outlet duct cleaned every six months. I do it myself, just unscrew cover, slide out filter and take outside and squirt gently with hose to remove dust and fluff build-up. Allow filter to dry then slide it back in….pick a sunny day!!
Open up split systems (indoor) to wipe and vaccum them just before using them in late spring/summer. Haven’t cleaned the outdoor unit. Didn’t know what else to do and couldn’t find the manual. They work just fine. I’ll be asking a/c installer about cleaning when I speak to him about installing another unit later on.
Haven’t cleaned the ducted heating system. Been almost 4 years now, no issues (fingers crossed it remains this way). A couple of ducted heating installers said don’t bother getting people in for cleaning and ask the guy servicing ducted heater when they come around. Got it serviced twice, guy didn’t say anything about needing a clean.
Thanks for asking the question. I’d better go look for the manuals :D
Hope this helps.
When I was renting, landlord had air-conditioning maintenance guy over twice a year, before winter and summer really kicked in. The ducted system was about ten years old by the end.
I had the same firm in last month for a first check on our new ducted system installed in Jan 2020.
He cleaned all the filters, helped to move the more stubborn ducts and checked the air circulation around the compression unit outside, and said it was good for another 18 months. $250.
One tip was that we had a wooden louvred cover over the unit outside, and he advised us to get rid of it or put in mesh to replace the louvres, as it was reducing the airflow.
Any good youtube on how to clean split system?
If you have split in kitchen are where smoke and oils get to I suggest a full clean. To do this you need to remove the whole case to access the fins. Next hang a huge plastic bag under the unit they sell this for servicing aircons search on AliExpress.
Then vacuum the fins if there's any dust. Use a suitable fin comb if fins are damaged.
Next you need some of Aircon foaming cleaner where you spray the product on to the fins. Let the product soak then clean it with deionised water.
If your in a small bedroom, just simple clean the plastic filters regulary with water you are good to go.
Worked as my oldest friend's offsider for many years, he is a Fridgy/Electrician … just a few things everyone should be aware off, all domestic Air conditioning will not cool below 21c in humid areas, once the air reaches 20c the moisture freezes onto the cooling coil and this will eventually block all air flowing into the living space, this happened often when Window Rattlers were left on all night and heat load was removed and the unit froze the water in the air onto the inside coil, we often arrived and the unit had been turned off and defrosted and was working when we tested it, the only reason a Air Con unit has settings to cool below 21c is because in low humidity climates this is not a problem and it would also leave a manufacturer at a disadvantage if a competitors units seemed to be able to cool to a lower temp, the other reason units stopped cooling or heating when there was no physical/mechanical fault was a build up of dust on the outside coil, this meant cleaning the whole unit with a hose set to blast away the dirt and a hand brush, apart from that we did not use disinfectants.
I use this once a year, to clean the fins in the head unit of my split system.
https://www.bunnings.com.au/simple-green-750ml-air-con-clean…
Spray and rinse.
People with allergies and lung conditions should be replacing the filter media, not just hosing it out. There are basic filter materials that just protect the motor from dust and then there are good filter materials that remove a whole lot more.
I'd be keen for company reccomendations in Melbourne. Had recently booked Electrodry to clean 3x splits and some carpet in our place, but they cancelled with less than 24hrs notice and tried to rebook me a month later.
How do you know when the filter is ready to be replaced as opposed to cleaned?
Electrostatic filters develop holes, older style filter medium (Normally a mottled grey colour) should be replaced when it starts to thin or pill
My landlord/real estate agent sends someone out to do this every year. Full clean including the vents and replace filters in the central machine. Same for annual pest treatment & smoke alarm/fire door testing. I don't pay anything extra.