Window air conditioners are good at keeping a room cool but do need maintenance to work properly.
One of the maintenance requirements needed is cleaning the coils inside and outside so that air can flow past the coil and remove heat from a room.
If the inside coils become clogged, no air can blow past the coil’s fins, which will cause the unit to stop working properly.
A filter will be in place, which should be cleaned often to keep debris out of the coil.
If the inside coil has become clogged with dirt and other debris, cleaning it is easy enough.
Be sure not to bend the coil fins, which will block airflow if bent.
Also, be sure not to use any chemicals that may blow bad air into a room.
If a cleaner is used, be sure it is certified for cleaning the coil, so as to not have a chemical smell in a home.
How To Clean the Indoor Coil on a Window Air Conditioner
- Open the Front Panel
- Spray the Unit with Water or Cleaning Foam
- Allow the Unit to Dry and Then Test It
The first thing that needs to be done is to get inside the front panel of your unit.
Each unit is built differently as to how to gain access to the inside coil.
Some will have a latch that opens up, while others will have the front faceplate held in place with screws.
If the unit can be taken outside, then it is much easier to clean, although not necessary, and can be cleaned inside.
Water needs to be sprayed into the fins to remove the debris.
Using plain water in a spray bottle will work well to get water in-between the fins.
A unit can also be taken out of a home and clean with a hose outside. If a hose is used, be sure not to use high water pressure, as too much pressure will bend the small fins that dissipate heat.
Bending a few fins will not block much air, but bending too many fins will block the air, which the unit needs to work properly.
The main goal is to get out any dirt or other debris that has built up, blocking the air from coming into a room.
Once everything is cleaned and dry, the unit can be plugged back in and tested.
If the inside electronics became wet be sure wait until it drys out as to not cause any issues.