You can definitely hose down your window air conditioner after a deep cleaning without damaging any of the electrical components if you follow some important tips.
Window air conditioners are accessible and efficient, but you may have to compromise on a few factors if you have this type of air conditioner.
Fortunately, you can hose down your window air conditioner after you have removed it entirely for a deep cleaning without damaging any of the unit’s electrical components in the process.
The advantages and disadvantages of window air conditioners
Window air conditioners are an accessible entry into home air conditioning for most owners, because the units are not as expensive as full central air systems are and they are fairly easy to install.
Although window air conditioners can only really be used for a single room at a time, they are highly efficient. This type of air conditioner works best at a place where it will not obstruct your view but will provide adequate cooling.
Can you hose down a window air conditioner?
There are many disadvantages and advantages to installing a window air conditioner in your home, but the best way to maximise the advantages is to keep your window air conditioner well-maintained and cleaned.
To do this, your air conditioner needs to be cleaned beyond the regular filter cleaning and wiping down the exterior of the unit.
This can be a bit tricky with window air conditioners, as you need to remove the entire unit from the window for a thorough, deep cleaning.
The benefit of removing the whole unit from its position entirely is that you can hose down your window air conditioner with your garden hose.
Hosing down your window air conditioner with a regular garden hose and regular pressure is perfectly safe to do and it can be an effective way to remove any of the cleaning solutions left over from the cleaning process.
Air conditioners have some moisture throughout when they operate normally and because of this, these window units are usually well-insulated and can be hosed down.
However, there are some tips to consider about hosing down your window air conditioner that you should keep in mind to ensure that you are not damaging any of the unit’s components and are working safely.
It is also crucial that you understand why it is so important to hose down your air conditioner after you have cleaned it, so that you understand why this is such a popular method to use to clean and maintain window air conditioners.
How to go about hosing down your window air conditioner
Although you can try to just hose down the external part of your air conditioner, it is best to take the whole unit out of your window and even to take it apart to really get the most out of the cleaning and rinsing process.
This includes removing the screws along the front, back, sides, and top of the unit, so that you can remove the front and back panel and expose the coils, as well as the compressor and fans of your air conditioner.
You can also remove the side insulating panels, if they are removable, and the air filters to clean and hose them down separately.
Tips for hosing down your window air conditioner without damaging the components
Although window air conditioners are generally well-insulated and hosing down your unit should not cause any damage to the electrical components inside it, there are some tips to follow that can ensure that you definitely do not cause any unnecessary damage to your window air conditioner by hosing it down, such as:
- Ensure that the unit is unplugged before you start
- Work in a steady stream from the top to the bottom of the unit
- Get an adjustable spray nozzle for your garden hose so that you can adjust the pressure
- If you notice the fins on your coils bending, stop hosing down the unit immediately and lower the pressure
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Why hosing down your window air conditioner is important
It is vital to make sure that you rinse your air conditioner properly after you have cleaned the unit, to ensure that there is no cleaning solution or dirt trapped between any of the components.
When this dirt and cleaning solution builds up in the air conditioner it can cause additional stress on the components, which can lead to more wear and tear over time.
Hosing down your window air conditioner with a garden hose gives you a high volume of water and decent pressure to ensure that all of the dirt and cleaning solution has been flushed out of the system, which is why this method is so popular.