You can clean the coil fins of a window unit in a few ways and you can use water solutions to mist the fins for deep cleaning.
Having an air conditioner and enjoying the benefits of cooling in extremely hot temperatures can offer much needed relief from the uncomfortable humidity that can build up inside a home when it is hot.
The key to ensuring you always have a working air conditioner is keeping it clean. If you have a window air conditioner, cleaning it will help you keep it in good working condition.
Different components of the air conditioner need special attention, particularly those that play a crucial role in the actual cooling process of the unit, such as the cooling fins.
Cleaning window air conditioner cooling fins
In a window air conditioner, the cooling fins are located on the coils, which are responsible for extracting heat from the inside of your space, in order for the unit to cool it effectively.
The fins are a very delicate part of the coils, and they need to be cleaned cautiously, with extra care, since they can easily bend.
There are a few ways to ensure the fins are thoroughly cleaned in the process of cleaning the system’s coils, and you may wonder whether you can use water misters on the fins to clean them.
Can you use water misters on window air conditioner cooling fins?
The evaporator and condenser coils of a window air conditioner are made of small aluminium fins. The coils are an important part of the cooling process in that they remove heat from inside the home and expel it outside to make way for cooler air to enter the room.
The fins tend to get very dirty over time, and this can become a breeding ground for mould to develop. When you are cleaning the fins of the coils, you need to be extra careful due to their fragility and the fact that they are quite sharp.
To clean the fins, you can use a coil fin comb that cleans the area between the coil fins.
Alternatively, it is safe to use a bit of water to clean the coil fins for an extra deep clean. Water can be used in the form of spray to mist onto the fins for a thorough clean.
Make a warm water solution that contains a few drops of mild dish detergent in a spray bottle that you can mist onto the coil fins, then allow to sit for a few minutes before going in with a soft-bristled brush and loosening stubborn dirt.
Use the brush in the direction of the fins to prevent them from bending the wrong way. When the fins and coils look cleaner, you can wipe them down with a soft cloth to dry them.
Vacuuming the fins
It is worth noting that the fins do not necessarily need to be misted with a water solution if they do not need deep cleaning. They can also be gently vacuumed to remove dust and debris from the coils and fins.
Use a soft brush attachment and vacuum in the direction of the fins upward, to maintain a constant flow and avoid damaging the fins. If any of the fins do end up bending, a fin comb will come in handy to straighten them again.
Using a can of compressed air for the fins
Another method of cleaning the coil fins of a window air conditioner involves using a can of compressed air that can reach any nooks and crannies, especially between the fins.
Compressed air can help eliminate as much dust and dirt as possible, and you can use it just before going in with a water solution mister to clean any remaining dirt off the coils, and then after wiping them down with a soft cloth and letting them dry, and before reassembling and operating the window unit again.
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Check that all the fins are absolutely straight
After fully cleaning the coil fins, it is important to check that all the fins are thoroughly straight before reassembling the air conditioner once it has completely dried from cleaning.
If the unit’s fins are even slightly bent, they can affect the window air conditioner’s efficiency, which will not be good for the cooling process or for running your air conditioner, as running costs will increase if an air conditioner is struggling to cool efficiently.
Checking the fins as the last step in the cleaning process can help avoid any efficiency issues and will ensure that you have a window AC that is clean and in competent working condition.