How Often Do You Clean Your Air Conditioner At Home

The standard air conditioner cleaning frequency is once every 1-2 years. Frequent airflow, cleaning, and ventilation can also reduce the frequency of air conditioner cleaning. Air conditioner cleaning is required as soon as you see black dirt in the air vents. The recommended times for cleaning are spring and fall.

Frequency of Air Conditioner Cleaning Depends on Lifestyle

• The optimal frequency of air conditioner cleaning depends on the frequency of use and lifestyle.
• Annual air conditioner cleaning is an appropriate frequency for pet owners and those who run their air conditioners for long periods.
• A cleaning frequency of once every two years is sufficient for living and dining room air conditioners.
• Furthermore, the frequency of air conditioner cleaning can be reduced even more depending on the care of the air conditioner that can be taken regularly.

Air Conditioner Cleaning as Soon as Mold is Visible

What are the situations in which an air conditioner cleaning business determines that an air conditioner should be cleaned immediately?

More than half of the air conditioner cleaning businesses say that air conditioner cleaning is needed immediately if black spots of mold stains are visible on the air vents and airflow louvres. If mold is visible in the air vents, they say mold grows heavily inside the air conditioner.

There are other ways to determine when air conditioning cleaning is needed immediately visually.

Air conditioner manufacturers also recommend that air conditioners be cleaned when the odour from the air conditioner or the heat exchanger is severely contaminated.

What Happens if I Don’t Clean the Air or Air Conditioner?

Since the inside of an air conditioner is difficult to see from the outside, it is hard to notice dirt even if it is not cleaned.

However, since air conditioners are susceptible to mold growth in the summer, the inside of an air conditioner will become covered with mold in one season if it is not cleaned.

What happens if air conditioner cleaning or cleaning is not done?

1. Mold in air conditioners may affect your health.
2. Accumulated dirt can cause water leakage.
3. Electricity bills will increase.
4. The life of the air conditioner will be shortened.

(1) Mold in air conditioners may affect your health

If you continue to use an air conditioner without cleaning it, dust will accumulate inside it, and mold will grow using the dust as a source of nutrients.

Humidity and dust inside air conditioners

During cooling, condensation occurs inside the air conditioner, increasing the humidity.

For mold that loves dust and humidity, the inside of an air conditioner that has not been cleaned is a comfortable place to grow.

If mold grown inside the air conditioner is left unchecked and used continuously, it can cause coughs, headaches, pneumonia, and other health problems.

Air conditioners should be cleaned and swept regularly to avoid leaving mold behind.

(2) Accumulated dirt causes water leakage

Suppose dirt builds up in the filter or inside the air conditioner. In that case, much condensation occurs inside the air conditioner, and water leakage may occur because drainage cannot keep up with the condensation.

Remove dust from the filter about once every two weeks.

Here is an article on preventing water leakage from air conditioners in different situations. It is easy to do and does not require special tools, so please refer to it.

(3) Electricity bill goes up

If the filter is dirty, the air conditioner will not work well, and your electricity bill will go up.

According to Daikin, a comprehensive air conditioning manufacturer, if the filter is not cleaned, the power consumption during cooling increases by 25%. Dust the filter every two weeks or so.

If the power consumption is 25%, the electricity bill is calculated at 27 yen/kWh per 1kW, which means that if you clean the filter.

(4) Shortening the life of air conditioners

Panasonic, a central home appliance manufacturer, calls for regular care of air conditioners because leaving them dirty will lead to a shortened air conditioner’s life span.

To keep using air conditioners for a long time, it is necessary to regularly clean them to the extent that you can do it yourself and clean air conditioners.

Regular care is necessary because leaving an air conditioner dirty will lead to reduced capacity and a shortened unit lifespan. Even if the model is equipped with a cleaning function, household odours and dirt will adhere to the fan and heat exchanger as the years pass. Please clean the inside of the central unit and filters regularly.

Does a Cleaning Air Conditioner Not Need to Be Cleaned?

Are you thinking, “I don’t have to clean my air conditioner because it has a cleaning function?

The “cleaning function of an air conditioner” is a convenient function that automatically cleans the filters and other parts of the air conditioner and collects them in a dust box or other suitable place.

The scope of what can be cleaned by the air conditioner cleaning function is limited to the air conditioner filter and some parts. If mould or dust is inside the air conditioner, it must be disassembled and cleaned using a high-pressure washer.

Suppose you are concerned about the odour and dust or feel the air conditioner has become less effective. In that case, we recommend that you have a professional business clean your air conditioner. We have an article that describes cleaning air conditioners with cleaning functions in detail. If you are interested, please take a look at it as well. The paper introduces the disassembled cleaning by a business in an easy-to-understand manner with images.

Is It Necessary to Clean Air Conditioners Installed in Rental Properties?

Air conditioners installed in rental properties will last longer and lower electricity bills if they are cleaned and serviced the same way as other air conditioners.

If you can clean the air conditioner by yourself regularly, and if you are concerned about the smell of the air conditioner or if you can see mold in the air conditioner, have the air conditioner cleaned by a business.

However, you need to consult with the landlord or management company about cleaning air conditioners installed in rental properties, as this can cause problems.

What to tell the landlord when contacting the air conditioner cleaning service

• Why do you want to have the air conditioner cleaned
• When did the problem start if there is a problem (unusual odour, noise, water leakage, poor air conditioning)?
• How often the air conditioner is typically used, and how often is it cleaned?

If you contact the landlord or management company for air conditioner cleaning, it may be possible to do the cleaning at no cost. For more information, please refer to the article describing air conditioner cleaning for rent.

Tips to Reduce the Frequency of Air Conditioner Cleaning

To reduce the frequency of air conditioner cleaning, take measures to prevent mold from growing as much as possible.

If you can postpone air conditioner cleaning for a year, such as from once a year to once every two years. Many mold prevention measures are simple and do not require much effort.

Tips to reduce the frequency of air conditioner cleaning

1. Internal clean or air blowing operation after cooling operation
2. Filter cleaning every two weeks
3. Ventilate the room
4. Drive air conditioner once a month, even when not in use.

1) Internal clean or air blowing operation after cooling operation

When the cooling function of an air conditioner is used, condensation occurs inside the air conditioner, and the humidity inside the air conditioner rises.

To dry the inside of the air conditioner where condensation has occurred due to the cooling function, operate the air conditioner with air blowing for about one hour after the cooling operation. Drying the inside of the air conditioner prevents the growth of mold.

Some air conditioner models are equipped with an “internal clean” function that automatically starts the internal drying function after air conditioner use. Leave the air conditioner as it is until the internal drying function stops.

(2) Filter cleaning every two weeks

To prevent mold from growing inside the air conditioner, it is essential to frequently remove dust from the filter and keep dust inside the air conditioner.

Filter cleaning does not require much effort as long as it is done regularly since all you have to do vacuum dust and rinse with water.

(3) Ventilate the room

Mold grows by feeding on dirt and dust.

Opening windows and running an exhaust fan to ventilate the room and expel dirt outside frequently will help prevent mold.

(4) Blowing air once a month, even when not in use

Dust and mold can grow inside air conditioners even when they are not in use.

Even during periods when the air conditioner is not being used for cooling or heating, it is advisable to operate it once a month to prevent dust and mold from accumulating inside the air conditioner.

Spring and Fall Are the Best Times for Air Conditioner Cleaning

Recommended time of year for professional air conditioner cleaning

The recommended times for air conditioner cleaning are spring, from late March to April, and fall, from late September to early November.

Advantages of doing air conditioner cleaning in the fall, from late September to early November

• Many businesses offer discounts because it is the off-season
• It is easy to make an appointment at the desired date and time
• Mold grows when air conditioning is used, so cleaning in the fall will keep it clean for a more extended period
• It is not hot enough to turn on the air conditioner (the air conditioner cannot be used during the cleaning)

Disadvantages of air conditioner cleaning in summer

• Difficult to make an appointment at the desired date and time
• Few businesses offer discounts
• It is hot without air conditioning (you cannot use the air conditioner during cleaning)
• In the event of a breakdown, it is impossible to repair or replace the air conditioner in plenty of time.

Disadvantages of air conditioner cleaning in winter

• Difficult to make an appointment at the desired date and time
• Few businesses offer discounts.
• It is cold when the air conditioner is not turned on (the air conditioner cannot be used during the cleaning)
• In the event of a breakdown, it is impossible to repair or replace the air conditioner in plenty of time.
• However, if the situation requires immediate air conditioner cleaning, request air conditioner cleaning immediately regardless of the time of year.

How to Choose an Air Conditioner Cleaning Business That Will Not Fail

Before requesting air conditioner cleaning from a professional service provider, here are some things you need to know about the price quotes, the work to be done, and how to choose an air conditioner cleaning service provider without making any mistakes.

Air conditioner cleaning cost rates

The cost of air conditioner cleaning varies depending on whether the air conditioner has a cleaning function. The air conditioner cleaning quotes that can be booked at Market are as follows.

Prices will depend on when and where you request. You may have a discounted price setting if you order 2 or 3 units at once. Please take a look at our list of air conditioning cleaning.