How to clean a window air conditioner, remove the mold and make it smell better.
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- Опубліковано 2 лип 2024
- How to clean a window air conditioner, remove mold and mildew and help keep your A/C cold and smelling fresh!
This SPT air conditioner was still running strong after 5 years:
amzn.to/2RDmFE0 - Навчання та стиль
Most people don't realize the importance of cleaning the units. I was one of them. I through out an old unit full of mold and replaced it yesterday and also started running an air purifier. My cough that I've had for a year is 90% gone already. No telling how toxic that was.
What air purifier do you recommend? In search of one.
@@SJP43 Buy a $20 box fan and tape a 20X20 top rated, 4 inch thick A/C filter to the back of it. $50 investment max. If you want to spend more; Germguardian or similar off of Amazon. Buy an extra filter too or you will never think to change the filter.
@@johnyracercat Do you mean tape filter to the back of box fan and set box fan in close proximity to the window unit?
@@Utubin Yes. Just keep the filter in the same room anywhere. Make sure the airflow through the filter is correct and tape off the sides. Air should only be pulling through the filter.
@@johnyracercat thank you brother.
Stay safe. :)
this is probably the laziest way to clean the ac. just the way i like it. lol!
Thank you for the info. My new window unit stopped cooling as well after 4 months, and like yourself I cannot remove the unit. Followed your steps, and works great! Bravo!
Thank you so much for this vid! Our AC needs some desperate TLC & we couldn’t find anyone around us that services this sort of AC (just central/split units). This is not only an easy way to clean it ourselves, but also MUCH cheaper than hiring out!
Dude! I cleaned mine today with tilex! Worked great all clean will put in window tomorrow and fire it up!
Tilex is brilliant! We were having horrible allergies and when I checked our window AC today I noticed the output vent inside was caked with black mold - will be getting Tilex tomorrow for sure.
Loving your Bob Ross brush cleaning/rinsing technique, although missed the little giggle part afterwards. Thanks for the tut! :)
Thank you sir! I'm going to do this when I get home! I just happen to have that same cleaner already, so YAY!!!
Your comments and responses to those commenting are sarcastic as hell, I fricking love it, your hilarious!!! Keep doing you;)
Thank you dear ;)
I have 2 Frigidaire models. I take mine apart and remove the styrofoam each year and it's not that difficult. The mold can get really bad in there. Just 2 pieces of foam. Easy to take apart the unit, just alot of screws. They are all the same size so you don't have to remember which screw goes where. There is nothing like a good clean AC unit on the first hot day of the season.
Sweet, next time im doing this
The front fan draws in air through the fins and expels it through the Adjustable louvers at the top of the unit. Blowing air in the front just blows the dirt deeper into the fins and cooling exchanger; not a good idea in my book, I vacuum mine out. In the rear of the Air conditioner the air is blown out the rear of the air conditioner, so water can be used to some effect to flush the heat exchanger by washing from the rear outside in. the dirt and grime will go out the drain hole in the bottom of the unit., however, we live in the country in farming area and I take the units outside and remove cover , then flush with water as there is a lot of water and crud.
I have that same STP AC, very powefull unit, but it's kinda loud. It was smelling like mold. Thanks for the video
Oh...that makes sense. Welive in a 3 level townhouse...4 air conditioners...and they are quite heavy for us ..also, sealing them in worked well for 7 years rather all the uninstalls for 4...as well it made sense to leave them year round. However, after 7 years we now discover mould inside one and it explains why my one daughter has been feeling sick with constant headaches! So to be safe, after warching your video...I’ve removed all 4 and the waste management is picking them up. I think we’ll try installing ceiling fans next year and maybe buy a couple of Dyson fans too...$1,000. For that...and the 4 window a/c’s were also $1,000. For 7 years but at what cost to our health breathing all those mould spores?!...but your info is excellent for sure...if we had a man for the heavy lifting and taking the units all apartfor sure...not to mention all the lifting and carring those units up and down the 2 flights of stairs to the outside to maintain each year. Thank you for your advice and all the info and vids,:)
Wow that is a lot of air conditioners! Sounds like it would be more of a pain maintaining all of them. Have you looked into a swamp cooler or duct style central air system? My sister has toxic mold syndrome, from living in it and now she is working on several treatments. Its not pretty.
Yooo that thumbnail for this video is legendary!!!! Thanks.
If you window AC is spitting water in your house like mine is doing in humid New Orleans. Get a product called Damp Rid. It comes in small mini packets. Place inside the unit near the vents & wola it suck up all the water.
If it is dripping inside it is because of one or two reasons. There may not be enough pitch meaning it is not leaning back enough usually 1/4 in tilt is sufficent. It should look like this guy's unit good tilt for drainage. Or your drain channel that lets the water drain from coils to the outside of unit could be stopped up not allowing it to drain. Hope this helps.
Fanblades be slapping the water splashing funk all up in the air....mmmmm
Your method was a bit too slow so i ended up just taking out the AC unit but was too lazy to take it apart and ended up chucking it in the pool to clean itself. About 28 hours later i bought a new one
Great guide
Seems legit
Exactly what i needed just bought it and on startup had a mold smell
Jazzy music 🤣
Thanks for the information. 👍🏻
Ima try this tonight or tomorrow morning!!
Thank you.
Realy helpful
Id like to add, if you do accidentally bend them, you can get combs specifically to comb them out. Fin combs
I love that you made it look so easy. That's what I want! I do not have a compressor but have canned air. My question is: When I hose the back, it likely will not be totally dry nor will the front for that matter. Is it safe to start using it right away or do you have to wait until the unit is totally dry? I have seen it both ways on youtube.
Wow awesome. I bought a smoker house.doing remodel and the ac unit is filthy Mcnasty
Love it! Thanks 👍
This is an easy way to clean a unit but won’t last if there’s mold on the fan and in the fan housing unit.. you have to remove it from the wall or window, take it all apart and clean it good with a mold killer.. but in high humidity regions you’ll have to do this about every 4 months or so
That distortion pedal 🤘🏼
I did the same thing but more grew in by the fan. We have to remove the Styrofoam and clean the fan out if you have mold. Mold Will grow literally on the fan blade
how do you remove the styrofoam?
@@caitlinhenshaw5405 I have 2 Frigidaire models. I take mine apart and remove the styrofoam each year and it's not that difficult. The mold can get really bad in there. Just 2 pieces of foam. Easy to take apart the unit, just alot of screws. They are all the same size so you don't have to remember which screw goes where. There is nothing like a good clean AC unit on the first hot day of the season.
what do you use to clean the mold off of the styrofoam?
Allison Fields peroxide cleans and kills mold let it dry after cleaning
Very informative
Great video, and just throw that air filter in a sink of sudsy warm water, or at least spray with windex/counter top spray cleaner and RINSE OFF. Who wants all that gunk back in your air space? ;D
Zombies!! HaHa!! Didn't clean it outside because of the apocalypse. That explains the unmowed yard that everyone was talking about. Which, btw, I didn't notice because I never look to judge. But I DID notice the distortion pedal and am judging you to be a guitarist of sorts. 😏
Good vid! Thx, dude.
How do you remove the front cover with ac still in window so I can clean inside the vent?
more than 80% of mold and mildew usually sticks on the fan blades of most air conditioner units. don't know about the window types but it requires further opening the unit and I *highly* recommend it as the results can be astonishing.
I used the dust off to spin the blade and further spray
Ya that inside fan is disgusting, like, gag, but even after having it cleaned outside, here I am realizing they probably didn’t clean the coils. Smells like a bad foot, new apartment problems… eyy
Will the water that pools after being used in spraying , dry , or is there a way to remove?
Thanks for posting!! How long after cleaning did you turn it back on?
Thanks! Gosh, I turned it back on after about an hour or so. The outside is made for weather, but unless youve saturated the electrical inside. I wouldnt be too worried. But water is a conductor so safest bet would be to let it dry out.
The real question is not why is there a ds-1 pedal on top of the AC, but is it still there nearly a year later?
Haha good catch...i have it modelled in dsp on the computer now...also, i prefer my jcm900 50w tube distortion for live
Thanks for posting! I know this was 2 years ago, but if you can help, I'd appreciate:
I live in a 2nd floor apartment and can't get to the back/outside of my AC--it's also bolted in, so I can't remove it. What would you recommend? I live in florida, and it's really humid and I live in an area with lots of foliage, so I think the back definitely does need a good wash. I'm renting in an old shitty building so god knows how long it's been since the thing's been cleaned out.
Alot of units mount from the front. And they sort of balance on the chassis. You are probably better off pulling it out and cleaning it outside. You prob need a friend to help. You could do it lazy like me...but in hindsight i would probably pull mine next time.
👌🏾👍🏾
How do you clean the styrofoam inside the vent area?
Does anyone know how to remove the front so you can wipe down the inside? The fresh air vent seems to be the problem with me getting the front off and I can’t figure out how to get it off.
Single woman here. I'm on the second floor. I have almost exactly the same unit only 6,000 BTU. So if I unplugged my AC did the front, I have mildew in same kind of slats, also mildew front side way on back wall.. Then get my ladder out climb up with my hose and hose back of it. That would work. I don't have an air hose but could I use some hose water pressure for the back. Thank you so much for video. I have mold in a year old unit ! I had no idea I could spray all sorts of solutions way inside. I await your answer and any other suggestions.
Awesome job. Thanks for makinh this video,cuz all the other 1s have ppl.taking the whole damn unit down & apart & scrubbing every inch in soapy water. I just can't do that,cuz I'm a petite woman & this big ass unit is installed on the 2nd story & in a cut out part of the wall in the loft of my she shed,so I ain't gonna try removing & carrying it down a ladder,by myself,lol..Wonder if i can use my steam cleaner & vinegar instead of the tilex..Got a few air compressors,but the smallest 1,will still be a pain 2 get up the steps & try hooking up then stretching the hose up to use on the unit on a 2-3 step ladder inside the loft...
What air compressor did you use?
How do you no about an where that thing that will shock you is i just dont wanna clean it an get shocked or hurt myself
Fabulous. Much easier than other UA-cam Videos.
Hey. Thanks!
I’m sorry if someone already asked you this but I don’t feel like going through all of the comments! But my question is when you were spraying it from the outside does any of that water/Tilex get inside and leak on your floor?
Most units have a firewall/foam or barrier that protects from the elements. That being said, it obviously is not completely water tight. You could put a couple towels down to catch anything. Tilex does have bleach too, dont want it to drip and stain your carpet. I did not have any leaks come unside down the wall or floor. Start slow, use common sense.
Oh, I did notice you had some bent fins. If you still have the unit you might want to straighten them.
Hey I get I'm late to comment but is there any chance I can just hose the AC down with water? I don't have an air compressor
Cleaning the back doesn’t do much unless you can get the the fan side of the fins which is inside the unit. You have to remove the case and reach in between the fan blades which is difficult. You need a foaming coil cleaner and a hose
Hi, on the outside of the unit how did you open the bottom part so that it drains? Thanks!
There should be a drainplug you can punch out in the chassis
It how you clean the inside of the stair foam it get mold there two and that gets inside ur room
Hi again...sorry to learn abt your sister...hope those treatments will cure her eventually. As per suggestion for central air...our home is forced air gas furnace and therefore central air is definitely doable...unfortunately, we live in subsidized, govmt housing and making any alterations is prohibited...as for a swamp fan...LOL...we haven’t heard of that item...sounds loud though, LOL. I’m happy for now that sleeping is a quiet time ... thanks again ... nice chatting with you. Keep up the good videos 😀
Question: I have a 3yr old 10,000btu Friedrich window ac that was LOADED with mold. I've worked at cleaning it twice. The area of the impeller is where it is, however, Friedrich has designed their models so that entire area is enclosed in styrofoam. I cannot find a repair center that will clean it, Friedrich is sympathetic, but no help. Do you know of any videos or PDF's that can walk me thru accessing the impeller? The unit is too big and heavy for me to take down the steps and outside. I have been rolling it to the tub to work on it.
Yeah i mean you are getting deeper in it than I have. It sounds like a design flaw. I would probably push more to the manufacturer. Personally, especially with my sister getting toxic mold sickness, i wouldnt have something in my house withlots of mold anywhere
You should use peroxide. It kills mold.
Lindy T there is another u tube video on here where the guy actually cuts the styrofoam apart with a knife and cleans it all and puts it back together! Just be careful! Take a lot of pictures or videos with your phone as you tear it apart so you can get it back together
One thing you failed to get to that always has mold growing on it...is the blower fan blades and Styrofoam walls around it. Pain in the butt to clean without removing unit from the wall.
Great video!
Would this process work on a through the wall unit/sleeve?? Probably without the pouring of water on the back..I just bought my first through the wall unit this year and it is starting to smell a bit musty now that summer is winding down and I live next to a factory and the people downstairs smoke very heavily. Want to get it as clean as I can, as it’s 6ft off the ground and in a sleeve that it took forever to get into lol.. Thanks! (not sure if you’re still answering questions on this video)
clean it, clean it gooooood as you want.. of course you remove it and take it apart is the best, but scale it back as you have to... I only did the back for all the leaves and sticks and crap
Now I do it myself!
Thanks!! I’ll try your method!! 🙂 let you know how it works 🤞👍
@@Verkoeyen87 how’d it work? 😂
@@tungyoph7538 🤣 I chose to try something else.. Self rinsing Coil cleaner from Canadian tire and concrobium spray. Seems to be working well! Sprayed the coils down with coil cleaner first and let sit for a few days..then I sprayed the front coils, back coils and inside pan with concrobium. Let both dry and it seems to be working well. I just turned it on this week because it’s been so warm.. fingers crossed it does the job!! Lol
But how u clean the inside
Hi
I’m in a hotel with a large ac unit on the floor
It gives out a moldy mildew smell when I️ turn it on . I️ opened the lid and wanted to know if you think I️ can Lysol it out.
I’m trying to do it myself before asking maintenance .
I would leave anything to do with hotels and how it effects other people/guests up to the professionals/maintenance!
Omg I have been living here on the third floor for 10 years. I have been cleaning the filter and always disliked the damp smell it blows out at the beginning of the summer but I had no idea that I could clean the AC without breaking it. Help. Is it too late?
No. Never too late, just more effort
i had 2 spts. they are mold magnets. cheap chinese materials.
When you say some units have a capacitor does that mean that turning off the unit and unplugging it is not enough to keep you safe when you clean the unit? I think most units have them don't they?
www.quora.com/Does-a-capacitor-lose-its-charge-once-it-is-disconnected-from-the-power-source
What does the distortion unit have to do with anything? I thought the point here was to get it "clean"!? I'd think a compressor would be a bigger help. :)
SciFiArtMan lol same question i had
next video: how to clean dust out of a PC.
lol
I like it cause we live in a high rise and can't take our ac out of the window we could do that to the front but wouldn't be able to do that on the outside cause we live on the six floor..
BARB KRINER I’m in the same situation. I have a second window next to my ac and took a jug of water and poured it on the top.
My ac is leaking indoors and trying to find the drain hole is a pain because my arm can only reach so far.
Bijou My boyfriend actually did the inside part it actually made a difference it doesn't smell like mold right now . We can't do the outside part right now we live on the sixth floor and in housing we have to pay to get it taken out and put back in. My boyfriend got CLR mold and mildew bleach free foaming action stain remover he brushed it down first then sprayed it down left it sit for 10 minutes and wipe it down and left in dry. He said it hardly any smell he said its was like a clean smell.
Is it safe to spray things into the vent?? Is Lysol or Microban ok or just soap and water? I have a horrible odor in my bedroom right now. Please help. Thank you in advance.
You mean the vent blowing output air? I wouldnt see why not,although if you dont find the source, its just a cover... you got dirty drawers somewheres 😂
But the mold is on the other side of ur vents..on that wheel that kicks out the air...gotta pull those vent covers off..
Good feedback, thanks. I will be doing this next round for sure
@@nowidoitmyself2954 if ur a lil handy..u can actually take the whole shell off few screws and get to that wheel ..
@@Carbonx007 Your mom is a little handy ;l
I have to clean the fan and around it as well as black mold is growing. I haven’t been feeling well either. Probably due to the black mold.
Just pull it every winter, open the unit up completely, clean it out with lightly soapy water, a hose and a brush. Then store it back in it's carton or cover with a garbage bag or something for the winter until it gets warm again. Comes out working as new every year.
^ annual blow up doll maintenance ^
@@nowidoitmyself2954 Lies. My blow up dolls are used year round.
Where Do they sell the spray??
The canned air? Most stores... Tilex or anti fungal cleaner, I would guess the same its a major brand I would assume most store shelves.
Wal-Mart or any other store!
I spray my filter with cleaner then wash it out with the shower nozzle
Instead of Tilex to kill mold, I'm going to try this out using Concobrium. Let's see how that works.
I have the same Mobo lol
Do you think Lysol would work ?
Scrubbing bubbles.
Lysol IS anti mold and mildew but you need to brush it after soaking it SEVERAL times.
What happens if one of the blue fins are bent?
Are you cleaning a dolphin?
Takes out air filter meant to help well...filter dust and stuff from the air........then blows dust right back into the air inside the home.......without a mask.......
... at least I have chicken ...
"Awsome" is the best cleaner for grease, smoke from cigs and just dirt, that you can find. Dollar Store or Family Dollar is the best place to get it for $1.00 a bottle. and it looks like you need mow the back yard.
Can awesome mow yards?
@@nowidoitmyself2954 I've already tried that and no it wouldn't do it. But really your yard is a mess.
Cleaning with a harsh chemical like Tilex , one will be inhaling that. A preferred solution would be water, vinegar , and drops of Dawn liquid detergent.
If there are mold spores you need to mitigate with an anti fungal, wear a respirator... but im pretty sure youll also get super powers.
I find that products like Tilex are barely sufficient for the bathroom surfaces. When I am dealing with REAL mold and mildew (especially in hard to reach and maintain areas), I use the real stuff like "Mold Control". It gets to the roots of mold spores and prevents future growth. Bleach with bleach out the discoloration, but it does not kill the root.
@@lindyt2171 Youre right in that bleach will not kill mold alone. You, in fact, need a anti fungal to kill spores. Buttttttt tilex actually has bleach and anti fungal.
Frost king coil cleaner. I purchased it from ace hardware $10.99 for a big can.
Bleach kills mold. The problem with bleach on porous substances is that mold within the material won't be exposed to the bleach, so the spores won't die and will grow if the material gets wet again. Tilex is designed for removing mold from non-porous materials
No way. You should watch some videos on youtube about how to really clean a window A/C.
some people take it all apart and by the looks of it, if you don’t take it apart you’re not going to get all the mold out of it. take it apart LOL
Why leave it in to clean it?
You can take it out... I dont because i dont want to break the caulking on it right now
@@nowidoitmyself2954 ohhh ok cool just wondering. I'm watching A TON of vids on how to do this on my own and was just curious bc most are done outside. I unfortunately have no hose hook up at my apartment so I'm trying to figure out how to do this 😂
Just replace the ac
So wait! What happens if those are bent?!
When condenser fins or evaporator fins are bent or when they get clogged it causes a major restriction in air flow that would usually pass through the air conditioning system, which means a decrease in efficiency for the entire AC
You can bent them back yourself or buy a "fin comb" to do it easier
@@nowidoitmyself2954 thank you for the reply, and the video! I couldn’t take off the filter from the slot, there was a pice of the unit that was holding the filter. Forced it out, and it dented the fins!
@@yaircastillo2064 www.amazon.com/puxyblue-FCR6-Straighten-Evaporator-Condensor/dp/B093GN9BBM/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=fin+comb&qid=1624294722&sr=8-3-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEySDZBWUlKUzZNOFhQJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNDk0NzYzMTVXUlo2WjQ1QVZMVCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMzAyMTgxMllPNVdUUUlWWE9JOSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=
Stupid lol. I was looking for a video of how to clean it without removing it. Wondering if I can hose it down while attached to the window, lol? The water will drain out the back right?
90 percent of the unit hangs outside right? So its meant to have weather. That being said, I hosed out the back of the unit with power off and the unit unplugged, Removing leaves,dirt grime etc.
If i were to do this all again... I would remove the unit with a friend and clean it outside...
But you just sprayed all the dust and pollen back into the room air and the air conditioner will just suck it out and be dirty again!
this is helpful but you didn't show how to remove the drain ; guess I have to figure that out myself!
Its just a hole.
Poke it with a stick.
Permanent charge huh?! Call NASA!
Already did, I got a nice rocket pin ;)
But yeah, not permanent. But in some cases - quite a long time days/weeks/months +
Take it apart outside and clean it right. He's just pushing the crud inside the fan housing and hamster wheel
Totally dude! If you have a hamster wheel, definately more crud to clean ;)
Bleach kills mold...tilex is bleach
Your video won't download......why?
Lol pull it out & use vinegar & water. It's the only way to clean the housing where the mold generally is.
Aren’t you blowing all that dust and mould into the indoor air?...or are you in the garage?
Family gone and box fan and open door was used, but also neutralized with tilex. We have a hepa air cleaner in house as well. Ultimately your best bet would be to remove the unit and clean it outside. But live on the edge and drive 15 in a 10 zone
Should have took filter out side and Clean with water hose
@@nowidoitmyself2954 What kind of HEPA air cleaner do you have?
Thanks! The whole front of these machines will come off just so you know.
no go
Why not just clean it outside
Because zombies.
People still use window ACs? they were the best though
Cheaper in my opinion.
Wait did this dude just shake his compressed air before using it....
Not only did I shake it, but I also drive 15 mph in 10 zone on the regular.
The yellowing on the thermostat would give me nightmares.
WHEN YOU GOT BAD MIKING THE SOLUTION APPARENTLY IS DROWN OUT THE VOICE WITH MUSIC.
🤡
Wron way extremely dangerous procedure
Blowing that dust inside and breathing it is very bad for your future.
This. Or driving 15 in a 10 zone... living on the edge...
You didn't even clean the most crucial area 🤦♂️
Is this click bait??
😅😅❤س0:04
Unplug it? What?! Why on earth lmao jk
NEVER USE AIR TO CLEAN A COIL LIKE HE DID... ALL IT DOES IS PUSH THE DIRT AND DUST IN
Never put salt in your eyes
bad