| Very little is required to properly clean
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| | called HVAC cleaner. As the name implies
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| a window air conditioner, except lots of
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| | it is meant for Heating, Ventilation, and
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| patience. If patience is something you
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| | Air Conditioner coil cleaning. If this is
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| lack then it is a job you should turn over
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| | not available the Fantastic Spray cleaner
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| to the local appliance serviceman.
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| | used in kitchens and bathrooms works quite
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| Tools
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| | well.
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| 1 Tin can or container (old muffin tin
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| | Let stand about 15 minutes or as per
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| works well also) 2 Vacuum cleaner 3
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| | instructions on de-greaser can. This will
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| Long handled brush (an old toilet brush
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| | allow cleaner to loosen any hidden dirt.
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| works well) 4 Oil can 5 Rags 6
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| | Remove dirt and excess cleaner by slowly
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| De-greaser or spray detergent 7
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| | pouring warm water into fins.
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| Selection of screwdrivers 8 Fin tool
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| | Do not allow the water to enter any
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| (optional) 9 New filter
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| | electrical connections or components that
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| Lets get started -----------
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| | may be near the coil. As an added
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| 1. Start by removing the filter from the
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| | precaution cover the motor with one of the
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| front grille. If it is hidden behind the
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| | cloth rags. to protect it from the water.
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| grille proceed to step 2. If it is a
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| | Do not use any form of high pressure air
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| disposable filter simply replace it with a
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| | or water because this can drive dirt
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| new one. Other types are made in a plastic
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| | farther into fins. Also, use extreme
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| frame and can be cleaned and reused.
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| | caution as these coils are filled with
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| To clean a filter lay it flat in the sink
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| | high pressure refrigerant.
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| and sprinkle surface with powder laundry
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| | 6. Straighten any bent fins. Use a fin
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| detergent. Then cover with about one inch
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| | comb if available. If no fin comb then use
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| of hot water. Just enough so the filter is
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| | something soft such as a Popsicle stick.
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| submerged. Soak for 15 minutes. Remove
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| | Straightening the fins will increase the
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| from water and rinse with warm water. Hang
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| | efficiency of the air flow through the
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| up to dry while proceeding to next step.
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| | coils. This adds to the overall cooling
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| 2. Next, remove the front grille from the
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| | effect produced by the air conditioner.
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| main body of the air conditioner. They
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| | 7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 for the condenser
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| usually pivot on two spring clips at the
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| | (rear fins) coil. A plastic cowling
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| bottom. It is usually removed by pulling
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| | usually surrounds the condenser fins. If
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| the grille gently forward while pushing
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| | so, check the top edge to see if it will
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| it down at the same time. If there is
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| | lift or open. If it opens this will allow
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| resistance then look for hidden screws.
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| | easier access to the condenser fins. Again
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| Look near the top edge of the grille or
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| | use caution because the condenser coil is
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| behind the control knob door. Once removed
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| | also filled with high pressure
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| place the grille aside until later.
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| | refrigerant.
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| 3. Carefully remove metal cover of air
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| | 8. Wipe any dirt buildup from both fan
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| conditioner to expose inner workings. Once
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| | blades using a soft rag. Do not bend
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| all the screws are removed lift the cover
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| | blades. This would cause a vibration that
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| straight up. Do not let it hit the other
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| | would harm the motor.
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| parts as it can have sharp edges.
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| | 9. Vacuum all surfaces including front and
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| This is where the old can comes in handy
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| | back of grille assembly. Do not forget to
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| (ice cube container or muffin tin works
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| | vacuum underside of metal air conditioner
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| well also). Use it to keep track of all
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| | cover. If the cover contains air holes
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| the screws you will be removing. An air
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| | clean them thoroughly. If necessary use a
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| conditioner will often use a number of
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| | damp rag.
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| different types and sizes of screws.
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| | 10. Drain any water left in the base and
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| Segregate them from each other or
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| | allow it to dry for few hours.
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| confusion will result when we start
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| | 11. When completely dry plug in air
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| reassembly.
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| | conditioner and test operation. If
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| 4. Check the fan motor for any oil holes
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| | everything appears okay unplug and begin
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| or oil plugs. If the motor has oil plugs
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| | reassembly.
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| they are usually rubber. Use caution when
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| | 12. Once reassembly is complete, retest
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| removing because the rubber may have
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| | operation to ensure replacing the cover
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| become brittle. Often they will break off
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| | has not affected anything.
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| in the oil holes resulting in a blockage.
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| | Adding the cover will often twist the
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| If this occurs try to remove the broken
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| | frame and can cause interior parts to move
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| plug by using a pin of the tip of a small
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| | out of alignment. This may cause the fan
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| screwdriver.
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| | to become noisy.
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| Once the fan motor oil holes are exposed
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| | To correct for this problem remove the
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| add a few drops of oil to each end of the
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| | cover and realign to the main body of the
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| motor body. Use a general purpose (3in1)
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| | air conditioner. Reinstall the cover and
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| oil or clean motor oil. A #30 oil is
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| | test for noises every time 2 or 3
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| sufficient.
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| | additional screws are added to the cover.
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| The natural tendency is to over-oil. Too
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| | Spinning the front blade by hand will let
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| much lubrication is as bad as not enough.
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| | you know if anything is rubbing against
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| Therefore only 3 or 4 drops on both ends
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| | the fan blades.
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| of the motor body is sufficient. Add the
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| | 13. Install the front grille and filter.
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| oil slowly, pausing a few seconds between
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| | 14. Lastly, cover air conditioner with
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| each drop. If you add it too quickly
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| | plastic wrap or an old blanket. Store in a
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| over-lubrication will result.
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| | warm dry area. Raise it from floor
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| 5. Use the brush to remove surface dust
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| | slightly by placing onto a couple of
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| and dirt from the evaporator (front fins).
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| | pieces of wood. This will protect the
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| Use an up and down motion. Do not go side
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| | floor from the metal edges of the air
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| to side or allow the fins to be bent. The
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| | conditioner, and also protect the air
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| fins are very soft aluminum and can be
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| | conditioner from moisture.
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| damaged easily. Once surface dirt is
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| | Repeat this simple procedure every year.
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| removed, spray with de-greaser or cleaner.
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| | If you do, the machine will be ready for
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| There is a good product on the market
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| | many more years of dependable service.
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