How To Clean An Air Conditioner Filter | An Easy Guide

Anyone living in Brisbane knows just how important air conditioning is for getting through our hot, humid summers. But what a lot of people don’t realise, is that cleaning your air con filter regularly is essential for keeping your AC in tip-top condition. Taking half an hour a few times a year to clean your air conditioner filters can not only extend the life of your system, but also improve the air quality in your home—all while keeping your power bills down!

So, whether you’ve never cleaned an air con filter before, or you’ve just purchased a brand-new split AC system, this guide on ‘how to clean air conditioner filters’ has you sorted. We answer the most common questions about how to clean an air conditioner filter, from how to remove the filter to how often you should clean aircon filters.

How to clean air conditioner filter – why it’s important

Knowing how to clean air con filters is one of the best things you can do to maximise your air conditioner efficiency. The filter plays an important role in preventing dust, dirt, pet hair, cobwebs and other particles from getting inside your air conditioner. In simple terms, the filter is your air conditioner’s first line of defence against these nasties. It not only stops them from coating the inside of the unit but also from being re-circulated throughout your house.

Over time, if too much dust is left to build up in the filter, it can start to prevent air from flowing freely into the air conditioner. This means the AC unit has to work harder to get more air into the unit, using more energy for the same amount of output. This not only hits the hip pocket when it comes to power bills but can cause damage to the AC unit in the long run—particularly if it leads to issues with overheating.

How to clean air con filter – five simple steps

Whether you’ve been googling ‘how to clean reverse cycle air conditioner filter’, or ‘how to clean split ac filter’, we’ve got you covered. These five simple steps on how to clean an air conditioner filter will work for nearly all types of air conditioners, from wall-mounted split systems to ducted air conditioners.

Step 1: Switch the AC off and check the instructions

First things first: always make sure your AC unit is switched off before doing any maintenance. This is essential for avoiding damaging the system. When it comes to how to clean air conditioner filters, it’s also a good idea to read your owner’s manual—particularly if it’s your first time cleaning your AC unit. The owner’s manual will have details on the specific type of filters your system has, how often they should be replaced, and how to remove any air conditioner panels to access the filter.

Step 2: Remove the filter

To clean the filter, you first need to remove it from inside the wall unit. Air conditioners are all slightly different, but you typically need to open and remove the internal unit’s cover first. Do this either by removing the screws, or undoing locking push tabs or hinges. If it has screws, make sure to keep the screws in a safe place while you’re cleaning the filter!

Once you’ve opened the front panel, you can slide the air conditioner filter out. Some air conditioners will have more than one filter. Usually, the second one is an air purification filter (such as an ionising filter) that can be removed and cleaned the same way.

If you’re worried you won’t get the air filters back in correctly, it can be a good idea to take a photo to refer to later when you’re putting it back on.

Step 3: Vacuum and/or wash the filter

The best way to clean air con filters really depends on how much dust and dirt has built up. Once you’ve removed the filter, you have a couple of options:

• If the filter is especially dirty, first give it a gentle tap or brush over the bin to release any loose particles, being careful not to breathe in the dust.
• To remove light layers of dust gently vacuum the filter on a low powered setting, using the brush attachment on your vacuum.
• Once you’ve vacuumed the filter, wash it in a lukewarm mixture of water and dishwashing liquid, using a soft sponge to wipe the filter. You can also use a mixture of half vinegar and half water if you’d prefer. If you’ve got a lot of dirt and dust built up, it can be a good idea to leave the filter to soak for half an hour before wiping it clean. Once you’ve finished removing all the dust, make sure to give the filter a final rinse with clean water to remove any detergent.

Once you’ve cleaned the filter, it’s a good idea to inspect it for rips or tears, and to check for mould growth—if you find any, it’s time to get a new filter.

Step 4: Dry the filter

When it comes to how to clean air con filters, making sure you let the filter dry fully before putting it back into the unit is essential. Putting a damp filter into your AC unit can not only make it smell bad, but also create a perfect breeding ground for mould and other bacteria.

Once you’ve washed the filter, leave it in the dishrack or against a wall to air dry. Outside in the sun, the filter will dry in no time, but you can also leave it in a warm, well-ventilated room.

Step 5: Replace the filter and wipe the unit cover

Once the filter’s clean and dry, simply slide it back into the unit. Before replacing the unit cover, give it a quick dust with a soft microfibre cloth to remove any surface dust. Then all you need to do is reverse the steps you took to remove the cover!

How often should you clean aircon filters?

When it comes to air conditioner maintenance, taking the time to check and clean your air conditioner filter a few times a year can save you serious headaches in the long run. We generally recommend cleaning your air conditioner filter at least once every six months. The exact answer to the question of how often should you clean aircon filters depends on a few things:

• The manufacturers’ advice. For example, some manufacturers recommend that you change your filter every few weeks, while others suggest every 3 – 6 months.
• How much you use your AC. Due to the extra demands placed on your unit over the summer months your filter will often collect more dirt and dust particles. If you use it nearly every day, you’ll also find it gets clogged more quickly than someone who only occasionally turns it on.
• Whether you live in a particularly dusty area, or have pets. The more dirt and dust in your home, the more the filter will catch. That’s why people in outback Queensland generally need to clean their AC filters more frequently than people who live in Brisbane.
• If someone in your house suffers from allergies or asthma. Unfortunately, not cleaning your air conditioner can mean that air conditioning can affect asthma and other allergies. If you’re prone to these conditions, it’s essential to keep dust out of your unit and clean your filters more regularly than you otherwise might.

How to clean air conditioning filter – signs it’s time for a clean

If you’ve noticed your air conditioner isn’t working as well as it used to, giving the air conditioner filters a quick clean is a good first step that can help to rule out other problems. Signs that your air con filter might need a clean include:

• You can’t remember when you last cleaned the filter. As we mentioned above, it’s best to clean your AC filters several times a year.
• You’ve noticed a bad smell coming from your air conditioner. If your AC smells musty or dusty, it could be that the filter is clogged. Removing the filter is also a great way to check to make sure there’s no mould growing in your air conditioner.
• The air conditioner is working harder than usual. A clogged air conditioner filter makes it hard for air to pass through the filter into the system, which means your air conditioner has to work harder to reach the desired temperature.
• The air conditioner is noisier than usual. This can be a sign the unit is having to work extra hard because of a clogged filter or some other mechanical fault.
• Your power bills are higher than expected, even though you haven’t used the air conditioner more than normal. Receiving a surprisingly high bill is often one of the first signs an air conditioner isn’t operating as efficiently as it should be.

If your AC’s got a different problem, head over to this blog for more information on common AC problems and what to do about them.

For more advice on how to clean air conditioner filters, or to book an air conditioner service, contact our expert team today.