【Smart Living】Cleaning Air Conditioner Dust Filter: 7 Major Tips and Tutorials

In Hong Kong, it's common for people to rely on air conditioners every day during the summer. However, sometimes the air conditioner seems less effective, and halfway through summer, it may start emitting a musty odor, making the air uncomfortable. One of the most common reasons for these issues is often the neglect of regularly cleaning the dust filter. Many people think cleaning the dust filter is a hassle, but in reality, it's not as complicated as one might think. This article from Moorgenzine will provide you with 7 major tips and a tutorial on how to clean your air conditioner's dust filter.

Key Points of this Article:

• How often should you clean the air conditioner's dust filter?
• 4 benefits of regularly cleaning the dust filter
• 7 tips for cleaning the dust filter
• DIY tutorial for cleaning the dust filter

How often should you clean the air conditioner's dust filter?

Many people may clean the air conditioner's dust filter only once a year, or even neglect it entirely! According to the Director of the Hong Kong Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Association, it's necessary to regularly clean the air conditioner's dust filter. It's recommended that the residential air conditioner's dust filter should be cleaned at least once a month. According to the Consumer Council's recommendation, during the summer months, the dust filter should be cleaned every two weeks.

4 benefits of regularly cleaning the dust filter

Colder air from the air conditioner

Most of the time, if the air conditioner isn't cold enough, it's because the dust filter is too dirty! Accumulated dirt on the dust filter affects airflow, resulting in the air conditioner not cooling efficiently. After cleaning the air conditioner, you'll immediately feel the cool breeze.

Fresher indoor air for breathing

After the dust filter accumulates dirt, it's prone to bacterial growth. Imagine all the air passing through the dust filter, carrying bacteria. Breathing in air with bacteria can make allergy sufferers or those with respiratory conditions very uncomfortable, potentially exacerbating respiratory issues. Therefore, regular cleaning of the dust filter is necessary to maintain indoor air quality and ensure better health.

Same usage time but lower electricity bills

After the dust filter accumulates dirt, it affects airflow efficiency, making the air conditioner feel less cold and increasing its workload. Inverter air conditioners may operate at high speeds for extended periods, leading to increased electricity consumption. Initially, it may only take 10 minutes of high-speed operation to cool the room, but if the airflow isn't smooth, it may take 3-4 times longer to achieve the same temperature, resulting in increased electricity costs. Therefore, cleaning the dust filter can help save on electricity bills.

Longer lifespan of the air conditioner

Similar to the above point, accumulated dirt on the dust filter affects airflow efficiency, leading to longer high-speed operation of the air conditioner's compressor, significantly increasing its workload and affecting the overall lifespan of the air conditioner.

7 tips for cleaning the dust filter

Although cleaning the dust filter isn't complicated, there are some important points to note. Here are 7 major tips for cleaning the dust filter:

1. Regularly check the dust filter

Due to different living environments, the frequency of air conditioner usage varies for each household, resulting in different rates of dust accumulation on the dust filter. Therefore, it's recommended to regularly check the cleanliness of the air conditioner's dust filter. If dirt is found, it should be cleaned immediately.

2. Turn off the air conditioner first

Before cleaning the air conditioner's dust filter, it's essential to turn off the air conditioner or unplug it to avoid electrical accidents when removing the dust filter.

3. Wear a mask and gloves

According to Ouyang Yaonan, Senior Lecturer and Engineer at the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Morrison Hill), you should wear a mask before removing the dust filter to avoid inhaling dust accumulated on the dust filter. After removing the dust filter, clean any dust scattered indoors to avoid inhaling dust and triggering upper respiratory tract diseases or nasal sensitivity.

Additionally, you can wear gloves to prevent dust from the dust filter from sticking to your hands.

4. Rinse the dust filter with clean water from behind

Cleaning the dust filter doesn't require detergent, as detergent may damage the structure of the dust filter. When rinsing, it's also important to note that you should rinse from the back of the dust filter (with the dirty side facing down) and rinse from top to bottom. Remember not to rinse both sides, as this may cause dust to accumulate in the middle of the dust filter.

5. Dilute bleach with a ratio of 1:99

The air conditioner's dust filter can generally be rinsed with cold water from a shower, without adjusting the water temperature. If you want to disinfect the dust filter, you can soak it in a diluted bleach solution with a ratio of 1:99 before rinsing with clean water.

6. Do not use a stiff brush

The air conditioner's dust filter only needs to be rinsed with a shower, with the dirty side facing down, and then rinsed. If dust cannot be removed by rinsing, you can gently wipe off the dust on the dust filter with a sponge or soft cloth. Do not use stiff brushes, scrubbing pads, or wire brushes, as this may damage the structure of the dust filter and enlarge the holes, rendering the dust filter ineffective.

7. Air dry or pat dry

After cleaning the air conditioner's dust filter, you can let it air dry naturally or gently pat it dry with a towel before reinstalling it into the air conditioner. Don't rush to reinstall the partially dry dust filter, as moisture in the dust filter can easily breed bacteria.

DIY tutorial for cleaning the dust filter

Cleaning the dust filter takes only about 10 minutes. Here are the steps:

1. Turn off the air conditioner before cleaning the dust filter
2. Wear a mask and gloves
3. Open the front cover of the air conditioner
4. Remove the dust filter and take it to the bathroom
5. With the dirty side facing down, rinse the back of the dust filter (the side without dust) with a shower from top to bottom
6. Do not use stiff brushes, scrubbing pads, or wire brushes. If necessary, gently wipe off the dust on the dust filter with a sponge or soft cloth.
7. After rinsing, gently pat dry with a towel or let the dust filter air dry naturally
8. Once the dust filter is completely dry, reinstall it into the air conditioner

In addition to cleaning the dust filter, you can also DIY clean the air conditioner! If you want to know how to clean the air conditioner for HK$100, you can refer to: 【Smart Home Living】DIY Air Conditioner Cleaning Tutorial

After reading this Moorgenzine article, I believe you have a deeper understanding of how to clean the dust filter. If you have any questions about smart home living, feel free to contact Moorgen anytime. Additionally, if you want to experience the lifestyle enhancement brought by smart door locks firsthand, you can visit Moorgen's showroom located in North Point, Hong Kong, to experience Real Smart Home.