Many people prefer to clean their car air conditioner at service stations. However, such an operation is within the power of an ordinary car enthusiast who has the skills to work with automotive tools and chemicals.
Neglecting timely cleaning of a car air conditioner is fraught with sad consequences; first of all, this is the premature wear of a number of parts, the replacement cost of which is often comparable to the price of the device itself. In addition, pollution of the air conditioner is accompanied by the accumulation of bacteria that are harmful to the human body.
Cleaning the air conditioner with aerosol and foam products
Both methods are suitable for cleaning air conditioners installed in vehicles 3-5 years old. The first method is to use aerosol products (best suited for prophylaxis, disinfection). You can use special chemicals such as, for example, Liqui Molly Klima Analgen Reiniger, Presto Klimaanalgen reiniger and other similar aerosols.
To clean the air conditioner, you must start the engine with recirculation turned on; then turn on the fan, air conditioner at full capacity. Place a can in front of the front passenger seat (where air is taken in for recirculation), close doors, windows, activate spraying. Next, you should wait for the time indicated in the attached instructions, ventilate the interior. The foam cleaning method is used when the degree of contamination of the automobile "cooler" is higher. To implement it, it is necessary to remove the cabin filter and fill the air duct holes with foam. Then, after waiting for the time specified in the instructions, start the engine, letting it run in different modes. Finally, you need to ventilate the salon.
Cleaning the air conditioner with improvised means
Often, manufacturers are a little cunning, selling cleaning products to motorists, which contain substances that are, for example, in a pharmacy, 10 times cheaper. This is true in relation to, first of all, chlorhexidine bigluconate (0.05% solution). It can be used in "single order", or it can be mixed with alcohol (1: 1) to increase efficiency. The Russian drug "Lizoformin 3000", used for disinfection of premises, fighting mold, is also suitable; the required concentration is 5% (50 ml of the drug per liter of water). Another chemical, Chloramine B, is used to disinfect dishes, toys, and medical products. To obtain the required solution, it is necessary to dilute one tablespoon of the product in a liter of water.
Remove the cabin air filter for the cleaning process. Pour the ready-made solution of the chemical you like into the holes using any spray (for example, a spray for flowers). Next, you need to turn on the fan with air conditioning at full power and open the doors, windows, covering the outlet vents with a cloth so that the solution does not settle in the cabin. In conclusion, it should be noted that in order to eliminate serious pollution, you will have to turn to professionals, because it will be necessary to remove the evaporator and refill the air conditioner with freon.
