Will a Portable AC Unit Survive Being Hosed out?

Grazz989 on 13/06/2023 - 21:00

I know this is a bizarre question, but I bought a portable reverse cycle AC unit 3 years ago, and I suspect sometime between last winter and this one, it's picked up some mould or dust or something, because it's giving me intense headaches and clocking up my air purifier's sensor whenever I run it on heat (not on simple fan). I'm renting a room at the moment so I can't upgrade to anything else other than another portable unit, and they're like $600+. Obviously I've cleaned the dust filters, and even wiped down the internal plastic parts.

My vague plan was to buy some double strength vinegar from woolies, take the back cover off, spray it on every inch I can inside, then hose it out 10 minutes later. Wait a couple days for it to dry out, then maybe take a hairdryer to it to try and get any last moisture out.

The model is this one: https://www.amazon.com.au/Kogan-SmarterHomeTM-Portable-Condi…

Appreciate any advice.

Electrical & Electronics Air Conditioner

Comments

  • sumyungguy on 13/06/2023 - 21:10
    +1

    There are off the shelf products, like Simple Green 750ml Air Con Cleaner
    I have some but haven't used it yet - for cleaning the fins on my split system indoor unit.

    • Grazz989 on 13/06/2023 - 21:16

      Oh wow! I had no bloody clue such a thing even existed!

      Do you reckon it'd get rid of mould, assuming that's even what's inside it?

      • sumyungguy on 13/06/2023 - 21:24

        Reading the reviews, I'm confident it will remove mould. The professionals use a steam cleaning nozzle, but I'm gonna try the spray and my battery pressure washer.

        • Grazz989 on 13/06/2023 - 21:30

          Oh, you're gonna use the spray then wash it out anyway?

          • sumyungguy on 13/06/2023 - 21:37
            +1

            @Grazz989: Yep, need to shift the mould with something when you don’t have access to steam.

  • JIMB0 on 13/06/2023 - 22:53
    +1

    Does it have a water tank that needs emptying when running? Some Delonghi units have a tank that you fill up and it circulates the water over the condenser coil for greater efficiency. These come with a cleaning solution you're meant to use at the end of every summer.

    • Grazz989 on 14/06/2023 - 15:06

      It does have such a tank. When I drained it, it was absolutely filthy water. However, it didn't come with any cleaning liquid. I did my best pouring watered down vinegar in until it overflowed, but that wouldn't be reaching the coils, I don't think. Perhaps I could fill the tank with some of that air conditioner cleaning liquid someone else mentioned, and then turn the unit upside down? … Though I suppose that would just drench all the electrical internals with liquid …

      • JIMB0 on 14/06/2023 - 15:25

        Is it a tank that you have to empty periodically when it's running or do you have to add water to it?

      • sumyungguy on 14/06/2023 - 15:54

        You'll need to remove the casing to get to the coils. Being a portable unit, the evaporator and condensor coils will be adjacent, and both will be full of dust and mould. The condensate tank collects water that drips from the evaporator coils. You'll need to apply the cleaning spray directly to the coil fins.

        • Grazz989 on 14/06/2023 - 18:55

          I've removed the back case to wipe clean as much as I could - but the only way to 'get at' the coils and the fins is through the hole in the styrofoam baffle that the hose connects through to.

          If there's a way to remove the styrofoam without taking apart the entire unit completely, I can't quite figure it out … I guess I'll just have to spray through the hose-hole? Or is that not going to be enough? As in, I can spray down the fins on the hose-exhaust side, but would that do anything to clean the inside-facing heat exchanger/coils? Wouldn't they be separated?

          • sumyungguy on 14/06/2023 - 19:00
            +1

            @Grazz989: Sorry to say I've never cleaned a portable, but there must be some how-to videos on youtube?

  • mskeggs on 14/06/2023 - 08:42

    The first thing I would try would be to run it for several hours full power outside, and see if it cooks out whatever is causing trouble.

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