How to Clean and Maintain Your Portable Air Conditioner

Portable air conditioners are a great, cost-efficient way to keep your entire house comfortable throughout the summer. They can be easily moved around, helping you cool down your bedroom or home office for a fraction of the price of a traditional air-conditioner unit. To ensure your portable air conditioner works at full capacity, however, you need to learn to maintain it properly.

Here are a few useful tips that can help you take better care of your portable air conditioner, ensuring that it lasts for many years to come.

Portable AC filters are to be cleaned and not easily replaceable. If someone needs to replace, they can try to contact the manufacturer or parts distributor, for Honeywell PAC (Sylvane.com) to see if they have the filter they need.

Portable air conditioners collect water from the air in the room during their cooling process, and this condensate is normally auto evaporated. In high humidity environments however, this condensate may collect faster than it can evaporate. Honeywell Portable ACs like the MO08CESWK have an internal tank that collects the excess condensation and alerts you when it is full. Simply follow instructions to drain this tank regularly.

You can also clean detachable pipes and hoses with a 70-30 ratio solution of water and vinegar. Rinse the hoses with clean water when you’re done and make sure they are dry before re-installing the parts and operating the AC.

Apart from draining the water and replacing the filters, make sure you also clean the exterior of your unit every few weeks. When the unit is switched off, use a soft, damp cloth to wipe the surface clean. Steer clear of abrasive chemicals or harsh detergents as they may damage the surface.

Cleaning your PAC regularly should help you minimize bad odors, but there is a range of additional deodorizing options. You can use a few drops of essential oils or a scented disinfectant like Dettol in your vinegar-water solution. This can help eliminate any musty or moldy odors from your portable air conditioner, leaving your house smelling nice and fresh.

A good PAC maintenance tip is to clean the entire unit twice a year, at the beginning and the end of the season. Follow these simple steps before storing your portable air conditioner in a dry location away from direct sunlight:

• Be sure to drain the leftover water condensate. Remove the lower drain plug and use a shallow pan to collect the water (make sure to replace the drain plug when finished). To dry excess moisture, run the unit in fan-only mode for 30 minutes before storing.
• Remove the air filter and clean with water. Dry the air filter and then reinstall.
• Disconnect the window installation kit.
• Remove the plastic hose, window bracket, window bracket panel adaptor, and hose connector, and store with the portable air conditioner, taking care to ensure that none of the parts are bent at sharp angles.