How much AC cleaning can you do yourself — which parts you can do and which need a technician

A dirty AC uses more power and cools noticeably slower. Care comes at two levels: what homeowners can do themselves every month, and the deep clean that should be a technician's job

Do it yourself (every 2–4 weeks in heavy-use periods)

• Wash the dust filters — Switch off, open the front cover, remove the filters and wash in plain or mild soapy water, and dry completely before refitting. This single step is 70% of the difference in airflow and smell
• Wipe the louvers and casing — With a well-wrung damp cloth; never spray water into the unit
• Check the outdoor condenser — Leaves and plastic bags stuck on the fins raise power use; pull them off and don't block the airflow
• Watch the drain pipe — Water dripping indoors = a blocked drain pipe (slime and dust). If the pipe end is low and reachable, try sucking it with a wet vacuum — it often helps

Technician's job (every 6 months, or yearly with light use)

Deep clean (full system wash): pressure-wash the indoor coil + blower and the outdoor condenser, with a canvas catch sheet and correct disassembly — mistakes let water into the circuit board or flatten the fins, costing far more than the service Refrigerant top-up: AC is a sealed system — refrigerant doesn't "run out" by itself; needing a top-up means a leak. Have the technician find and fix the leak first; don't pay for top-ups every year without asking why

Signs to call a technician immediately

Ice on the pipes/coil · unusual noise from the compressor · the breaker trips when switched on · a burning smell — don't keep using it in these four cases; switch off and call an AC technician. Find technicians with reviews in Bhoon Kharn's technician booking menu, book through the system, and agree the fee directly with the technician