Car air conditioner cleaner. Rating of the best
Content
Why does the air conditioner get dirty?
One of the main elements of a car air conditioner is the evaporator. It is in it that the refrigerant from a liquid state is converted into a gaseous state with simultaneous absorption of heat. The evaporator channels take heat and carry it along with the refrigerant to the compressor and then to the condenser.
The warm air taken from the street (or the interior of the car in the recirculation mode) passes through the cold fins of the evaporator, cools and is fed into the interior through the deflectors. At the same time, the moisture that is present in the air constantly condenses on the cold fins of the evaporator. After condensing into droplets, the water flows through the drainage channel and thus leaves the air conditioning system.
As a result, we have:
- constant humidity;
- copious amount of passing air;
- relative isolation of the system from the impact of external factors.
Together with the periodic passage through the cabin filter of small dust particles deposited on the fins of the air conditioner evaporator, almost ideal conditions are created for the emergence and growth of mold, fungus and bacteria. These growths from the simplest biological organisms reduce the efficiency of the air conditioner and create an unpleasant, damp and musty smell in the car interior.
Auto air conditioner cleaning options
There are three approaches to cleaning an air conditioner.
- Contact. Includes disassembly of the car panel with access to the evaporator and its further cleaning by contact. In this case, the evaporator is most often not separated from the air conditioning system in order to avoid freon leakage. The evaporator fins are mechanically cleaned with brushes and brushes with the application of various chemicals. The most efficient and at the same time costly way. Expensive and technically difficult to perform on most cars.
- Non-contact using liquid products. The most common and balanced method in terms of cost and effect. The agent, most often foamy, is blown through the drain pipe of the air conditioner into the system. This air conditioner cleaner destroys fungal growths and breaks down pollutants. After it is converted into a liquid mass and drained through the same drainage hole.
- Non-contact using gaseous formulations. The agent, usually supplied in small aerosol cans, the so-called checkers, is installed in the passenger compartment near the air intake nozzle for recirculation (most often at the feet of the front passenger). Doors and windows are tightly closed. The air conditioner is put into recirculation mode. The agent is activated, and the ventilation system drives the gaseous purifier emitted by the cylinder through the air conditioner. More suitable for preventive maintenance of the air conditioner.
Depending on the degree of contamination of the air conditioner, one of the above cleaning methods is selected.
Rating of air conditioner cleaners
Let's briefly analyze several products for contactless cleaning of car air conditioners. Let's start with the most popular and effective.
- Step Up Air Conditioner Cleaner Disinfectant. Air conditioner foam cleaner. According to Russian motorists, this is the best offer on the market. Produced in an aerosol can with a volume of 510 ml. To use it, the manufacturer separately sells a proprietary tube. The cost of the Step Up air conditioner cleaner is around 600 rubles per bottle. The tube costs about 400 rubles, but it can be used repeatedly. Foam is blown into the system through the drain hole or into the deflector closest to the evaporator, destroys fungus and mold, and removes dust deposits from the evaporator.
- Liqui Moly air conditioning cleaner. Similar in principle to the previous version. Sold in 250 ml bottles, equipped with a flexible hose for injection into the air conditioning system. The cost of the balloon is about 1000 rubles. Efficiency is high, after use this cleaner does not leave unpleasant odors. Motorists are usually satisfied with the result of the product, but indicate a rather high cost.
- Liquid Moly Clima Fresh. Refers to aerosol air conditioner fresheners. This tool costs about 1000 rubles. It is sprayed in the car interior with the air conditioner operating in the recirculation mode. Removes bad odor. Perfect for a quick air conditioner refresh. Doesn't work as a full blown cleaner. Requires careful approach and ventilation after use, as the active ingredients are toxic.
- Runway Air Conditioner Cleaner. Air conditioner foam cleaner. It is poured into the cavity of the ventilation system of the car, in which the evaporator is located. It costs about 200 rubles. Complete with tube. Efficiency is low. The product is able to wash off light dirt and remove an unpleasant odor for a while, but is not able to cope with fungal growths and an abundant dust layer.
- Air conditioner foam cleaner Lavr "Antibacterial". It costs about 300 rubles for a 400 ml bottle. It has good cleansing properties and copes well with biological pollution. Suitable for preventive cleaning of the interior ventilation system. According to motorists, it works well in the case of a not very neglected problem of unpleasant odor from the car air conditioner. It is not able to carry out a full cleaning if the air conditioner has not been serviced for a long time.
If the air conditioner has not been cleaned for a long time, it slightly cools the air and exudes a stench, it is better to be puzzled and carry out contact cleaning. In such cases, the chemical non-contact method to completely eliminate the unpleasant odor and restore performance will either not work or require repeated use of the product. And this will take a lot of time and in the end will be more expensive than disassembly and direct cleaning of the evaporator.
Also, a dirty engine can be a source of unpleasant odors penetrating into the cabin through the ventilation system. In this case, it will not be superfluous to wash the engine with one of the engine cleaners that are offered on the market today in a wide range.
