Congratulations on buying your first home! Along with the joy of finally having your own space comes the sudden realization that you are now 100% responsible for maintaining it.
If your new home has a split system air conditioner, you might be tempted to just leave it alone until something goes wrong. But if you ignore it, you will eventually face a massive power bill or an expensive repair bill.
The single most important piece of maintenance you can do is learning how to clean split system air filters. It takes less than 5 minutes, requires zero tools, and doing it regularly will save you hundreds of dollars in lost efficiency and prevented breakdowns.
Here is your highly visual, foolproof, step-by-step guide to washing your AC filters, specifically tailored for Perth homeowners.
Why Cleaning Your Filters is Non-Negotiable in Perth
Your split system works by sucking warm air from your room, passing it over ice-cold coils, and blowing the chilled air back out. The mesh filters are the gatekeepers. They catch dust, pet hair, pollen, and airborne particles before they hit the delicate internal coils.
In Perth, our air is uniquely aggressive on-air conditioners. If you live near the coast, salty sea air causes dust to stick to the filters like glue. If you live in the hills or newer estates, you are dealing with fine red dirt and construction dust. If you have pets, you are fighting a constant battle against fur.
When those reusable split system filters get clogged, the AC unit essentially chokes. It can’t pull enough air in, which causes the internal coils to freeze solid. A frozen AC uses drastically more electricity to cool your home, and if left frozen for too long, it can permanently burn out the compressor.
The Golden Rule: Clean your filters every 4 to 6 weeks during summer. If you live right on the coast or have shedding pets, do it every 2 weeks.
What You Will Need
- A stable step ladder (never stand on a swivel chair!)
- Your sink or laundry tub
- Lukewarm water (never hot)
- A mild liquid detergent or dish soap
- A soft-bristled brush (like a clean dish brush or a soft toothbrush)
- A dry towel
Step by Step Guide for Cleaning Mesh AC Filters
Step 1: Turn the Unit Off
Before you touch the unit, turn it off using your remote, and then switch it off at the power point on the wall. While the front panel is low voltage, it’s always best practice to eliminate any electrical risk completely.
Step 2: Open the Front Panel
Stand on your ladder and look at the right or left side of the plastic casing on the front of the unit. You will feel a small indentation or a push button. Gently press this and pull the panel upward and toward you. The panel is hinged at the top and will stay attached, resting open like a hood of a car.
Step 3: Remove the Filters
You will now see the mesh filters sitting vertically. They usually come in one or two long panels.
- Gently grip the top of the filter and pull it slightly upward to unclip it from the bottom track.
- Slide the filter downward and out.
- Note how they sit in the tracks so you know how to put them back!
Step 4: Wash the Filters
Take the filters to your laundry sink or bathtub.
- Run lukewarm water over the mesh. Do not use hot water, as it can melt or warp the plastic frame.
- Apply a tiny drop of mild dish soap to the mesh.
- Use your soft brush to gently scrub the mesh in a downward motion. You will be amazed (and slightly disgusted) at how much grey, dusty water runs out.
- Keep rinsing until the water runs completely clear and you can see through the mesh easily.
Step 5: Dry Them Completely (Crucial Step)
This is where many first-timers make a mistake. Do not put wet filters back into the AC. If you do, the moisture will blow directly onto the internal coils, causing an instant mould outbreak and potentially a water leak.
- Give the filters a gentle shake to remove excess water.
- Lay them flat on a dry towel in the sun or a well-ventilated laundry.
- Wait until they are 100% bone dry before reinstalling.
Step 6: Reinstall and Reset
Once dry, simply slide the filters back into the bottom tracks, push them up to lock them into place, and gently push the front panel closed until it clicks. Turn the power back on and enjoy the instantly stronger airflow!
What About Cleaning Return Air Grilles? (For Ducted Owners)
If your new home has ducted air conditioning instead of wall-mounted split systems, the principle is exactly the same, but the filter is much larger. You will have a large cleaning return air grille usually located in the hallway ceiling.
- Use a step ladder to flip the grille open (it usually has a small latch or clips).
- The filter will either slide out or hinge down.
- Because these filters are much larger, the easiest way to clean them is to take them outside and hose them down with a gentle garden hose (no high-pressure nozzles!).
- Leave them in the sun to dry completely before clicking them back into the ceiling.
Crucial Mistakes to Avoid
- Never vacuum the filters: Standard vacuum attachments are too weak and will just push the fine dust deeper into the mesh pores. Running water is the only way to flush the dust out.
- Never use harsh chemicals: Bleach, spray-and-wipe, or heavy degreasers will degrade the plastic mesh over time and can leave a chemical residue that gets blown into your lungs when you turn the AC on. Stick to mild dish soap.
- Never force a broken filter: If your filter has a tear in the mesh or a cracked frame, washing it won’t help. A torn filter lets dust straight through to the coils. You can buy universal replacement mesh filters from Bunnings for about $20—just cut them to size with scissors.
When DIY Isn’t Enough For Air Filter Cleaning In Perth
Washing your mesh filters keeps the surface dust at bay, but it doesn’t clean the inside of the machine. Over 12 months, fine dust will bypass the filter and coat the internal aluminium coils (the evaporator coil) and the internal fan barrel with a thick layer of insulation.
If you have cleaned your filters but your AC is still making a strange smell, struggling to cool, or leaking water, the inside of the unit needs a professional chemical wash.
Attempting to open the internal casing yourself to clean the coils is highly dangerous (due to live 240V wiring) and can easily bend the delicate aluminium fins, ruining the unit.
That is where Air Cool Care steps in. We provide comprehensive split system servicing across Perth. We use specialized, safe chemical cleaners to strip away years of grime, flush the drain pipes, and restore your AC to brand-new efficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions Split System Filter Cleaning in Perth
1. Can I run my split system without the filters in?
Absolutely not. Without the filters, dust, hair, and dirt will coat the internal evaporator coil in a matter of weeks. This will choke the system, cause it to ice up, and void your manufacturer’s warranty. Always run the unit with filters installed.
2. How do I know if my filters are dirty?
The easiest test is the “Hold it up to the light” test. Remove the filter and hold it up toward a ceiling light or a window. If you can clearly see the light shining through the mesh holes, it is relatively clean. If the mesh looks opaque and blocks the light, it’s time for a wash.
3. What happens if I put the filters back in while they are still damp?
The air blowing over the damp filter will create the perfect dark, moist environment for mould and mildew to grow inside your split system. Your next experience turning on the AC will be a horrific “dirty sock” smell blowing into your living room. Always wait for them to be bone dry.
Conclusion
Owning a home doesn’t mean you have to be an expert in HVAC mechanics. Simply taking 5 minutes every month to clean split system air filters is the ultimate preventative maintenance. It guarantees your home stays cool during a Perth heatwave, keeps your electricity bills as low as possible, and extends the life of your expensive air conditioning system.
But remember, surface cleaning only goes so far. For deep internal cleans and annual safety checks, leave it to the professionals at Air Cool Care.