Air conditioning maintenance: The importance of disinfecting air conditioners

L'air conditioning maintenance is an essential operation to ensure the smooth operation and longevity of air conditioning systems. Key maintenance tasks include disinfection plays a vital role in guaranteeing healthy, high-quality air. It eliminates or neutralises undesirable micro-organisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses, which can accumulate in air conditioning units. According to the AFNOR NF T 72-101Disinfection is defined as an operation aimed at killing or inactivating these micro-organisms on inert surfaces, thus ensuring a clean and safe environment.

What does disinfection involve in air conditioning maintenance?

During theair conditioning maintenanceThe term "disinfection" covers a number of different actions, each targeting a specific type of micro-organism. Here are the main types of disinfection included in air conditioning maintenance:

1. Bactericide A bactericidal product is used to kill bacteria. These micro-organisms, often present in the air, can cause infections and must be eliminated to maintain healthy air in air-conditioned spaces.
2. Levuricide This product kills yeasts, micro-organisms that can proliferate in air conditioning systems, especially in environments with high humidity.
3. Fungicide Fungicide: A fungicide is needed to eliminate the fungi (mould and yeast) that can grow in air conditioners, affecting indoor air quality and potentially causing serious respiratory illness.
4. Sporicide This product kills bacterial spores, particularly resistant forms of bacteria that can persist even after conventional cleaning.
5. Virucide At theair conditioning maintenanceA virucide is used to eliminate viruses present in ducts and air conditioning units, ensuring a safer environment against viral diseases.

These different disinfection actions ensure that air conditioning maintenance covers all aspects of health safety, by attacking various types of harmful micro-organisms.

Why does air conditioning maintenance require regular disinfection?

Air conditioner maintenance, including disinfection, is necessary for a number of reasons:

Protecting the health of occupants

Air conditioners, especially those that are poorly maintained, are breeding grounds for bacteria, viruses, moulds and other micro-organisms that can affect people's health. Regular air conditioning maintenance and disinfection reduces the risk of respiratory illnesses, allergies and other health problems linked to air quality.

Improving air conditioner performance

A clean and disinfected air conditioner works better and uses less energy. Accumulated dirt and micro-organisms can clog filters and ducts, making the appliance less efficient. Good air conditioning maintenance helps to avoid these problems.

Limiting recontamination

Disinfection during air conditioning maintenance eliminates micro-organisms present at a given moment, but does not guarantee continuous protection. Micro-organisms can redevelop after the operation. This is why it is essential to carry out this maintenance regularly, to keep the microbial density below a risk threshold.

The difference between decontamination, disinfection and sterilisation

When it comes to air conditioning maintenance, it's important to understand the differences between these often confused terms:

Decontamination

This operation aims to reduce the number of micro-organisms on surfaces to levels deemed safe. It is often used before disinfection to prepare surfaces.

Disinfection

During theair conditioning maintenanceThe aim of disinfection is to eliminate the micro-organisms present at the time of the operation, but the result is only temporary. It must be repeated regularly.

Sterilisation 

Unlike disinfection, sterilisation is a more advanced process which aims to eliminate allmicro-organisms, including spores. It is generally used in environments requiring strict hygiene, such as hospitals or laboratories.

Table summarising the different stages of air conditioning maintenance :

ConceptClim3000 air conditioning maintenance equipment

Clim3000, the steam cleaner for air conditioners

In 2014, at the request of professional air-conditioners, IBL CONCEPT created professional high-pressure steam cleaning equipment for air-conditioners, the Clim3000 : is a specific steam cleaner designed exclusively for refrigeration and air conditioning professionals.

Ease of implementation, time and fatigue savings, Quality and Brand Image of your Service.
The Clim3000 air conditioning cleaner is designed and recommended for cleaning and disinfecting air conditioners:

• cleaning the fins,
• condensers,
• coolers,
• condensate traps,
• pipes,
• air filters,
• exhaust ducts,
• air vents,
• thorough degreasing and descaling of surfaces

ConceptClim3000 air conditioning maintenance products

Discover our selection of environmentally-friendly disinfectants and degreasers, perfectly suited to use with our cleaning equipment for air conditioning systems.

We offer you 3dBIOA foaming disinfectant degreaser, certified bactericidal, fungicidal and virucidal. This product is highly effective at removing animal and vegetable fats and other types of dirt. It's a versatile product that can be used on a variety of surfaces, cleaning and disinfecting in a single step. It can be applied manually or with our range of stand-alone foam guns.

Our range also includes CLEAND+A high-power foaming degreaser, ideal for dissolving grease, oil, soot, petrol and sludge. Formulated for high performance without damaging the non-ferrous metals in air conditioners, it has been designed by a laboratory to guarantee maximum effectiveness even at low concentrations.

Finally, we propose the DESOGERME100 % perfumed disinfectant is ecological and environmentally friendly. This organic product offers complete, gentle disinfection that's safe for people and the environment.

To sum upair conditioning maintenance Regular decontamination, including disinfection, is essential to ensure the performance of air conditioners while protecting the health of occupants. Operations such as decontamination, disinfection and sterilisation can be tailored to the specific needs of each environment to ensure healthy air and efficient air conditioning. Contact us if you have any questions or would like a quoteor visit us at the showroom in île-de-France.

FAQ - Air conditioning maintenance and disinfection