'Full dismantling' clean or in-place? One company says only dismantled is a proper clean
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The second sounds more thorough. Is dismantling really needed? See current rates on the Prices page.
What is really happening
The study everyone quotes for 'over 99% fewer fungi' used alkaline detergent, brushing and pressure rinsing – not dismantling. In place, with the cover sealed to the wall and the hose to the bucket, the adjustable jet reaches the full depth of the evaporator and, turning the roller, every blade. Dismantling has hidden costs: every roller removal risks the rubber bearing and aged plastic clips, and the evaporator only comes out with the refrigerant circuit opened (which is no longer maintenance) or stays on the wall anyway. So 'complete dismantling' usually means casing + roller + pan removed, with the evaporator still washed in place.
- Filters retain some airborne particles.
- The coil transfers heat; during cooling it can collect condensate.
- The blower moves air.
- The pan collects condensate for drainage.
- Washing with alkaline detergent, brushing and high-pressure rinsing reduces fungi inside the unit by more than 99%. [Indoor Air, 2023]
- The blower (cross-flow fan) is the most fungus-contaminated component of a split unit, more than the filter or the front of the evaporator. [Indoor Air, 2023]
- Professional cleaning of split-unit components substantially reduced bacterial and fungal counts on all measured components. [Frontiers in Public Health / PubMed Cent, 2024]
- Daikin recommends periodic maintenance carried out by a specialist, in addition to user filter cleaning. [Daikin Europe, 2020]
What we do on site
- We inspect first: if the roller has plaster-hard deposits or the pan is cracked, we tell you partial dismantling really makes sense and point you to it; on a 7-year-old Daikin with normal care, it is not the case.
- Double waterproof cover sealed to the wall, 2 m hose to the white bucket, foil on the floor.
- Alkaline solution on the evaporator, roller and pan; 5–10 minutes.
- Washing with an adjustable-pressure washer – more pressure on the fins, less on the roller, which we turn by hand blade by blade; we wash until the bucket water runs clear.
- Pan and hose flushed until clear outside; sanitising; filters washed; outdoor unit washed in place.
- Drying on 'Fan', temperature, drain and noise test. See current rates on the Prices page.
What you can do yourself
- Ask the dismantling company what exactly they take apart and whether the evaporator stays on the wall – it usually does.
- Ask for photos of the roller after cleaning, whichever method.
What NOT to do
- Do not accept dismantling on an old unit just 'to be safe' – 7-year-old plastic clips break.
- Do not accept in-place washing without a cover and without pressure either – that is the other extreme.
Prevention
Annual in-place cleaning; if you reach 4–5 years without cleaning, then we talk about partial dismantling.
When to call us
0764 012 943 (also WhatsApp), Monday–Saturday 08:00–20:00; Otopeni is inside our area.
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Sources (3)
The information on this page is educational and based on cited sources; it does not replace medical advice. We do not do repairs, installation or refrigerant circuit work.