How is an aircon blower fan cleaned when it cannot come out?
Most aircon blower fans can be taken out and washed on their own, which cleans every blade. When a fan cannot come out, because the model is built that way or an old screw has seized, the next best method is a PowerJet wash in place: the unit is bagged on the wall and high-pressure water flushes the fan.
Key takeaways
- Taking it out is best: a blower fan out of the unit gets every blade washed from every side.
- Some fans really cannot come out: certain models are designed with a built-in fan, and a seized screw is quite rare.
- PowerJet in place is the next best: high-pressure water reaches between the blades where a brush cannot.
- Check the drain pan too: a drain pan that cannot be removed is more prone to water leaks.
In the video above, Uncle Eric answers a question a viewer asked: why do some technicians say the blower fan cannot be removed? He explains the two reasons, then shows our technician washing a fan in place, with a wash bag fitted around the unit and dirty water running into it.
How to make sure your blower fan gets cleaned properly
- Look first. Shine a torch into the air outlet. Black spots or grey fluff on the blower fan mean it needs a proper wash, not a wipe.
- Ask before the service whether the blower fan on your model can be taken out.
- If it can, expect it to come out and be washed on its own, as it is at every one of our premium servicing visits.
- If it cannot, ask for a high-pressure wash in place with a wash bag around the unit. A brush and a spray bottle only clean the front edges of the blades.
- Ask about the drain pan as well. If it stays in, the slime at the back of it is hard to clear, and leaks are more likely.
If you can see black spots on the blades, book your next service.
Why do some blower fans not come out?
There are two reasons, and Eric is clear that neither is the technician being lazy.
Reason | What it means | How we clean it |
|---|---|---|
Built-in by design | Some models are made so the blower fan cannot be removed for servicing | PowerJet wash in place |
Seized screw | The fan is meant to come out, but an old screw is jammed tight. Quite rare | PowerJet wash in place; forcing it can strip or break the part |
Normal fan | The fan comes out with the usual screws | Removed and PowerJet-washed on its own |
How a PowerJet wash in place works
A waterproof wash bag goes around the indoor unit so nothing reaches your wall or floor. High-pressure water is then aimed through the blower fan from inside the bag. Dust and mould that sit deep between the curved blades are flushed out and run down into the bag; in our videos that water often comes out black. We dry the unit and put it back together. You can read more about the method in what a PowerJet wash is.
How the three methods compare
Method | What gets clean | What stays behind |
|---|---|---|
Fan taken out and PowerJet-washed | Every blade, from every side | Nothing that matters |
PowerJet wash in place | Most of the dirt between the blades | Some dirt on the far side of the blades |
Brush and spray bottle | The front edges of the blades | Packed dust and mould deeper in |
Why a drain pan that cannot come out leaks more
The drain pan sits under the evaporator coil and catches the water the aircon pulls out of the air. Over time a jelly-like slime grows in it. When the drain pan can be removed, we take it out and wash it until no residue is left, which is the surest way to stop it blocking the drain. When it is built in, some of that slime stays behind, and it is very prone to causing water leaks. We explain how that slime forms in why aircon drain pipes clog with slime.
That is why Eric's advice for anyone buying a new aircon is simple: ask whether the blower fan and the drain pan can be removed for cleaning. It is one of the practical checks in our guide to buying a new aircon.
What it costs
Job | Price | What is included |
|---|---|---|
Premium servicing | S$80 for 1 unit | Blower fan and drain pan PowerJet-washed, removed where they can be, in place where they cannot |
Chemical wash | S$120 per unit | Premium servicing plus proper coil chemical on the evaporator coil |
Not sure which your aircon needs? Compare them in chemical wash vs chemical overhaul.
When to call a technician
Book a service if the blower fan shows black spots, the air smells musty, the airflow feels weaker than before, or the aircon has started to drip. You can book online in under a minute, or ask Luna on WhatsApp at any hour.
Frequently asked questions
Is a blower fan cleaned in place as clean as one that is taken out?
Not quite. A fan out of the unit can be washed from every side. When it cannot come out, a high-pressure wash in place is the next best method and removes most of the dirt, much more than a brush or a spray bottle.
My technician said the screw is jammed. Is that true?
It happens, but it is quite rare. A screw that has seized over the years can strip or break the part if it is forced, so we wash the fan in place instead and tell you what we found.
Does a fan that cannot come out cost more to service?
No. Our premium servicing is S$80 for one unit, and the blower fan is washed either way: taken out where it can be, PowerJet-washed in place where it cannot.
Which aircons have blower fans or drain pans that cannot be removed?
Some models are designed that way. We do not single out brands. When you buy, ask the seller or installer whether the blower fan and drain pan can be removed for cleaning.
How often should the blower fan be cleaned?
At every service. For an aircon that runs most nights in Singapore, that means every 3 to 4 months, before dust and mould build up between the blades.
Eric Lim, aka Uncle EricFounder of iAircon.Repair, now in its 10th year servicing aircons in Singapore. Some of our jobs are filmed, and you can watch the work on YouTube.
