Air Conditioner Condenser Coil Cleaning - Do You Do It?

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launderess

launderess

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Well do you?

Am asking because despite hearing everyone and their father give oft quoted advice that AC condenser coils need cleaning, others say not.

Had our Friedrich WallMaster ACs out for bit of cleaning before summer weather arrives in earnest. Condenser coils were rather clean, so they just were vacuumed and bushed with coil brush. One wonders if all those using foam condenser coil cleaners just have been got at by those who sell the stuff.
 
Yep, everyone has an opinion on this..... Opinions are like.... well.... you know... everyone has one and they all stink from time to time! 

 

The condenser needs to reject heat from the refrigerant gas to the air, to allow the air conditioner to do its job efficiently. For this to happen, it needs to have air flowing between the fins.  If the space in between the fins is filled with debris; and/or if a "mat" of lint has developed on the surface of the coil; this will limit airflow. The fins being "dingy in color" will not hurt it. 

If you can look at the surfaces of the fins and see that they are clear, and look through the fins and see some light through them; there is little need to use any sort of cleaning chemicals on it. If you can't see through the fins, use a garden hose to spray through the fins. Observe from the other side, to see that the water passes through the fins. Concentrate on any areas where the water doesn't go through easily at first. 

Another concern is corrosion and refrigerant leaks. I tend NOT to use cleaning chemicals because sometimes they can get trapped in dirt and dust, and maintain a corrosive environment around the bottom of the condenser.  When cleaning with the water hose, I try to be sure that there is not any dirt, leaves, dust, or other trash built up under or against the lower areas of the condenser. I've seen several leaks happen when leaves, pine needles, dirt, etc. is allowed to sit there and remain wet. Even without chemicals added to it, decaying plant matter is quite corrosive.  Just take the garden hose with a handheld sprayer, and jet the area under the coil to be sure it is not subject to corrosive debris buildup.  You may need to lift the fan assembly up, to get inside and remove debris, as well. 

Hope this helps!

Sincerely,

David 
 
You should if you want them to last and cool properly and efficiently. On window ac units the air for the condenser is pulled in from the side of the unit and pushed through the coil by the fan. So the dirty side is not going to be the side you see from the outside of the unit. If the air is really dusty or there are lots of insects in the air it can be bad for the coil.

Coils on older units that did not sling the drain water on the coil for efficiency lasted longer. These days I’ve seen the condenser rotten after as little as 2 years with this efficiency method and trying to clean one is next to impossible without making it worse (coil dissolves with water pressure). Of course at this point the units days are numbered no matter the age.
 
Condenser coil being the OUTSIDE or hot side MAY need cleaning, it's true. If as TurboK says, you can't see light through the fins or there is other debri blocking air flow, it will need to be cleaned-Carefully.

You don't want to flatten the fins when cleaning as that will block air flow.

Having your AC unit under an awning, raised up off the ground at least a foot, AND not installed within 10' of a dryer vent is a good idea for several reasons:

1. If there is a lot of leaves it will keep them off the condenser.

2. keeping the sun off the unit allows it to work better and more efficiently.

3. It gives one a chance to install sound insulation and control noise pollution.

4. Avoid putting the unit where it will suck in fine particles of dryer lint because that is the worst. One house I bought had the AC unit right next to the dryer vent and the AC unit had about an inch thick of lint on all surfaces of the condenser. The AC literally couldn't breath and mechanically gasped every couple of minutes. I ended up removing the vent, covering the hole, and placing the dryer vent around the corner of the house about 12' away.

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Repairguy

Yes, very good points on window units. Those silly fans on the condenser side have that extra piece that picks up the water (and what ever gunk is in it) and throws it at the condenser and that, if allowed to happen with particularly dirty air, builds up a gunky mat blocking air flow. One has to wonder if this was planned obsolescence.

I have on occasion cut window screening and used zip ties to attach it to those side vents to keep out leaves and junk.

I will do what is necessary so the water drains from the unit directly so the fan can't fling it anywhere.
Some units have an easily removed plug that will allow the water to simply run out. Some units you can buy a hose kit for.
Other occasions I've drilled a 1/2" to 3/4" hole (strategically) in the pan (and primed and painted it so it didn't rust) so the water could evacuate.


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I hose them off a couple of times in the summer. Likely next week because all the cottonwood and poplar tree's are exploding with their snow like fluff this week and it can coat them with dryer like lint . I don't use a spray nozzle either, just full hose water pressure pouring down from the top of the coils.
 
Friedrich air conditioners for years now have had that slinging thing going on. But according to owners manual and tech/service if customer wishes units can be made to drain condensate.

First method is to use nipple at one end of drain pan to attach a sort of kit that will drip water out of a hose directly outside.

Other is a more complex kit that allows draining condensate into a building's internal system designed for such a purpose.

Most here in NYC just remove nipple and let water drain out of pan. This means one must walk or stand quite carefully around tall buildings during hot moist weather. Otherwise will get "dripped" upon.

With through wall units there are other worries.

If plug is left in place and too much condensate chronically builds and overflows pan, it goes into sleeve. If that piece is corroded, worn or otherwise leads, water seeps into masonry, interior walls and ceilings. No shortage of NYC apartments have major water damage at ceilings caused by air conditioner above leading condensate into walls. Everything from peeling paint/drywall to a moldering nasty mess.

Landlords are often reluctant to fix issue beyond shoving AC up more to increase angle of tilt. What needs to be done is for a new sleeve to be installed. But that is serious work on several fronts. Besides repairing any internal water damage, a new sleeve would require brickwork to be repointed.
 
Our HVAC guy hates those spray foam "no rinse" condenser cleaning products with a hot passion. He feels they are ok when used by those that know what they're doing, but often people don't and end up causing more damage to condenser coils or unit overall than cleaning was worth.

Sadly was with everything else people need to watch out for HVAC service scammers.



Then there are duct cleaning scammers as well...

 
The 1st apartment I lived in, a 1969 built two-story garden style building, had GE sleeve ACs. It was typical wood frame building with brick exterior.
As is the case with any wood structure, the wood shrinks slightly over time. By the time one gets to the second or third floors (if there is one) all the joints cumulatively can make the building an inch or two shorter than it originally was when built.

Though the wood structure shrinks, the bricks don't.
When they installed the brick they put it tight against the bottom of the AC units. No expansion joint. Of course, as time went on, the bricks affectively pushed upwards on the bottom of the AC units causing them to tilt INSIDE the apartment..... and the mess as you've described above ensued.

If one were "lucky" the water would drip out the front far enough away from the wall to put a pail and catch the water. Mine didn't. It ran down the wall and ruined the paint job.
When I moved out I thought they'd say something but management was familiar with the issue as it was happening in other apts. as well.
 
The thing that shocks me

"...Most here in NYC ..."(or anywhere where there are multi-story buildings, the taller the worse the issue) ".... This means one must walk or stand quite carefully around tall buildings during hot moist weather. Otherwise will get "dripped" upon."

When there are tall buildings, with pedestrian sidewalks right up to the building vs. say a 10 foot set back.
Is that not incredibly dangerous like ALL the time, not just when AC units are running.

Yes one could get dribbled on by AC unit(s) but think of all the other things that could drop from up above.

I'm freaking out. How do people live with that I have to wonder.
 
 

 

Funny you should ask that, I am currently washing out my through the wall Frigidaire. As David mentioned it really is important to keep the all the coils clean. I unmount the ac, take it out to the terrace, remove the cabinet, spray with a mixture of Dawn and water, brush, wipe and thoroughly hose rinse. You'd be amazed of the crud that will come out. Always look for black mold. It can be highly toxic. It usually forms around the duct and fan before the front vents. Spray a mixture of bleach with water and wipe out. Rinse well. Always be careful never to wet the area of the electronic controls. Taping plastic is always helpful. Let dry for a few days outside, finish off with a blow dryer in the nooks and crannies to dry out any humid spots, especially in the duct before the vents. 

 

I got 3 more air conditioners to go. I am really behind. I usually do this yearly in the early spring.

 

Good luck.
 
Hmmm...

 

 

I've lived in NYC all my life, to be honest, I can't remember ever being hit with condensate from above. However, I did see once an improperly installed window AC that had fallen and smashed to the sidewalk below. Thankfully no one was hit.   
 
Not So Far

My central A/C unit (my first ever) was installed in May 2014.
I have been very careful about keeping the outdoor unit clean and protected.
In the winter, I put a solid vinyl top cover over it (sides not covered).
In the summer, I put a net cover over the top (stops leaves from getting in) and a fine mesh "filter" covering over the sides. Those items get cleaned off at the end of the cooling season and stored away.
So far, the coils are staying clean and the system seems to be operating just fine.
My philosophy has always been, if it's working fine, don't mess with it!
These annual furnace and A/C inspections are money makers for those in that business.
 
Twice a year

 

<span style="font-family: helvetica;">We have a service contract with the HVAC company that put in the units.  They come out twice a year and clean out both the outside and inside units.  I have used them for years with the old system and the new one we put in two summers ago.  According to what I have read they need a good cleaning a couple times a year.  I have been outside a few times over the years and they spray the coils with something and then take a hose to it and the water that comes out is disgusting.  I can't imagine what would happen if we didn't.</span>
 

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