Central AC coil/fin cleaning

[supersurgilator]

Do any of you with central AC regularly clean the outdoor condenser coils? Ours has a lot of built up grass clippings in the bottom pan and I don't know how to remove them. If I use my finger I end up bending the fins so I don't want to do that. I have always heard a garden hose is a good tool, but we don't have one because our outdoor faucet leaks. ANything else that might do the trick? Would canned air be safe to use?

 

[qsd-dan]

Luckily, my unit is under the the overhang and away from any dirt or grass. I keep an eye on the condenser fins, but they haven't appeared to get dirty yet. I wonder if there's a special procedure to clean them or if I could just take a high pressure water hose to it. Any HVAC guys care to comment?

 

[supersurgilator]

A water hose is what is recommended (not a pressure washer if thats what you meant). I was just thinking it would be nice it it was under a cover of some sort to keep it clean. I'm worried about the bottom rusting out as it seems to collect rain water.

 

[yogitunes]

go to Lowes...they sell condenser coil cleaner in a can...it's a spray foam, spray it on and rinse it off with a garden hose, cleans out all the gunk, also works for indoor coils, you don't have to rinse, the condensation rinses it out, works excellent on window units and gets rid of any musty odors...

this should be located next to the window A/C units and filter replacements isle, usually seasonal section....

 

[tristarcxl]

Or just do it like the pros do...

Take the condenser fan off so the coils are exposed from the inside. Pick up any crap that's in the bottom and discard it. If it's one of the tall skinny units, use a shop vac to suck out the garbage.

Spray down the coils from the inside with soap or floor washing detergent like lysol or pine sol. Let it sit for a couple minutes, then spray it out from the inside. Don't use a nozzle or a "jet spray" since you'll damage the coils. A fan spray is fine.

While you have the fan motor off, pull the plugs out of the oil cups and give it a couple drops of detergent-free oil. It'll save you a couple hundred bucks down the road if you do it yearly.

We clean our condensers every year and oil the motors while we're at it. 14 years later and we've still got the original fan motors at work!

 

[qsd-dan]

tristarcxl

Great info, tristarcxl!

 

[spankomatic]

Caution!

Just for info the condenser fins are sharp like razor blades. Very easy to slice a finger or hand open when cleaning. You may want to wear rubber gloves for some protection.
Jim

 

[mayguy]

I take my unit outside apart every spring to clean up any leaves, and what not that have gone in it.

I use simple green and back flush the coil from the inside.

Then I clean the contacts coil, check the wires, and everything else.

Once all back together, I give it a wax job.

 

[toggleswitch2]

You may want to consider a fin-comb to straighten those condenser/evaporator fin coils!

 

[2packs4sure]

A few leaves and clippings laying in the pan of the condenser has NO effect other than causing the pan to rust out quicker. Unless leaves are piled up so high in there that it actually blocks air flow through the condenser coil, it's not an issue.

It's very rare to have debris piled up in there 3, 4, ... 10 inches. It does happen, then it needs attention.

 

[stevet]

Double Caution!!!

To anyone who even considers cleaning their condenser units!

TURN OFF AND TAG OUT THE POWER SOURCE TO THE UNIT!

You may have forgotten to turn up the thermostat or turn off the power to the whole system and the system could turn on unexpectedly while you have your hands in there!

That won't be a pretty site either!

 

[autowasherfreak]

I've never cleaned a central unit, but I have cleaned many a window unit when I worked a small motel. I used a hose and Mean Green. I sprayed the unit with the Mean Green, let it set for little while and then hosed it down. Some of the units that were supposedly not working worked perfectly after that. Some that were replaced with new units I took home and used for about five years. I have a large in the wall Climette that needs a good cleaning, just needs some help taking it outside.

 

[whirlcool]

I take the exterior housing off of our unit (A Trane XL 1500, about a dozen screws) and pour a solution of Dawn dish detergent and warm water over it. Then I let it sit for 15 minutes.

Then I rinse it with a hose until the water runs clean. Down here we have all this green pollen in the air and it sticks between the fins of the unit. And you ought to see how dirty the water is when it's blown out of the unit.

I have drilled a few holes in the bottom plate of the unit to allow water to escape the bottom pan.

Before I reinstall the exterior cover, I pour some fire ant killer onto the bottom plate. For some reason, fire ants are attracted to electricity. I have had an A/C unit fail due to jillions of fire ants melted in the motor solenoid contacts.
This seems to prevent them from coming inside the unit.

While ours has fins, our neighbor has a unit which has some kind of metallic fuzz where the fins should be. But he doesn't worry about it an never cleans it anyway.

 

[twintubdexter]

a tale of a real dummy...

Like I've mentioned before, I worked in the service department of a large appliance retailer when I was young. I grew up learning about refrigeration. When I bought my modest home here in Palm Springs I thought I was "Mr. Know-It-All" when it came to maintaining my two central air conditioners. Even though the units are in a clean, cemented area free from leaves, dirt and debris I hosed the condensers off monthly during the hot season. When one of the units began to fail I decided to PUT MY GLASSES ON and have a closer look. What I thought were shiny, bright and clean units were the completely bent over condenser fins reflecting light like a sheet of aluminum foil. The air flow was dismal. I tried to straighten the fins with a condenser comb and even a stiff wire brush but the air flow remained restricted and they looked like they fell off a truck.

I ended up replacing both units, pretty much a waste of $8,000 since the ones I ruined were only 8 years old. At least the new stuff (American Standard) is quiet, Energy Star efficient and has spine fin condensers that I ever so g-e-n-t-l-y clean with a light spray of the garden hose...and I wear my glasses.

 

[launderess]

Don't Forget Room/Wall Units As Well

Our Friedrich "Wallmaster" unit comes out about every two years and given a good cleaning. Since it is an older model (1997), with mostly all metal parts, yes things can be tricky but with caution it can be done properly.

Like to use Nu-Calgon professional products as one feels they get the job done and one can get on with things. Regardless of what hardware stores sell and will tell you, do NOT use those acid based condenser and coil cleaners. Leave that stuff to the pros. It can and will not only eat away the metal in one's ac, but can cause some severe and nasty burns, right down to the bone.

While no rinse cleaners may be ok for the evaporator, condenser coils must be rinsed, but becareful how one goes about it.

It really is amazing how many ACs are chucked out because they "don't cool" when all they really need is a good cleaning. As posted in a thread a year or so ago, our unit was barely croaking out cool, much less cold air. When a repairman came out, he tested the coolant level and promptly stated the unit was low and therefore had a leak, better to chuck it and buy new. After he went, did some research and found that dirty coils could cause the problem, and when that metal shroud was lifted off showing the condenser it had about one half foot of caked on hair/twigs, leaves and god only knows what else.

 

[kenmoreforever]

although I chose to be a washerman, I am HVAC certified if that means anything?But it is best and cheapest to take cover from fan and use leaf blower/vac to remove crud from inside. Then just douse it all with a couple gallons of ammonia. let sit a while then wash out from the inside.

 

[douglasdc6]

Here`s the way we do it - We tear the units down meaning we pull all the side covers & top cover.

Then we spray saturate the coil area with water.

Then pour on the foaming acid based coil cleaner
This stuff works quick so we start washing it off in a hurry.

When the coils have ben completely washed we put the cabinet back together & clean the cabinet with dishwashing detergent to remove oxidation.

Then oil the condenser fan motor & were good to go .

One word of advice Never believe that garbage about spraying a coil cleaner on youre evaporator that is self rinsing .

We use the pink acid based coil cleaner on evaporaters to but we rinse off real good -Yes this involves bringing the water hose up into the attic - The evaporater cleaning will help kill the algee in the primary pan & this is also a good time to flush out the primary & secondary drains then youre in business.

When were finsished the evaporater & condenser coils are nice & bright.

 

[yogitunes]

Curious question?

How long or many times does your unit cycle on and off?

I have a new home, but I don't think the unit put in by the builder is big enough, this thing runs from 8am to 12midnight, now granted there are no shade trees, the house is well insulated, energy star windows, shades are kept closed during the day, attic fan on thermostat, but I just don't get it why it runs continuously...I may have to upgrade to a bigger unit, but not sure what size I have already, when it comes to central air it's measured in ton units, any ideas?