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Started By
Message
Cleaning AC Condenser unit
Posted on 7/2/18 at 2:00 pm
Posted on 7/2/18 at 2:00 pm
My air is working, but it just doesn't seem like it's working well. i.e. at night we can't get it below 71-72deg, which was not the case last summer.
BIL told me most likely that the outside unit is probably dirty with grass and needs to be sprayed from the inside out. So i'm going to try that.
question - i see some stuff called Coil Cleaner, is that necessary? or helpful?
Any other tips?
(AC man BIL is out of town
)
BIL told me most likely that the outside unit is probably dirty with grass and needs to be sprayed from the inside out. So i'm going to try that.
question - i see some stuff called Coil Cleaner, is that necessary? or helpful?
Any other tips?
(AC man BIL is out of town
)
8
Posted on 7/2/18 at 2:03 pm to SportTiger1
Just use water hose
Posted on 7/2/18 at 2:04 pm to SportTiger1
My Ac guy cleaned mine last week and he sprayed it from the outside with the hose.
Posted on 7/2/18 at 2:17 pm to SportTiger1
quote:
i see some stuff called Coil Cleaner, is that necessary? or helpful?
Not necessary but helpful.
It's an acid (I think) that just helps to loosen some of the crap that gets on the coils.
Posted on 7/2/18 at 2:19 pm to SportTiger1
Ideally you want to spray from inside out, this way you do not compact the surface dirty you see on the coil and get out more of the compacted dirty that in there. If you do spray from the outside make sure to have a steep angle with the water hose so you spray all your surface dirt downward.
I would not use coil cleaner, if you don't get it all out then it will start to eat at your coil fins.
I would not use coil cleaner, if you don't get it all out then it will start to eat at your coil fins.
Posted on 7/2/18 at 2:33 pm to Harambe
Also want to advise to spray the fins head on and not at a left or right angle. Those fins are aluminum and if spraying at an angle, especially with one of those nozzles that generate a nice tight straight stream of water, they will bend.
Posted on 7/2/18 at 2:40 pm to gumbo2176
Good info. thanks.
i shined a bright flashlight from the inside out last night when it was completely dark out, and no light whatsoever came through. I'm guessing thats a really bad thing?
i shined a bright flashlight from the inside out last night when it was completely dark out, and no light whatsoever came through. I'm guessing thats a really bad thing?
Posted on 7/2/18 at 3:17 pm to SportTiger1
I would buy the condenser cleaner than you can mix with water in a pump sprayer. They sell the stuff in an aerosol can but you would need a ton of it and you'll be better off with the stuff you can use a few gallons of at the time. I use the nu-brite gallon jugs.
Take the top off so you can get between the outside coil fin protectors. If you can't see any light getting through you can bet on losing over 10% of your cap in the units current condition.
The solution is actually a mild caustic. Wear gloves and rinse off anything that won't hold up to that type of chemical (especially yourself).
Make sure you kill the power to the unit. If it is a goodman (like the unit I have) be prepared to fight that top fan cover back on... they are a pain.
you can pick up the spray for the evaporator while you are at it. That spray is designed to evaporate and does not need to be rinsed off which is a must(since you will be using it inside)
check your temp on the vent closest to your unit and the temp on your return vent and see how much of an output and return difference you have before and after cleaning. That will give you a good measuring stick to determine if the coil cleaning gave you all of the yield you are missing or if you may have some wear on another part.
Take the top off so you can get between the outside coil fin protectors. If you can't see any light getting through you can bet on losing over 10% of your cap in the units current condition.
The solution is actually a mild caustic. Wear gloves and rinse off anything that won't hold up to that type of chemical (especially yourself).
Make sure you kill the power to the unit. If it is a goodman (like the unit I have) be prepared to fight that top fan cover back on... they are a pain.
you can pick up the spray for the evaporator while you are at it. That spray is designed to evaporate and does not need to be rinsed off which is a must(since you will be using it inside)
check your temp on the vent closest to your unit and the temp on your return vent and see how much of an output and return difference you have before and after cleaning. That will give you a good measuring stick to determine if the coil cleaning gave you all of the yield you are missing or if you may have some wear on another part.
This post was edited on 7/3/18 at 7:21 am
Posted on 7/2/18 at 3:25 pm to TSS_Tiger
I've sprayed them from the outside and from the inside. Just depends what I feel like.
You don't have to blast the coils as you may bend the fins as others have stated.
Like washing a car. Start from the top and work your way down.
Sounds really dirty if you can't see light coming through it. I would consider the coil cleaner to help loosen the dirt.
You don't have to blast the coils as you may bend the fins as others have stated.
Like washing a car. Start from the top and work your way down.
Sounds really dirty if you can't see light coming through it. I would consider the coil cleaner to help loosen the dirt.
Posted on 7/2/18 at 5:07 pm to SportTiger1
I just use Simple Green, wait 5 minutes, set my hose to shower mode, and then spray from the inside
Posted on 7/2/18 at 6:34 pm to SportTiger1
Thanks for the suggestion! I couldn’t believe how dirty my coils were and I imagine it was cutting my efficiency down considerably. This is only the front side and the after picture from hosing it down. The fence side was even worse than this.
Posted on 7/2/18 at 7:23 pm to SportTiger1
Your unit would have to be pretty damn stopped up to cause the cooling to be affected. best to clean it anyway, though. Change the inside filter and buy a couple of cans of that spray crap. Be sure to turn the power off to the outside unit, as if it kicks on, it will blow that detergent all over you.
ETA: hate to say it, but it is more likely that you are low on Freon than the coil being that dirty.
ETA: hate to say it, but it is more likely that you are low on Freon than the coil being that dirty.
This post was edited on 7/2/18 at 7:24 pm
Posted on 7/2/18 at 8:03 pm to Spankum
Well I got out there and cleaned the unit...but it sure didn't seem very dirty. But it does have 2 layers of coils so maybe you cant see it very well. We shall see
This post was edited on 7/2/18 at 8:04 pm
Posted on 7/2/18 at 8:20 pm to SportTiger1
A highly overlooked thing is the airfilters. Change them bimonthly at the least.
But more than likely you are a little low on Freon
But more than likely you are a little low on Freon
Posted on 7/2/18 at 9:01 pm to Harambe
I'm not an AC guy, but I think some coils can be properly cleaned by spraying from the outside, and some should be sprayed from the inside out.
Posted on 7/2/18 at 11:23 pm to SportTiger1
Your evaporator coil is probably more important in keeping clean than your condenser.
Posted on 7/3/18 at 4:33 am to plazadweller
quote:
Your evaporator coil is probably more important in keeping clean than your condenser.
This. Bad thing, mine started leaking water yesterday.
Going to have to clean out the dam drip line for the A coil and clean that coil this morning. The pan is clean and draining. 
Posted on 7/3/18 at 8:23 am to fishfighter
anyone have tips on cleaning evap coil? I want to start doing this once or twice per year.
Posted on 7/3/18 at 8:27 am to LEASTBAY
quote:
anyone have tips on cleaning evap coil?
this
Posted on 7/3/18 at 8:28 am to Timmayy
quote:
A highly overlooked thing is the airfilters. Change them bimonthly at the least.
I switch to the cheap thin see-through kind this time of year and change them often. After a little issue earlier in the year with a clogged drain line bleach down + cheap hi-flow filters + good cleaning with coil cleaner on the outside and have been ok so far this summer.
:Fingerscrossed:
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