What Is Too Much Pressure To Clean Ac Coils

Air Conditioning Cooling Coil or Evaporator Gyre Cleaning Methods

POST a QUESTION or Comment near cleaning methods for air conditioner or estrus pump cooling and condensing coils

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Air conditioner or heat pump cooling roll / evaporator coil cleaning methods:

This article discusses the how the cooling coil (evaporator scroll) in the air conditioning air handler unit is cleaned. These same methods volition work on the outdoor roll or condensing coil as well. Our photo at page top shows a very muddied cooling whorl in the attic air handler component of a primal ac system.

How to clean a muddied or moldy ac cooling gyre or evaporator coil, or a dirty condensing coil; Utilise of spray cream cleaners & deodorizers on cooling coils - Use of liquid cleaners on cooling coils; Use of compressed air to clean cooling or condensing coils; Use of pressure level washers or steam to clean HVAC Coils.

We besides provide an Article Index for this topic, or you tin attempt the page top or lesser SEARCH BOX as a quick way to find information y'all need.

How & Why Ac & Heat Pump Evaporator Coils (Cooling coils) are Cleaned

Which Cooling or Estrus Pump "Coil" is Which: Condensing Ringlet & Cooling/Evaporator Coils Defined

The COOLING Gyre or EVAPORATOR COIL discussed here is the evaporator coil found inside the air handler, used to cool air diddled across it and into the building occupied space. If your business organization is with If your equipment is a oestrus pump these terms tin can be a chip confusing considering in heating fashion, your heat pump system'south indoor coil is warming, not cooling the air blown across it

The CONDENSING COIL is normally on the outdoor or compressor portion of your air conditioning system. The job of the condensing curlicue is to cool high temperature refrigerant gas to condense it dorsum to a liquid refrigerant form.

Why practice we clean the HVAC evaporator or cooling coil, or the condenser gyre?

Clay and debris accumulating on an air conditioner or heat pump coil cake airflow across the whorl, increasing the cost of heating or cooling the building. In severe cases cooling or condensing coils can get so blocked that air menstruation is seriously reduced, possibly also leading to an evaporator or cooling coil icing problem indoors or an overheated, damaged compressor outdoors, or simply loss of cooling chapters of the system.

In improver, a blocked evaporator ringlet tin can crusade the HVAC compressor to run at higher than normal temperatures - a condition that over time tin can intermission downwardly lubricants circulating inside the arrangement, thus shortening the life of the compressor motor itself.

BLOCKED COOLING COIL - Air Conditioner Evaporator Coil Blocked by Debris

Photograph of a dirt blocked air conditioning evaporator coil Water ice on the COOLING Curl is non the only (nor even the virtually common) cause of blocked air menstruation in an air conditioner. This photo shows how hands debris can stick to and clog the inlet side of the cooling coil in an air workout organization. This evaporator coil was nearly totally blocked with dust and debris. How does this happen?

There was no air filter installed in the system. Ordinary firm dust is comprised largely of fabric fibers and skin cells.

These and other debris in building dust such equally soot and organic particles similar pollen and mold spores all join to course a gray mat on the fins of the cooling gyre in an air handler.

Debris sticks particularly quickly to this surface considering of the combination of close spacing of the cooling fins (almost 1/xvi" apart) and the fact that condensate forming on the scroll keeps the surface damp.

Details most the detection and cleaning of clay and debris which block an air conditioner cooling coil are at DIRTY COOLING COIL / EVAPORATOR COIL.

Guide to Procedures for Cleaning Air Conditioner or Heat Pump Evaporator Coils: Using Air, Brushes, Chemicals, or Detergents to Make clean A/C Coils

Thorough cooling coil or A/C evaporator ringlet cleaning can crave cutting refrigerant lines, removal of the coil and other components for cleaning, and reinstallation, pulling a vacuum on the refrigerant lines, and recharge with refrigerant.

Such service and repair may involve meaning expense. For this reason in that location are several "in place" cleaning methods using foams and sprays that are a simpler procedure for cleaning an air conditioning or heat pump coil.

Lookout man out: be sure that electrical power is off to the HVAC equipment before opening access panels or working on the system. Relying only on the door safety interlock switch to turn off equipment ability may be dangerous as wiring inside the unit will still be "live" in some locations.

Using Air: Compressed air for cleaning HVAC evaporator coils

Some HVAC technicians clean an evaporator whorl by blowing information technology off with compressed air. This is a quick and probably effective method to clean the coil, which has the additional feature of bravado dust, droppings, and perhaps mold into the building air - not something we approve.

Air is sprayed from the cleaner side of the curl towards the dirty side - or in other words, in the opposite direction from the normal air menstruation across the scroll. Exist sure to spray from the correct side of the curlicue or you'll just be forcing dirt and debris more deeply into the coil fins.

Watch out: if you lot are using loftier pressure level air to attempt to clean a coil, be sure you blow air at right-angles or straight through the coil fins. Blowing loftier pressure air (or water or steam) at the HVAC coil fins on an bending is likely to bend over the fins, clogging the coil and perhaps ruining it. If only a few fins have been bent on a coil they can frequently be straightened by working gently with an HVAC coil comb designed for that purpose.

Watch out: if you are non careful, just using compressed air to accident off a whorl may leave a large amount of dust and droppings within the air handler where it collects anew on coil surfaces, or in your eyes (unsafe). Using a shop vac in concert with the compressed air sprayer and moving advisedly (to avoid damaging roll fins) can reduce grit and debris spillover and make cleaning upwards easier.

Condenser coil cleaning: Nosotros don't have a complaint about using compressed air to clean an outdoor evaporator coil since we don't have the same business concern about blowing debris into the building or its duct piece of work.

Castor-cleaning of A/C or estrus pump cooling or heating coils

When the coil is soiled by a fairly light blanket of dust and droppings, information technology can often exist successfully cleaned using a soft brush. If you clean you lot A/C or oestrus pump coil every three or four months using this method y'all may reduce cooling (or heating) costs and you may be able to avert more costly or troublesome coil cleaning procedures.

If your HVAC equipment is operating in a dusty area or if no ane has been maintaining proper filters in the arrangement it is likely that yous'll need to clean the curl more frequently, perhaps even monthly to keep the A/C or heat pump system at meridian operating efficiency and effectiveness.

We have tried using a shop vac with a soft brush attachment to clean the A/C coils, only if your scroll is mounted in the air handler so as to not go out much room to access all of its surface this approach doesn't piece of work well.

Watch out to avoid damaging coil fins when using any tools, brushes, or vacuum cleaners effectually the equipment.

Using Chemicals to Clean A/C Coils

There are plenty of gyre cleaning chemicals sold for cleaning A/C or estrus pump systems, both acid and alkaline-based.

Watch out: We do not recommend using strong chemicals on an A/C or heat pump coil considering of the risk of corrosion damage to the gyre or the production of baneful odors & fumes. To be rubber, bank check with your HVAC equipment manufacturer to be sure that your cleaning approach is ane they corroborate.

Indeed at that place are foaming cooling coil cleaners on the market that tin gently lift and help remove curl-clogging debris with minimum damage to the cooling roll.

Field Report: corrosion visible after a cooling coil was cleaned

Cooling coil after cleaning (C) InspectAPedia - K.C. I just had my duct work and Ac cooling fins cleaned out. Subsequently the cleaning information technology appeared as if the aluminum cooling fins were full of with fluffy green stuff.

[Click to overstate any image]

I called the technicians who came back to wait and then explained that what I was seeing was corroded aluminum that was more than visible since the cooing fins are now clean. Although this sounds plausible I have two concerns.

i. if if is corroded aluminum practice I need to be concerned nearly using the ducts.

2. it is not corroded aluminum and they did a really bad job at cleaning

The cleaners are part of the national duct cleaners clan (NADCA), seemed quite knowledgeable and experienced (no complaints, A+ at BBB), but I am surprised that the fins look so bad. I would like to know whether what I am seeing is to be expected.

50. I did snap a film on the i side of the "V" that was hands accessible, here it is. This is the AFTER cleaning motion picture, I dont have a before. The schmutz has a slightly greenish hue.

The Ac handler and ductwork is quondam, and based on the amount of crud throughout the organization appeared as if it may accept never been cleaned earlier.(the condenser unit itself is 25+ years onetime, but still working). That conclusion likewise comes from the fact that the prior owners seemed to take pride in performing NO basic maintenance on the house for many years. I just hope that firing up the Air-conditioning system in a couple weeks won't endanger my family unit. - Kevin 4/28/2014

cheers. K.C. four/28/2014

Reply:

In my initial reply I said "I am not sure I buy the explanation that "you only see the crud considering now we've cleaned the coils". That would exist the instance if we saw thick green crud that was actually blocking or covering-over the curlicue assembly.

But at present that I can benefit from seeing your photograph (above left) I think that we are looking at corroded aluminum fins on the coil and that the cleaning company is being dead honest in saying you couldn't see this before - this condition would have been covered if there were a layer of thick dust and debris.

Your photo is not quite clear on the point, just if there is proficient air flow betwixt the fins on the curl and presuming it's non leaking, it should be functional. This is about as skilful as y'all're going to go in cleaning this coil. It would not be likely that the coil cleaning procedure using canonical methods and materials would endanger your family. (You might however want to inspect the HVAC organization ductwork for cleanliness, including the air handler and blower fan assembly.)

There is some oestrus transfer loss where aluminum coil fins are deteriorated by corrosion, but most likely a significant gain in coil functioning overall past cleaning if it was previously debris-clogged.

To sympathize this roll's performance better, an in-focus photograph looking direct into the coil fins - at right angles to the plane of the scroll - would let us see whether or not at that place is open air space between the fins. Take care non to impairment the fins nor cut yourself on sharp edges. It may aid to try shining a light from the other side of the whorl if information technology's accessible. If not the photograph will rely on lighting or a flash from the camera's side.

If we see open air space between the fins then the coli has been successfully as opened equally nosotros're going to go information technology.

Unfortunately I cannot recommend whatever more ambitious cleaning like brushing. The aluminum fin material is thin to brainstorm with and is more than fragile at present equally it has been corroded. More aggressive cleaning that bends (which means blocks) or removes (which ways however more chapters loss) fin material just makes matters worse.

Supercede the gyre, or the whole unit, if/when the scroll leaks refrigerant.

Field Report: Using Hydrogen Peroxide to Clean an HVAC Roll?

I used Hydrogen peroxide three% to do the job and it gave a bad smell. Kind of a chemical smell. I think the peroxide reacted with the zinc,aluminum, copper or nickel metal in the cooling coils. Is it OK to use peroxide to make clean cooling coils likewise the conventional HVAC tech cleaning methods? I alive in an apartment and sometimes my AC air starts to get a moldy smell to it.

The showtime time I cleaned it out myself there was all this orange yucky fungal sludge in the baste tray and there was and then much of it that it had chock-full the drain pipe which I had to clear out. I cleaned it out with five% hydrogen peroxide and whatever it was it bubbled like crazy and so I believe the peroxide was reacting with a biological agent. Information technology likewise reacted with something betwixt the fins of the cooling roll to give a smell slight of sulphur and burned gunpowder. What are your thoughts on the thing? - N.M.

While we have read reports that the oxide on the surface of aluminum HVAC coil parts reduces the severity of chemical reaction between an acid or base of operations cleaner and the metallic, we take as well had reports of problems with corrosion and odors when this approach was tried.

So while the "bubbling" action of hydrogen peroxide is appealing as a cleaner, nosotros are warned that chemical reactions between some gyre cleaning products and the aluminum or copper A/C or heat pump ringlet parts can corrode the fins or tubing, dissentious the arrangement, ultimately leading to leaks and the demand for a costly coil replacement.

Chemical reactions between some coil cleaning products and the aluminum or copper A/C or heat pump ringlet parts can also produce obnoxious odors or fumes, maybe toxic or irritating fumes, and in some cases may leave an scent in the system that itself becomes an issue.

See our discussion of detergents and foam sprays for scroll cleaning, below - those are safer approaches to coil cleaning, especially if you're not an practiced.

Using Detergents or Water for cleaning A/C coils

Using a simple mitt sprayer or garden sprayer (these produce a gentle spray) information technology may exist possible to clean your A/C or heat pump scroll effectively using tap h2o or a mild detergent. The advantage of using these gentle solutions is that there is little take chances of damaging the gyre fins or tubing compared with the apply of more harsh chemicals.

Wet the A/C or heat pump scroll surfaces with your spray-on detergent, allow it soak in for xv minutes or then (but not long enough to dry out), then rinse the curl and ringlet fins clean. Remove spillover and debris from the condensate pan where your spray and droppings land, using a shop vac or paw wiping.

Sentry out: don't bang around inside the air handler with your shop vac or you may impairment the evaporator/cooling coil or coil fins; and be careful when wiping by hand that you don't go cut on precipitous fin edges.

If using water or a not-sudsing mild detergent doesn't work to clean off your curlicue, you may demand to use a more than ambitious whorl cleaning method such as those described below.

Using Foam or spray HVAC curlicue and fin cleaners

Using a garden sprayer (or a sprayer that may be included in some pre-packaged A/C curlicue cleaning systems and products), the coils are sprayed with a foaming cleaner specifically designed for HVAC systems. An reward of this approach is that it is mechanically gentle, reducing the risk of damage to the coil or its fins. And if you select a beneficial cleaner it is besides chemically gentle, avoiding corrosion harm to the whorl.

Where to Buy HVAC and Refrigeration Equipment Roll Cleaning Products

Advice on Choosing an A/C or Heat Pump Curlicue Cleaning Product: chemical science

Watch out: review your choice of HVAC coil cleaner with the equipment manufacturer and/or the cleaner manufacturer earlier choosing a scroll cleaner, and then be sure to follow the coil cleaner's instructions. Choosing the incorrect type or incorrect chemistry of coil cleaner or failure to rinse off cleaners (some require rinsing) can result in costly impairment to the gyre and could even be unsafe.

Do not use an acidic soil cleaner on coils made of aluminum, copper, or other metal that may exist damaged past the corrosive effects of the copper. Some air handlers use a plastic blower squirrel cage fan wheel that is also sensitive to acids, condign brittle and perhaps breaking from acid handling.

Some HVAC service companies may apply an acidic gyre cleaner on the outdoor coil, followed by a h2o wash.

Some HVAC service technicians whose comments we've read or asked-for opine that plain water is perfectly adequate to clean and rinse near residential outdoor coils.

When to Use a Cocky-Rinsing Coil Cleaner

Some but non all coil cleaning sprays and foams require rinsing of the coil after use. Typically the outdoor ringlet in the compressor/condenser unit will utilise a gyre cleaner that is followed past a rinsing stride since rinsing the outdoor equipment tin can exist practical.

Indoor coils in an air handler are normally selected from products that don't require a rinse step since rinsing with a garden hose (for example) would be impractical indoors. Cleaners that practice not crave an additional rinse step are typically described on their label or in their instructions every bit "self rinsing", typically using a slightly alkaline detergent cleanser.

How does a self-rinsing coil cleaner work? Residues from the scroll cleaner are washed off of the coil fins and tubing past condensate that forms on those surfaces when the indoor unit is run in cooling mode.

That rinsing condensate is then collected in the coil condensate drip pan, routed from there to an approved condensate drain, or maybe through a condensate pump to the drain. (CONDENSATE Handling, HVAC has details)

Do not Make Your Ain Ringlet Cleaner

Do non try making your own coil cleanser out of other household cleaners like bleach, dishwasher or laundry detergent, as these may exist harmful to the coil metallic fins or fifty-fifty its tubing.

Exercise non use a scroll cleaner containing trichloroethylene inside buildings (such as schools or mail offices) where use of those products is prohibited.

Scout out: we do non recommend utilize of high pressure cleaning on cooling or condensing coils. Loftier pressure level can damage delicate roll fins and can even blow off or damage sensors or electrical connectors.

List of HVAC gyre cleaning chemicals, foams, and sprays:

Air-conditioning-Condom Scroll Cleaner, Nationwide Products, Ac-921 Foam Coil Cleaner
SDS for AC-Safe Coil Cleaner [PDF] retrieved from Home Depot Stored 2017/ten/23
C-Shine is a mix of chemicals produced in Bharat and intended to remove clay, grease, and debris from A/C coils in a process the manufacturer, ICC, describes as "chemic de-scaling" or (misspelled at their website) chemic de-scaling
CoilShine is described by Goodway as "a [non-acidic alloy of powerful, fast acting detergents, specifically formulated for use with the CC-140 CoilPro power washer] biodegradable, expanding foam detergent specifically formulated for use with the CoilPro.
This is a non-acidic, non-fuming solution that can exist safely washed downwardly drains. CoilShine-BC is a commercial course, fix-to-use mold inhibitor for HVAC systems that helps forbid the growth of odor, stain and damage causing organisms such equally mold, mildew and fungi."
Com Koil External Condenser Coil & Brightener (Acidic), from ComStar, ComStar International Inc. 20-45 128th Street, College Point, NY 11356 United states of america Tel: 718-445-7900 800-328-0142 described by the manufacturer as ok for aluminum and brass, rinsed with h2o
ComKoil SDS [PDF] contains hydrofluoric acid, phosphoric acid, surfactant, and water.
ComStar 90-184 Foaming Whorl Cleaner (non-acidic), for both evaporator and condensing coils,
Nova-Tech International sells a dry pulverisation used to make an alkali metal HVAC coil cleaning liquid that tin be sprayed onto the roll.
Nu-Calgon Cal-Brite A/C Condenser & Evaporator Curlicue Cleaner, a liquid, sold in full-bodied course, used to remove lint, dust, grime, oxide deposits, cottonwood, bugs, grease, dirt, oil from a cooling or evaporation scroll in HVAC equipment.
Nu-Calgon, 2008 Altom Court St. Louis, MO 63146 (800) 554-5449 Website: http://www.nucalgon.com/

Contains ammonium bifluoride and glycolic acrid. Encounter this

Cal-Brite Nu-Calgon MSDS [PDF], retrieved 2017/10/23, original source: http://www.nucalgon.com/avails/MSDS/English/4133.pdf

Nu-Calgon Cal-Brite Roll Cleaner SDS Safe Data Sheet, retrieved 2017/10/23, original source: http://world wide web.nucalgon.com/avails/SDS/English/4133_SDS_ENG.pdf
Nu-Calgon Nu-Brite A/C Condenser Coil Cleaner, concentrated, water-based with degreaser, this is a foaming cleanser diluted with water iv:1
Nu-Calgon, Evap-Fresh Coil Cleaner, no rinsing required, Evaporator Cleaner, Liquid, for Evaporator Coils in Small Air Conditioners, HVAC Cooling Coils and Refrigeration Equipment, Cleaning and Disinfecting, Non-Abrasive
SpeedyFoam Condenser Gyre Cleaner (non-acidic, biodegradable, alkali metal, foaming cleaner), Tel: 888-700-3540 https://www.speedclean.com/ Website Excerpt:
SpeedyFoam is safe for coated and uncoated coils. It is an acid-free, alkaline, non-caustic, degreasing foaming formula. (Say that x times fast, I dare you). It's safer for employees to use, more than constructive on grease and works dandy on all metals and has a clean, fresh smell. Plus it'south 4x concentrated, then you get more bang for your cadet. It's designed for employ with CoilJet and Condenser Needle but can be used with pump sprayers too.
Superior Industries offers FCC-300™ non-toxic foaming spray gyre cleaner and "conditioner".
Total Ringlet Cleaner (Acidic),
CONTACT united states to advise additional coil cleaning products

The HVAC ringlet spray arroyo has the entreatment that the total cleaning price is low, no rinsing is necessary with some products, and the coil looks nice.

Where does the droppings and run-off cleaner become? It should baste into the condensate pan for disposal through the condensate bleed system. The manufacturer says the whorl and fin cleaner also removes odors from the system, but if your HVAC arrangement is quite dirty additional steps will exist needed to make clean the blower assembly and the ductwork.

After the coil cleaning foam has worked on the scroll surfaces and dripped to the condensate pan below, apply a wet-dry shop vac to make clean up the mess from the pan, followed past careful wiping as we cited above.

Using Pressure Washers to Make clean A/C or Heat Pump Coil Fins & Tubing

Professional HVAC service companies oftentimes employ a portable A/C coil pressure washer designed for that purpose. Dissimilar cleaning detergents or foams, a pressure washer is physically more aggressive curl cleaning method and is peradventure the most thorough or effective method for cleaning a badly soiled or blocked HVAC evaporator or condenser coil.

A portable pressure washer unit such as Goodway'southward CC-140 contains both a curl cleaning solution (typically a detergent mix) and a battery-operated pressure level sprayer that can deliver as much as 140 psi. Heavier-duty coil cleaning force per unit area sprayers are available for commercial units and larger, or heavier, wider coils.

Sentry out: as we warned earlier, if you are using high pressure level air, h2o, or steam to try to make clean a curl, be sure you blow air at right-angles or straight through the coil fins. Blowing high pressure air (or h2o or steam) at the HVAC coil fins on an angle is likely to bend over the coil fins. And don't over-do it and don't spray more cleaner than needed - yous'll merely have more liquid cleanup to practise after the curlicue has been treated.

Using Steam-Cleaning of A/C or Heat Pump Coils

Steam is used past some technicians to make clean HVAC coils, in a procedure similar to that we described in a higher place for compressed air.

Spotter out: as nosotros warned earlier, if you lot are using loftier pressure air, water, or steam to try to clean a coil, exist sure you blow air at right-angles or straight through the ringlet fins. Blowing high pressure air (or water or steam) at the HVAC whorl fins on an angle is likely to bend over the coil fins.

If your air conditioning or heat pump organization has lost its cooling capacity or won't starting time meet REPAIR GUIDE for AIR CONDITIONERS. Encounter COOLING Chapters, RATED of air conditioning equipment if the system seems to exist working only is inadequate to cool your edifice.

Reader Comments & Q&A

Without a product proper name we can merely guess that it was perchance a h2o-activated foaming cleaning and disinfecting agent. Information technology'southward not the greatest treatment but it might assist.

I paid $60 for my HVAC guy to sprinkle some kind of powder over the coils of the air handler which he said the condensation running downward would clean the pan and the pvc drainage pipe... what was that?

Unless you missed something, it sounds as if yous're right, the installer didn't provide a cleaning access. Typically the cleaning tech has to cutting an opening and fabricate a sealable panel for future cleaning.

I've seen and read several pages on how to clean the Ac evaporator attached to a central air furnace. All the info shows removing a console/side off the box around the evaporator, then commonly removing a shield/wall of the side of the evaporator itself to access the fins etc. However on mine, there are no removable walls/panels on the box to become at the evaporator, it looks custom built out of ducting box stuff and non fabricated to come autonomously at all.

There is only a single small access hatch (8x8") to access some plumbing and you tin can also meet the serial # and model of the evaporator. What's the deal, did they really build it (before I bought the house) and not leave access to the Ac?

Only real options I can remember is somehow cutting a much larger access panel, only in that location are pipes and hoses running around in at that place and I could easily cut something. Any advice?

HannahI tin't tell what nosotros're looking at - in the photo that is.

The red areas look blurry just peradventure like rust.

Howdy, Had a very hay wire A/C problem which had bacteria spewing from each vent in ceilings causing severe sickness but-that's a whole other question. After a supposed "inspection" I took the filter off and institute this stuff from where standing water had pooled.. apparently not cleaned, tin can this produce even more harmful toxins to circulate? Is this bad particularly if "professionally" checked?
Cheers!

IMAGE LOST by older version of Comments code - now fixed. Please re-postal service the paradigm if you can. Pitiful. Modernistic.

Imran

If you use the search box simply higher up to find our article on

HVAC AIR Catamenia IMPROVEMENT

, you will see a checklist of things that you should examine in diagnosing the problem that you accept described.

please aid me i have split air conditioning install at my dwelling house indoor & out unit of measurement. yesterday i cleand my indoor unit because of durty subsequently cleaning i install if agane now the air conditioning cooling is ver low air is not very cool like earlier clean outdoor unit gas prasher is ok compressor ok condenser is ok every think ok but cooling not good room temp

please assistance me i have split ac install at my habitation indoor & out unit. yesterday i cleand my indoor unit because of durty subsequently cleaning i install if agane at present the air conditioning cooling is ver depression air is non very absurd like before clean outdoor unit gas prasher is ok compressor ok condensor is ok every think ok only cooling not good room temp maximum 27-26 instant of 20 . could whatsoever one help me delight

The "deodorizer" isn't the of import stride and in fact tin exist a "bandaid" approach.

What'south important is that the cooling coil be really cleaned - IF NEEDED - that is, if information technology's blocked by grit, clay, droppings. Typically companies who do this cleaning with the scroll in place past vacuuming and using a foaming cleaner that'due south caught on a tray below. A deodorant spray isn't a substitute for cleaning. Vinegar is a mild household cleaner that has widespread use and has been used in HVAC systems.

I concur with Fugler (2004) that HVAC equipment must be actually cleaned before people can apply biocides, sanitizers, etc. The cleaning is the more than-important step.

McNeice, Russell. "Method of Increasing Efficiency and Reducing Thermal Loads in HVAC Systems." U.S. Patent Application 14/149,631, filed Jan 7, 2014.
Fugler, Donald W. "Duct Cleaning: Do Homes Demand It?." ASHRAE journal 46, no. half-dozen (2004): 28.

I am very chemically sensitive. I am going to have a yearly air-conditioning check shortly. My ac is virtually i year old. Can a spray bottle of vinegar/week (how much) be used to clean the coils. The company I use , uses deodorizer which I cannot have done. give thanks y'all.

ekhtsasy said:
Yearly Air Conditioning Maintenance Matters

There has been some question from my customers in the past few months virtually heating and air conditioning Cleanings and their importance to the proper performance of the equipment. I wanted to write this article to discuss a few of import issues that can occur in absenteeism of the annual maintenance.

At that place are two important cleanings that need to be performed by a qualified heating and air conditioning company to ensure safety and proper system operation. For the sake of this commodity we volition split upwardly the cleanings into two separate manufactures (furnace cleaning and air conditioning cleaning) and only discuss one at a time.

Ac Clean and Bank check

Afterwards an unabridged winter of being dormant and not in use, an air conditioning organisation has a large job at task upon beginning starting up for the summertime. The mode an air conditioning condensing unit (outside unit) works is past changing the state of the refrigerant in the system from a liquid to a gas. This generates a heat transfer and cools the air through a gyre inside your home. And so later 7 months of non being used the component that compresses the refrigerant back to a liquid has not been used and lubricated through the refrigerant

Thank you so much Melani; we work hard to provide useful data and are thrilled when it works for our readers - and for you.

Daniel

I just wanted to say thank you then much! My house has gone from 91 degrees inside to 78 and dropping quickly thank you to your how-to articles. It is e'er very satisfying as a woman to exist able to say "Yes, I fixed that," and you made information technology possible. And while saving me a ton of money. You've made me and my family unit super happy and much cooler on this hot Texas night.

Question: is acrid cleaning the cooling coils necessary?

(October 28, 2014) Dennis R. Sullivan said:
Is acid cleaning of coils necessary?

Reply:

No, Dennis, information technology's not necessary and may exist risky to employ corrosive acids to clean HVAC evaporator coils. There are specific roll cleaning sprays and products formulated for that purpose. Only aye, if a cooling curlicue or evaporator coil is chock-full it must be cleaned for the HVAC system to operate.

Question: relationship of blocked cooling coils and the HVAC compressor

(Feb 10, 2015) R Koch said:
Howdy. Tin can it be said with 100% accuracy that a blocked evaporator coil can crusade the compressor to ground? Also, is the evaporator scroll usually cleaned with a maintenance program? Thank you.

Reply:

R Koch:

"Crusade a compressor to basis" - huh? If you hateful is the evap coil necessarily electrically grounded, no. Y'all audio too much like a lawyer hoping to sue someone. Merely I'll answer y'all anyway.

About almanac HVAC maintenance plans, they vary all over the place in my feel. Typically the programme will
- include an annual inspection
- an annual check for proper performance
- repair or replacement of defective parts included in the "inclusion" listing
and vague language such as
"almanac maintenance plan covers the diagnosis and repair, replacement or adjustment of the specified parts inside your Cooling Unit of measurement equally deemed necessary past our Authorized Service Technician"

Nothing in the sample plans I reviewed specifically indicated evaporator-cooling roll cleaning.

Question: When cleaning a cooling curl practice you accident air or h2o from within or outside the unit?

Exercise you blow the pressure level air or pressure water from the inside out or from the exterior in on the unit? I sprayed it from the outside in I think It may have been the wrong direction. - Sherry 6/seven/11

Reply:

If you are trying to clean a clay-clogged A/C coil, the best result is achieved if you lot can blow from the clean side so that you are pushing the dirt and debris back off instead of forcing it in between the scroll fins. Withal sometimes it is so difficult to access the clean or outlet side of the cooling whorl that technicians use cleaning foams and water instead. In that case they may spray from the most attainable side.

Ultimately, if yous tin see that the spaces between the coil fins is free of dirt and debris, and yous've cleaned the crud out of the housing, and you haven't soaked and shorted electrical components, you've been successful at cleaning the air conditioner scroll.

Question: Can chemicals or cleaning products harm a cooling roll in an air conditioner or heat pump?

I recently had some problems with the AC unit. At i point the tech cleaned the coils and etc. and I recall him maxim that he used some kind of gyre cleaner. Afterward this was done, I started having a major problem of toxic or exhaust similar fumes coming through the ducts. I had to turn the unit off considering it started burning my optics, skin and throat. The techs have checked several times and tin find aught wrong.

I read above where information technology says "Chemical reactions between some coil cleaning products and the aluminum or copper A/C or heat pump scroll parts can also produce obnoxious odors or fumes, maybe toxic or irritating fumes, and in some cases may exit an odor in the system that itself becomes an issue". My question is, If this is the problem, what needs to exist done to go rid of the fumes and clear out my system? Any help is appreciated. Thanks. - M.B. 6/20/11

Reply:

MB: there are more benign foaming cleaning agents that should not corrode or otherwise damage a cooling coil when used co-ordinate to directions. If your technician has already used a caustic agent (which is what your question indicates) information technology may be necessary to further clean the scroll and air handler with a non-caustic cleaner to neutralize any ongoing corrosion and to stop generating the odors and fumes you described.

If the service technicians are sure that the odors and irritants yous describe are not due to the cooling coil cleaning procedure then it's advisable to perform some further diagnosis, perhaps by technicians with more feel. That procedure should address the question "Why did the fumes begin only afterwards the coil was cleaned?"

Reader follow-upwards:

I used vinegar. It has an low acid base of operations, yet information technology produces some results to odor. I likewise come back with baking soda to off set whatsoever acid. I heard where it was good for drains so I tried information technology. I similar the garden sprayer idea, may use information technology next time. I used a spray bottle this time and it worked off-white. I vacuumed with a shop vac and it still was as clean every bit I wanted but over time, possibly.

Reply:

Indeed further ringlet cleaning with a more gentle cleaner to remove left-over chemicals from the ringlet cleaning job may assist; accept a farther await at the coil fins for damage.

Question: using WEB coil cleaner containing 2-butoxyethanol and diethylene glycol to make clean frozen A/C coils

Is it prophylactic to use WEB Coil Cleaner on the Oestrus Coil (inside)? It contains ii-butoxyethanol and diethylene glycol. The heat pump cooling coils are frozen. I already cleaned the condensate drain pipes.

Reply:

Anon, if your coil(southward) are frosting or frozen, the cleaner is not designed to remove ice; y'all'll need to turn off the system, allow the water ice melt, inspect the coils for dirt and debris or other damage, and clean them if that's the instance. It'southward odd to accept simultaneous icing on both condensing and cooling coils; has anyone checked the refrigerant charge level?

Question: using Simple Greenish to clean a cooling whorl or evaporator A-coil in an air conditioner

Question: I want to make clean my evaporator ringlet,(A-Coil) inside the air handler, with Simple Green and tap h2o. I'm concerned well-nigh the water washing downwards into unit and damaging the blower motor and electronics. I know there is a narrow baste pan around the base of operations of the coil just i'1000 afraid of the overflow. Are my fears unfounded or.? - Paul - 10/19/11

Respond:

Cleaning with unproblematic Green or even plainly water will gamble harm to the blower motor and electronics if y'all get them wet - they are not intended to exist immersed nor soaked in liquid. You should exist able to keep water and cleaner on the coil and fins and in the condensate pan. If you do so and in that location is trivial overspray onto the motor just wipe it off. If you can't clean in the air handler without spraying more than h2o about then yous'll want to employ taped up plastic to protect electrical components from the spraying procedure.

Question: Is using an evaporator coil cleaner regulated past environmental discharge regulations?

During a contempo inspect finding, and regarding our regular and routine scroll cleaning, nosotros were told it is a code violation if you lot discharge any pollutant or crusade, permit, or allow a discharge of whatsoever pollutant from a point source without a permit. I don't think this is true or even applicable to coil cleaning...your input is greatly appreciated. 10/18/xi

Answer:

Frank, that'southward a new i on me. Who defined HVAC coil cleaning every bit a polluting procedure? If you used soap and water would that exist a pollutant? Typically coil cleaners are a foaming agent that is used to aid lift dirt off of ringlet fins. The material is water soluble. If you requite usa the name of the scroll cleaning production you or your HVAC tech intends to use we tin can further enquiry this question by taking a look at the MSDS for that cleaner. That ought to put an end to what sounds like a bit of an odd question. Finally, I suspect that someone might accept been worried that you were going to dump refrigerant into the environs. If that's the example then s/he does not empathize that HVAC coil cleaning is an external cleaning procedure that does not address the interior of the HVAC refrigerant piping organization.

Question: how often should you acid-wash the air conditioner coils?

Normally, how frequently should you acrid wash the inside ac coils? Please don't tell me when they're dirty.... THANK YOU - Terry 5/vi/12

Answer:

Terry: well "when the coils are dirty" is all the same the right answer, sort-of.

Really you lot desire your service technician to audit visually for the presence of enough dust and crud that air passage through (between) the fins has get partly blocked.

Calorie-free dusting on the cooling coils is non worth a wash.

Watch out: And we desire to "acid wash" coils as seldom as possible because you are using a corrosive material. I'd await into less corrosive cleaning methods.

Question: What'south the all-time way to clean the A-coil without removing information technology from the air handler?

Would like to know the best way to clean the A-coil without having to remove it fron the air handler. I want to utilise a foam spray that does non need to exist rinsed out, are these types of foams o.grand. for the coil? - Mark six/22/12

Reply:

Marker, some of the foaming A/C coil cleaner sprays are intended to clean the curlicue fins, drip into the tray below and exit at the condensate drain, some without rinsing. But I'd watch for sending blobs of crud that, if it does not fully dissolve, such equally clots of lint and dust, may clog the condensate drain. If you can go proficient view access to the whole assembly you can be confident of the result.

Question: Water leaks out of air handler traced to dirty cooling curlicue?

thank yous for your detail explanation. I had water beneath the coils on the physical. The Tech said it was coming from the condensate drain line. Information technology wasn't wet ! I cleaned the water up and stuck my caput within the handler and the water was dripping from the inlet side of the coils. I read where this status was from dirty coils. I used your article to clean the coils and simply a few droplet of condensate remain. I'one thousand going to clean them a 2nd time but I have to rest my back. Thanks for your article that so comprehensible

Reply:

David cheers so much for the feedback.

It makes sense that reduced airflow through a cooling curl might in some arrangements reduce the push through of condensate to the coil inner face where information technology has an easier time dripping into the condensate tray.

But if you can, ship me a photo of what y'all see of the condensate tray beneath the inlet side of the system coil.

Because the air handler's condensate collection tray ought to extend far enough on all sides of the cooling coil to catch condensate on the front or inlet side too.

When at that place are condensate leaks beneath or out of an air handler and the condensate drain is not clogged, it makes sense to also check too for a tipped or leaky condensate pan.

Question: h2o beneath the coils - tech says condensate drain line

(Aug 5, 2012) david n. simmons said:

cheers for your detail explanation. I had h2o beneath the coils on the physical. The Tech said it was coming from the condensate bleed line. It wasn't wet ! I cleaned the water up and stuck my head within the handler and the water was dripping from the inlet side of the coils. I read where this status was from muddied coils. I used your article to clean the coils and just a few droplet of condensate remain. I'm going to clean them a 2nd time simply I accept to rest my dorsum. Cheers for your article that so comprehensible

Respond:

David thanks so much for the feedback. It will aid others and I will observe a way to incorporate your comments in the text. Information technology makes sense that reduced airflow thuu a cooling scroll might in some arrangements reduce the push through of condensate to the gyre inner face up where information technology has an easier time dripping into the condensate tray. But if yous can, transport me a photo of what you come across of the condensate trau ceneath the inlet side of the arrangement coil. Because the tray ought to extend far enoughn to grab condensate there too. Check too for a tipped or leaky pan.

Question: dripping audio from the evaporator

(Aug 17, 2012) R.Black said:

I noticed final night a louder than normal dripping sound coming from my evaporator. Later inspecting, I see there is rust effectually the copper tubing and forth the lesser where the evaporator sits on top of my furnace. The condensation is evacuating from the drip tray properly, just the rust has me concerned. Is there a way to foreclose any farther corrosion?

Reply:

sounds as if a condensate drain is clogged - leading to pan overflow. Watch out likewise for dangerous harm to the furnace heat exchanger.

Fix the clog and / or leaky condensate pan.

Ask your heating service tech to inspect or exam the heat exchanger for leaks and safety - avoid a carbon monoxide fatality.

Question: tried compressed air to clean the cooling ringlet - no good. what other coil cleaning options are at that place for an inacessible curl?

I tried using compressed air but i am not getting very far. Spray is difficult to arrive from the inlet, about working blind if i exercise that. The foam sounds like a adept solution for me. Is it ok to utilize on the clean side (outlet) of A-coil? What are my options?

Nick
Chicago

Reply:

Cleaning

Squirting curlicue cleaning foam onto the make clean side of the cooling coil will probably not be constructive. A pro would make an access opening if necessary, so close and seal it when cleaning is complete.

Question:

(February 20, 2013) Keith said:

Tin can alcohol exist a corrosive amanuensis in cleaning heat pump coils? Information technology has been serviced 3 times for "Dirty Sock Syndrome" but the cleaning amanuensis and antibacterial deodorizer recommended by service agent did not work. If not booze, what other materials would you suggest?

Answer:

Keith,
Booze would not be likely to harm metal components only might exist a problem for sealants or some plastics or other gaskets.

Question: how to remove corrosion on exterior AC coils - caused past dog pee

(Apr 2, 2013) Sherri said:

How to remove corrosion on outsdie ac coils from domestic dog pee? I tin see the corrosion on the inside of the unit.I was going to try that foam cleaner class the Home Deopt. IS my unit ruined? the corrsion is only on 2 corners and well-nigh 5 inches high.

Reply:

Sherri,

Using a commercial coil cleaner volition remove some corrosion and debris and odors. I would not try using anything as well aggressive on corroded HVAC coils out of worry that we dissolve the fins entirely. If the coil is badly corroded it ways that airflow through it and heat transfer are retarded, decreasing organization efficiency and increasing operating price. One might consider replacing the whorl but the toll is loftier enough that as long as the AC or Heat pump is working in my Opinion y'all won't earn dorsum that cost very quickly.

On the other hand if the equipment is old and on last legs, this is time to first thinking about replacing the unit of measurement.

Question: odd oestrus pump odor when changing from heating to cooling style

4/2/14 Bruce l. said:

I have one year old heat pump unit and the only problem is when I go from Heat to a/c the indoor unit of measurement gives off a very odd oder. Not when I go from a/c to Rut.

Reply:

Bruce let's think well-nigh what'south different switching from heat to A/C vs A/C to heat. Typically the same blower fan, ductwork, and air registers are involved in both modes. What's unlike is the direction in which refrigerant is circulating inside the system - not something that would explain an aroma divergence. Also different is that in cooling mode you lot're probably producing condensate, perhaps operating a condensate pump. I'd expect at that system to start.

Question: crud on the cooling whorl, express work space, volition the tech do a improve chore than I tin can

iv/v/fourteen Darren said:

I have taken off the cover for the evaporator coil and determined that the supply side is clean but the inside of the coil has a skilful sheet of crud covering it. I have a very pocket-sized infinite to work and am unable to put something inside the unit of measurement to prevent the crud from falling down into the blower. With this concern I have contacted an HVAC Co. and take an appt for them to come up and make clean the unit in place (not taking it out).
My question to you is what if anything will the technician do to prevent the grime from falling into the blower. I suppose they could remove the furnace associates below and and so accept some access for placing a piece of plastic. Before I spend $260 i want to know that the technician is going to do something more than I could do myself.

Reply:

arren,

Typically they utilise a foaming cleaner that drips through the coil into a pan. It may be that the blower associates needs to be removed for proper cleaning. Y'all're dead correct to ask for specifics about what they're going to do. But usually someone with experience at methods for cleaning hard-to-admission cooling coils knows some tricks of the trade that you may not. Or she/he may simply make and and then re-seal an access opening.

Question: what will the HVAC tech practise to go on coil cleaning crud from falling into the blower?

(Apr 5, 2014) Darren said:
I have taken off the cover for the evaporator curlicue and determined that the supply side is clean just the inside of the coil has a practiced canvass of crud covering it. I accept a very small space to work and am unable to put something inside the unit to prevent the crud from falling downward into the blower. With this concern I have contacted an HVAC Co. and take an appt for them to come and clean the unit of measurement in identify (non taking it out).
My question to y'all is what if anything will the technician do to prevent the grime from falling into the blower. I suppose they could remove the furnace assembly beneath and then have some admission for placing a piece of plastic. Before I spend $260 i want to know that the technician is going to do something more than than I could do myself.

Reply:

Darren,

Typically they use a foaming cleaner that drips through the coil into a pan. It may be that the blower assembly needs to exist removed for proper cleaning. You're dead right to ask for specifics about what they're going to exercise.

Question: do information technology yourself fan coil unit gyre cleaning

(May 4, 2014) Eric said:
I am new to the game of cleaning my own FCU scroll. So far i am still doing very basic stuff; i have this really low power manus operated spray which sprays on an organic detergent which was designed for cleaning the coils. I usually permit the detergent do its work for ten minutes before i use a manus pump sprayer to flush the coil with water. i read that in that location is a big problem of dislodging mould spores when performing such cleaning.

I am inclined to believe that i demand a high force per unit area water jet to dislodge the said mould spores from the coils. So i am thinking of revising my strategy.

I will continue to spray the coil with the same organic detergent but i volition use a high pressure h2o jet to do the flushing. Is this new strategy sound?
I am looking between a hand creepo portable pressure jet cleaner that puts out pressure at 36psi tops and a electric pump cart that tin can achieve 1000psi. Is the latter overkill? Demand some sound communication. Thanks!

Respond:

Eric,

The mold that *might* exist on the coil ought to launder off with the washwater into whatsoever container you are using.

Using high pressure water, if you're not experienced, could bend and impairment the ringlet fins and blow grime all over the place.

(May 6, 2014) Eric said:
Thanks for replying . I have seen a local aircon cleaning vendor do it in his youtube videos. Meanwhile i have purchased a force per unit area jet cleaner that puts out pressure 145 psi tops. the danger of scroll fins angle even so, do you have whatever advice or tips on how to become nigh jetting the coils gently? Cheers

Answer:

OPINION: Approach from a distance, keep spray at right angles to fins, prepare to capture and handle the mess you'll stir up, have care with aim not to blow h2o, air, or debris where it's going to exercise damage: into the ductwork, onto electrical components. Protect your eyes.

Question: use bleaching powder to clean the Air conditioning evaporator in a car?

(May 28, 2014) Omar said:
tin i employ bleaching powder for cleaning an air-conditioning evaporator of a auto
reply me in jazzomar@gmail.com

Answer:

Omar,

I'd be careful about damaging the coil with anything that may be corrosive, OR that would be difficult to clean off or remove. For a motorcar cooling coil, which indeed could demand cleaning if the filter were missing or failed, I'd meet what the motorcar service transmission recommends.

As well if you lot over-do the bleach you may accept problem getting rid of the bleach smell.

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