HOW TO ACID WASH A CONDENSER COIL

                                          HOW TO ACID WASH A CONDENSER COIL

Usually when I visit a home the client complains that the unit runs continuously that it takes too long to drop one degree. This is very common problem that I always encounter, the reason is to obvious many times the owner neglects to take care of the condenser unit (outdoor unit) the condenser unit  is always at the mercy of mother nature, dust, leafs, dirt, and whatever is outside can go inside the unit. A dirty condenser coil make the unit system runs more than normal, the fins are closely  together, the air travels in between them, if the fins are impacted with dust, dirt or whatever, the air flow is blocked, the pressures in the  are much higher, the heat dissipation takes longer. This problem has a simple remedy that anyone with common sense can take care of this problem very easy.  Are you with me?

How can anyone determine if this is the case? Well a very simple visual inspection of the condenser can show us if it needs cleaning.

These are the first steps in determine the unit need to be service.

1.       Turn of the unit from the thermostat

2.        If the unit has an outside disconnect pull it off or  turn it off

3.       Take a pick inside the unit now that the fan is off and see if there is stuff inside

4.       Check around the coils if you see grass, plants, dirt stuck to the base, or anything that doesn’t belong there, then you know this unit hasn’t been service so is time for a good clean up

5.       Now that you have determined that needs cleaning this are the steps to do it

6.       Tools need for this job a 5/16  or ¼  inch chuck with a drill, spray bottle and coil cleaner

7.        Remove the top screws that holds the fan motor grill ( look at the photo) the reason for removing the fan to have access  inside the condenser to remove all that dirt has been build up over time, if you have a shop vacuum  remove the dirt, if there is too much dirt use your hands and take out as much as you can out of the bottom them finish with the shop vacuum

8.        After all this is done bring a hose with a good nozzle, do not use jet use the setting on shower or other setting that won't damage the fins

9.       First clean is  the base of the unit so the water can flow out very easily

10.    After this go inside the unit and hose all the sand, dirt from the bottom of the unit, at the bottom of  the unit you will find some drain holes sometimes they are plugged with sand or dirt clear them off  the unit will  drain faster

11.   Now hose the entire unit wetting  all the coils, hose the bottom of the unit to push out the leftover sand or dirt

12.    spray the unit with coil cleaner, make sure all the fins are spray thoroughly   from the inside and outside, le the acid set for about  4 to 5 minutes

13.   Now rinse the unit in a up and down motions cleaning the coils from the outside first

14.   Now clean the inside and do the same

15.   If you think that need more cleaning add more spray more coil cleaner and wait again the same amount of time

16.   Rinse the unit thoroughly,  install the fan in place ( make sure there isn’t any  loose wires, sometimes loose wires can touch the fan blades and can cause a short in the unit)

17.    Check the unit once more for anything that is out of the ordinary

18.   If everything checks out okay, turn the unit on.

By doing this you can save hundreds of dollars, you will prolong the life of the system, the compressor will run smoother, the house will cool a lot faster. If this doesn’t take care of this issue please calls a professional to have the system evaluated? if you are in south florida call 305-305-0237

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