I have the Lennox XC 14 and I really like the smart hinge louver design. It makes it so easy to take off the panels and clean the condenser coil. I like to prop up the fan and vacuum the leaves on the bottom inside first. I only take off two panels at a time, so not to accidentally bump into the coil fins with the hose and damaged them. I start like you do, working on the outside from top to bottom, then I go from the inside out. I use one can of the foaming condenser coil cleaner on it and let it sit 5 to 10 minutes, and then Hose off. I cover the wiring with glad cling wrap so it doesn’t get wet. I use my wet dry vac to suck up any standing water in or around the unit when I’m done. Then I put two coats of Maguires gold class carnauba wax on top to help with paint fading. I clean mine every two years. My Lennox HVAC system still runs great after 13 years. 👍
*Used to supplement the up stairs when it gets hot outside this works very well and **Fastly.Cool** Also works good when the upstairs gets too hot in the Winter from the heater.*
I did this today for the first time since my Lennox AC was installed 6 years ago. You couldn’t see the fins. You should consider talking the corner pieces off also. There is just as much buildup as the flat panels hiding behind them. I also used Castrol Super Clean degreaser My system runs much colder, quieter.
Most condensers don’t have removable side panels. If you find taking apart the unit involves removing the top and uniting the fan, call a professional. Every air conditioning brand is different and may have different cleaning techniques. Most new Lennox units are WATER ONLY no cleaner recommended due to harsh chemicals damaging coils.
@@Rickmakes is that an xp21? Because most signature series units are 2 stage or variable speed compressors, they get dirty much faster due to longer run times on Low stage dehumidifying the home.
@@mickhvac3908 I think it is the XP21. It is two stage with heat pump. I don't think they had it in variable speed when we got it. I'll never get another AC that isn't two or more stages. We can comfortably keep our house at a warmer temperature in the summer since we don't have to freeze ourselves out to remove the humidity. When we first got it, we were running the heat pump more in the winter. It worked okay but the furnace is an SLP98V so it is very efficient. I'm not sure which was cheaper. We were paying around 8 cents/kwh under 1000kwhs and then it dropped to under 4 cents. I find the gas heat to be more comfortable which is probably because it has variable capacity.
You could if it is really clogged but mine hasn’t gotten that bad. Air moves from out to in so it acts as a sort of filter keeping most stuff on the outside.
is there a way to remove the fan housing on top, so that dry leaves and sucked in debri can be removed. most videos on this type of unit are around side panel removal and clean up.
The water won't hurt the coils. They are made to handle rain and snow. I'll usually replace the panels and turn it back on right away. I have seen systems that actually spray water on the coils while it is running to make the AC more efficient. I don't know if that is a good idea or not.
I have the Dave Lennox edition, do these units have a second layer of coils inside the outer ones you can see when pulling off the external fins? Meaning you have to take the whole top off to clean the inner coils. How do you take the entire top off to do this if so?
My Lennox is 3 years old- there are several gouges/dings where it looks like 1-3” is mashed in- just about 3-4 areas per unit- like someone gauged it with corner of cover? Is that okay?
I'm not an expert in this area but if it were my AC, I'd just leave it. I know you can get a comb to bend them back but they likely aren't hurting anything or changing the efficiency a noticeable amount. I feel like if I tried to fix it, there is alway a chance of causing more damage.
That is a good way to do it but this doesn't have easy access to the inside. The potential problem of cleaning from the outside in is that you could be driving debris into the coils. I haven't found that to be the case in my experience. As I was spraying on the outside, the debris was coming off the outside. I didn't see any evidence of it going it and you could see that coils were clean afterwards.
@@Rickmakes the other poster is correct. You are forcing debris further into the fins, and furthermore, you should not be using any pressure to clean it. Certainly not the jet setting. My technician said to just use the hose without a fitting, and only from the inside of the coils, so the dirt goes back out from where it entered. I do agree with your emphasis on being careful with the power. So there’s that. Otherwise, I do not recommend your technique.
I can't in good conscience tell you to clean it with the power on. I get that they are exposed to rain, snow and ice but it is hard to say when the weather proofing could be beached where electrical components could be hit with water. At a minimum you should shut it off at the exterior shutoff.
I try to do it at least once a year. I really depends on the contaminates in the air. For instance, if you have a cottonwood tree nearby, it would get coated pretty quickly and would need cleaning more often.
I have the Lennox XC 14 and I really like the smart hinge louver design. It makes it so easy to take off the panels and clean the condenser coil. I like to prop up the fan and vacuum the leaves on the bottom inside first. I only take off two panels at a time, so not to accidentally bump into the coil fins with the hose and damaged them. I start like you do, working on the outside from top to bottom, then I go from the inside out. I use one can of the foaming condenser coil cleaner on it and let it sit 5 to 10 minutes, and then Hose off. I cover the wiring with glad cling wrap so it doesn’t get wet. I use my wet dry vac to suck up any standing water in or around the unit when I’m done. Then I put two coats of Maguires gold class carnauba wax on top to help with paint fading. I clean mine every two years. My Lennox HVAC system still runs great after 13 years. 👍
*Used to supplement the up stairs when it gets hot outside this works very well and **Fastly.Cool** Also works good when the upstairs gets too hot in the Winter from the heater.*
Thank you. This gives me the courage to do this and now I know how to do so safely.
Nice. Straight to the point, not a hard job to do properly. We are new central A/C owners and it's winter shut down time. Thanks.
First time owning an AC too. We didn't know we had to cover it during the winter 🤦♂️
@@GOOBLE07 me too
I did this today for the first time since my Lennox AC was installed 6 years ago. You couldn’t see the fins.
You should consider talking the corner pieces off also. There is just as much buildup as the flat panels hiding behind them.
I also used Castrol Super Clean degreaser
My system runs much colder, quieter.
Can you do another video showing how to clean it from the inside using the coil cleanser foam?
Most condensers don’t have removable side panels. If you find taking apart the unit involves removing the top and uniting the fan, call a professional. Every air conditioning brand is different and may have different cleaning techniques. Most new Lennox units are WATER ONLY no cleaner recommended due to harsh chemicals damaging coils.
Thanks for the input!
@@Rickmakes is that an xp21? Because most signature series units are 2 stage or variable speed compressors, they get dirty much faster due to longer run times on Low stage dehumidifying the home.
@@mickhvac3908 I think it is the XP21. It is two stage with heat pump. I don't think they had it in variable speed when we got it. I'll never get another AC that isn't two or more stages. We can comfortably keep our house at a warmer temperature in the summer since we don't have to freeze ourselves out to remove the humidity. When we first got it, we were running the heat pump more in the winter. It worked okay but the furnace is an SLP98V so it is very efficient. I'm not sure which was cheaper. We were paying around 8 cents/kwh under 1000kwhs and then it dropped to under 4 cents. I find the gas heat to be more comfortable which is probably because it has variable capacity.
@@Rickmakes awesome! I sell Lennox units through Costco in South Florida. I love the 21. It’s tried and true. A real gem.
Aren't you supposed to take the top off the fan out and then spray from the inside out?
You could if it is really clogged but mine hasn’t gotten that bad. Air moves from out to in so it acts as a sort of filter keeping most stuff on the outside.
is there a way to remove the fan housing on top, so that dry leaves and sucked in debri can be removed. most videos on this type of unit are around side panel removal and clean up.
How to get the top off so I can clean the inside and perhaps lubricate the fan motor.
If my A/C is super dirty can it cause my A/C to only have the fan and not cool the house ?
I have that same unit. Does that unit have a UV bulb that needs replacement?
Mine does not have the UV bulb.
I can't believe I have to remove sixteen bolts just to properly hose down the fins on my EL16XC1.
Great video. Is it recommended to let the coils dry before replacing the panels and powering up?
The water won't hurt the coils. They are made to handle rain and snow. I'll usually replace the panels and turn it back on right away. I have seen systems that actually spray water on the coils while it is running to make the AC more efficient. I don't know if that is a good idea or not.
Looks like new when you finished cleaning. Gonna do this to my condenser later today.
I have the Dave Lennox edition, do these units have a second layer of coils inside the outer ones you can see when pulling off the external fins? Meaning you have to take the whole top off to clean the inner coils. How do you take the entire top off to do this if so?
My Lennox is 3 years old- there are several gouges/dings where it looks like 1-3” is mashed in- just about 3-4 areas per unit- like someone gauged it with corner of cover? Is that okay?
I'm not an expert in this area but if it were my AC, I'd just leave it. I know you can get a comb to bend them back but they likely aren't hurting anything or changing the efficiency a noticeable amount. I feel like if I tried to fix it, there is alway a chance of causing more damage.
I read somewhere you should clean from inside out (not the way you are doing it).
That is a good way to do it but this doesn't have easy access to the inside. The potential problem of cleaning from the outside in is that you could be driving debris into the coils. I haven't found that to be the case in my experience. As I was spraying on the outside, the debris was coming off the outside. I didn't see any evidence of it going it and you could see that coils were clean afterwards.
@@Rickmakes the other poster is correct. You are forcing debris further into the fins, and furthermore, you should not be using any pressure to clean it. Certainly not the jet setting. My technician said to just use the hose without a fitting, and only from the inside of the coils, so the dirt goes back out from where it entered.
I do agree with your emphasis on being careful with the power. So there’s that.
Otherwise, I do not recommend your technique.
What about the inside of the pump? I have leaves and fir needles covering the bottom. Yeah, I live in the bush.
I have leaves in the bottom of mine but they don't seem to be causing any sort of problem. You can remove the top and suck them out.
After putting the bar back, the AC does not turn on. What should I do??
Did you also turn off the breaker at the main panel?
Nicely done sir. Thanks!
Thanks for watching!
Do I NEED to kill the power considering it's an outdoor unit and handles the ice and the snow regularly?
I can't in good conscience tell you to clean it with the power on. I get that they are exposed to rain, snow and ice but it is hard to say when the weather proofing could be beached where electrical components could be hit with water. At a minimum you should shut it off at the exterior shutoff.
I had a hell of a time fitting the panels back where they were I don't know what the heck the problem is.
That is one thing I don't like about this AC. I wish the panels were easier to fit in place. Aside from that, I like it.
Great video, thank you.
when was the last time you clean your condenser ? you recommend every year ?
I try to do it at least once a year. I really depends on the contaminates in the air. For instance, if you have a cottonwood tree nearby, it would get coated pretty quickly and would need cleaning more often.
I have to do it 3 times during the Summer as we have many cottonwoods in the neighbourhood and many days it looks like it's snowing outside.
Thanks for the video.
Good information
Thank you!