Oh, This video was very helpful!! Haven't cleaned it ever... It's 5 yrs old. I didn't even know there was such a thing as a coil cleaner product. Thank You Much!!!
Only once a year unless we have a haboob come through getting everything covered with dust. Here's a good example of a dust storm: ua-cam.com/video/8vQMuwRjI6s/v-deo.html
@@moonovermiami9787 Same. We hired a guy to check on status of the AC, and he pointed out how dirty to coils look on the outside and wanted a few hundred dollars to clean it, so here I am.
Wow, so helpful. Just had AC guys here to do check and said I needed condensers cleaned Tried to get me a contract. So looked for a video on how to. Great video. I am a 73 yr. Old lady and I'm going to go out and do it myself. Thanks so much!!!
How did it go? I'm wanting to do mine myself also but have never tried to do anything on the HVAC. I've fixed a lot of things around the house but I'm a little scared on this one.
I didn't get what you said about how long the coil clean spray stays and then washed it. Did you say we have to wait 5 days or 5 minutes and then wash it? Thanks
Im an A/C contractor and I approve this video. I might add pay attention to the length of the screws you take out. On some units the screws for the electrical component compartment are longer and if you use them on the coil grates it can puncture the coil.
Idk WHY in the world people don't just (professionally) install a gas shock spring to the x2 and instead of using the absolute worst kind of combination being those stupid ass 5/16 sheet metal screws instead of mocking up hinges and cutting screws down to size with locking knylon nuts and the most important on f use non cofj
I like to take masking tape and tape the screw I remove to the top of the unit in the position I remove it. The tape holds the screw un place and I simply remove the screw and tape when I get ready to reinstall the screw. Two birds with one stone...you don't mix the srews up and you hold them in place.
Thank you for creating this video. My 3 year old AC was blowing out warm air. The company I purchased the unit from came to check the unit and told me I needed a new compressor and quoted me 4K to replace it. Kind of strange since the unit was under warranty for parts. After watching your video, I replaced my filter and cleaned all of the coils on the AC. Turned it on and it works fine now. Thank you again. You saved me lots of money.
I'm not someone who posts often on social media at all, and I have never before left a UA-cam comment, but I have to let you know that this video totally fixed my AC unit today! My husband and I are not in a place financially right now to pay someone to fix the AC, and our house has been so hot. With the help of your video, we team-worked it together today, and the problem is totally solved! Air is blowing cold as can be! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Use the same cleaner on the indoor coils,change your return air filters every 30 days, never use highly restricted filters. Personally recommend stainless steel washable filters, wash and clean every 30 days,febreeze,reinstall,
@@TheDeadheadable ...yes BTW that part is called the Evaporator. It has another part in the same system called the Condenser that also need to be cleaned (if you can easily get at it!)
My Dad was an A/C Tech after he retired from the Air Force, and he preached filters and clean coils!! Change the filters when you make out your electric bill every month, clean your coils spring and fall, especially with heat pumps! RIP Dad! :)
@@ScareHollow Cheap insurance, and we don't have indoor animals! Dad put in a 2" double filter rack. I buy good filters for the top slot, and cheap filters for the bottom rack. Absolutely no issues with our AC system in 10 years! Thanks Dad! :)
To secure the cover/fan assembly I put an A-Frame ladder next to the unit on the wiring conduit side and use rubber tie down bungees to tie it up. Great when working alone.
My father was in commercial HVAC all his life. He told me to never use those commercial cleaners as they are corrosive and can cause refrigerant leaks in your system. What he told me to use is the heavy duty simple green mixed with water. Been doing it for years now and no leaks but thanks for the tips. FLY NAVY!!!
Yeah I can see that working too. I will say the reason I use the one in the video is because it does not use harsh chemicals, is biodegradable, safe for pets, and according to the company not corrosive to any metals on the condenser. So 100% safe to use and works awesome. Appreciate the Simple green input. Thank you for your service as well!
@@HowToHomeDIY There's a brand (Refrigeration Technologies) that sells coil cleaner in a concentrated gallon size and claims if there isn't a hose or water supply nearby you don't even need to rinse if diluted 20:1. A business might purchase that much but a spray can of cleaner like you used is perfect for a simple annual cleaning (don't need to store it after use, mix it when needed, or try to remember where you stored it last year). Tip about hardware was so important. In the Navy, most equipment seemed to have triple (or more) the number of mounting screws and one instructor claimed the additional hardware was necessary because new technicians would torque the hardware so tight they'd strip the threads out and the rest would have to hold the lid on. Very informative video and spot on for us DIY'ers!
Agreed Simple Green does the job and is much cheaper. I have a 2 gallon pump sprayer which I use 3oz SG with hot water, spray and let sit 10 minutes and rinse.
What about spraying with a solution of diluted Dawn dish Detergent? Very mild. And here's an important tip. After replacing lid make sure wires are tucked in and not dangling as fan will slice them. I learned from experience.
Great video. I noticed last year my unit worked, but not as good as it once did. I went to Lowe’s and bought a couple cans of A/C Coil Cleaner. I’d did both the inside and outside. Got everything put back together. Powered up the system and I was completely shocked at how big a difference this made. This was not a subtle difference, it was a major difference. Thank you again!
@@pabriny No! Improvement in the respect that the unit is cycling more efficiently and the temperature as it exits the vents ins ide the house is 4 degrees colder than it was before the cleaning. I will know when I get my next electric bill if the efficiency makes a difference in cost.
Wow, this video was a lifesaver! My AC was blowing warm air during a heatwave, and I was about to give up hope. But thanks to this tutorial, I cleaned the coils myself, and now it's like a winter wonderland in my living room! To anyone doubting, if a total DIY newbie like me can do it, so can you! Thanks for saving my summer and my wallet!
That 165 gets you a lot more than that. Yes cleaning your coil properly is very important and yes please do that yourself. Did you check any of the other things that are the majority of that visit. Cus if you cleaned it before the tech got there we wouldn't have to do that there your bill would be half that. Trust me the other stuff is just important. With out the tools and know how you cant do the other stuff. And as far as checking the refrigerant that requires EPA certification. You could do that your self with some 100 dollar amazon gages. And not know what anything your looking at means or is supposed to be. Do you even know what kind of metering device is on your indoor coil?. Dont forget the 49k fine for mishandeling refrigerant If you get cought even takeing the caps off the service ports Your neighbor or anyone that justs want 20k for a new boat can you in gets half that. Every one has a camera in there pocket. Refrigerants aren't a game.
I'm an A/C guy and I just grab the hose and wash at a 45 degree angle from the outside a couple times a year. All the books say wash from the inside but, in actual practice, it doesn't work because the velocity of the water through the coil isn't enough to wash out the dirt. I don't use coil cleaner. If you can see through it with a flashlight when you're done, it's good to go. Putting those covers back on the side can be a real pain.
if the velocity of the water isn't enough to wash from the inside out, then it won't be enough to wash from the outside in. If the water pressure isn't enough to push water through the coils they really must be needing a serious cleaning. You aren't the first HVAC tech to do a half a$$ job and leave. "Every contractor is an incompetent thief" Ron Swanson
@WeWereYoungandCrazy not necessarily. If the coils are plugged then sure do it from inside out. But if it has a dusting on it then it's not going to make a difference. There's alot of things that are suggested from different manufacturers but in all honesty they are just not practical in the real world.
Summer is here again. After installing central AC 7 years ago the external unit had never been cleaned. Thanks to this video I was confident enough to follow the directions and clean my AC. Today I'll follow up with the shop vac and the drainage line from the inside unit and hopefully be in good shape for the rest of the AC season. Thank you for your great video and expertise!
First of all this is a great video. And secondly, the comments here are so helpful, almost every comment is adding more value and insight into the subject at hand. Wow, what a community 👏👏👏
Good video. One thing when putting screws back, turn counterclockwise first until you hear a click and then go clockwise to tighten them. This way threads will never strip.
Computer techs and automation engineers do this all the time! Took me 30 years to learn this simple trick! Made me feel stupid when I first heard it. 😂
I do this every year just before the cooling season begins. I used to use the canned foaming spray like you but moved up to a professional HVAC coil cleaner sold in a gallon bottle. I simply put it in a yard sprayer and pressurize it with the pump. But most importantly, I also take the time to clean the evaporator inside the furnace. That makes a HUGE difference! I did a before & after with a digital oven thermometer and the air temp at the vents went from 59 to 53 degrees. Wow! Worked so well I removed the grill from my car and did those coils to. Air temp in the car, 37!
Right, Dave. Cleaning the inside evporator coil is just as important...even though it requires a good deal more prep and cleanup. And don't forget some clorox in the condensate drain line periodically.
I have an older unit that’s been giving me trouble the past couple years. Had someone come out and said it sounded like the compressor going out. But yet got it going and it’s still going. Can you give me more insight on the evaporator? I have no clue what that is or where exactly it is. Thank you.
Depending on which color cleaner you use, dilute the purple cleaner to at least 50/50 if not more. And rinse twice after washing off the coil. Purple cleaner is great but very strong by itself and WILL cause leaks if not rinsed 100%.
What the best way to clean the ones in the furnace? I looked and mine are really dirty? Do I have to take it out and bring outside and do the same thing like the outside?
If you clean the coils and the unit doesn't start up right away, don't panic! Here is why. I cleaned my heat pump coils today, but the unit would not start up right away. I found that the reason for this is the crankcase heater needs to come up to temperature. This takes 5 or 10 minutes for my old Trane XL1400. The reason for the heater is to prevent refrigerant from migrating to the compressor and mixing with the oil there. If that happens, the oil might foam up and leave the compressor, causing eventual compressor failure when the compressor starts up. A small heater acts to prevent this problem. Thanks for the informative video.
Great video. Thank you. I cleaned my AC unit today after 6 years and there wasn't a lot of dirt, but it was time to clean. I suggest wrapping the wire screen with rope or a bungy cord. It makes replacing the lid much easier.
Hey, that’s a damn good tip! Putting one of these back together and lining it all up once the sheet metal moves around is a pita. I’m going to have to try this tip shortly.
I just cleaned my central A/C unit earlier today. So glad I watched your video yesterday. I didn't even know about coil cleaner, nor did I realize the importance of cleaning from the inside. Since my unit appeared to have not been cleaned in over 20 years, so I used my old ShopVac to remove the caked-on debris. I probably should've got down in there with a wire brush, but keeping the top from falling down on my head proved quite a challenge! Then I sprayed the coils, waited 15 minutes, rinsed, then repeated. Then I had a problem. All the drains were clogged. I found the drains by removing the access panel for the compressor compartment. I must've sprayed the bottom of the compartment with 50 gallons of water until there wasn't even a speck of dirt! Tomorrow's the big day! I'm going to test run the A/C.
Here are the results of yesterday's A/C test: ran the unit for almost an hour at 67 degrees, couldn't break 68 degrees. Not bad for an A/C unit that's about 33 years old. Besides, for the five years I've owned this house, I've kept the thermostat between 73 and 77 degrees. I figured that by going easy on the old machine (Amana SRCF24-60), I can make it last another 10 or 15 years.
Our AC Guy told me the typical age for an AC unit is 12 to 14 years before it quits. Mine lasted me 24 years. I give credit to this by cleaning mine out every year. At the price of what it cost the homeowner to replace a unit, it definitely pays to keep the unit clean. It's a quick and easy way to save repair costs.
@denonpmb Key word " should." My comment was not ignorant, and here's why. A preventive maintenance contract or a service contract allows you the privilege of having a guy in case of emergencies. See, you're thinking his system lasted 24 years with all the original parts. No, I guarantee his equipment broke down plenty of times, but his guy was there to save the day. See if I charged you monthly or yearly and called it a service technician retainer fee people wouldn't buy it. So, a smart businessman will call it a preventive maintenance contract and send a tech out a few times a year to put on a show. Because people believe in reducing workload on equipment ,okay change your filter and call your guy when it breaks.
I've maintained my own systems for 46 yrs. Keep the area around your condenser unit clean. Don't allow grass clippings, etc. to spread near it. I never use commercial coil cleaners because they are harsh and the aluminum fins/aluminum coils or copper coils are sensitive to chemical attack. A little dish soap (NOT automatic dishwasher detergent) in warm water and a spray bottle are all that's needed, if a jet of water from the garden hose (NOT a pressure washer) alone isn't enough. Often spraying from the inside isn't needed at all and opening the case risks scratching the finish allowing rust to start. Never use anything containing bleach near condensers (or evaporator coils). This is important. Always keep a spare start/run capacitor for your system!!!
Don’t forget to check/replace/file the compressor contactor every two years as regular preventative maintenance, pitted contacts will increase your power bill and deteriorate the electric windings in the compressor causing a costly failure.
@@elmorocha4973 Replaced mine at about 45 yrs. because of pitting after a mouse tried to take up residence between the contacts. Otherwise never did it. No compressor failures ever.
@@elmorocha4973 I don't recommend filing the contacts...I learned this working on large motor starter contactors..(up to 800 Hp 3 phase). You'll prematurely wear off the silver contacts. I change out my AC motor starter contactor every 5 years....$20 - 30. Cheap. 🇺🇸👍
Great video, I clean mine myself every few years. One thing I would say differently than you is that you should clean the coils out from the inside regardless of if you have one or two rows of coils. Under normal operation, air is pulled IN through the coils and the air comes OUT of the top of the unit. That means most of your dirt and debris will be on the outside of the coils. If you then spray the coils from the outside, you are just spraying that dirt and debris deeper into the coil fins. If you spray from the inside, you are getting all that junk out.
If that was the case then the outside of the coils would never be cleaned. You can see all the dirt and mildew that came off from spraying the outside which cannot be removed from spraying inside alone. I think spraying the inside and outside are equally important. If youre concerned about pushing dirt back into the coils then spray the outside first then the inside last. Simple solution
Best tutorial I’ve seen! There is so much misinformation and conflicting information about how to do this all over the Internet (and UA-cam). This video is clear, very detailed and makes complete sense to me. It seems like a very safe method to clean the unit without doing any damage. Thank you!
Thank you!! I found another video and cleaned the outside coils with some spray cleaner. HOWEVER, had no idea there were possible 2nd set on the inside. I will be re-cleaning it in the next week as soon as I get 2 cans of your recommended cleaner. This will help so much!! I'm sharing this video with all friends. It's 100 degrees today, first of the year, and going to get really hot here in AZ soon. God bless you!!
Being a caretaker on 3 ranches I'm always on the lookout for ways to do my job better. Just watched this video and one on wire nuts and its been a good learning Sunday. Thanks!
Great video. Using this coil cleaner product is also helpful for us folks that live in the hot dusty southwest deserts, to clean the air conditioning condenser, radiator fins, and transmission coolers, for our vehicles as well. As in your video, the cleaner can be applied from both the engine side, and the grille side. I usually do it when the vehicle has been running but not too hot to touch. Spray the components listed, and let it sit for awhile, and then use the garden hose sprayer to flush out all the dirt , bugs, and debris that collect in those areas. It helps the vehicle to run cooler and the a/c to work better, especially if it has not been done for a year or two.
Thank you! The hardest part was securing the top fan housing to keep it stable and avoid damage to the fan blades. I also like trimming away any bushes or branches that would prevent air flow to the condenser (clearance of 24 inches is sometimes called for). I also raked away debris/woodchips, to prevent rainfall from sending wood chips back into the unit. One can was not enough imo. This video provided the know-how and confidence to get the job done, very well done!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! My AC stopped working last night. I kept looking for videos that would explain what I needed to do in a manner that I could understand. I disconnected the power first thing. I took the top off the condenser and saw lots of cob webs and leaves. I vacuumed them all out. Then took simple greet and sprayed the inside of the flat coils. I used a vacuum (wet/dry) to get as much water as possible out. then I took the grate out since there we a lot of dirt behind it. I rinsed it out and vacuumed it dry. Put it all back together, put the circuit breaker back, and it now works. thank you again. Now to find a video on how to clean the filters on the house heater. Why stop at one win!
Brilliant!! It feels so rewarding to not only save money, save your investment but also know you are capable of accomplishing some pretty “professional” services yourself 🏋️♂️🙌 I might suggest too, you add the “AC Cleanout” to a household maintenance calendar or list, taking care to clean the AC unit in spring and fall. I say this at the risk of sounding patronizing because I just replaced my hot-water-on-demand/boiler system after a mere 6 years because the installer didn’t tell me I needed to have it professionally flushed every year. $12 grand spent the first time, 6 yrs ago and now another $16 grand this year for a whole new system.
People!!! Make sure you pay attention to the screws you take out too. On some models, some of the screws might be a little longer and if you mix them up where they go, you could potentially damage the coil.
I get a piece of cardboard and screw them in (by hand)the order/place I take them out. You can draw a rough picture of the unit with emblem to be sure of orientation. You can even label the holes with a very fine point sharpe if you want. I use a magnetic mat for metal screws on my bench, but don't use it outside. Working on computers/laptops it makes a huge difference in screw length as well.
1 thing you forgot to show, like i do on mine is to spray between the unit and the cement slab you would be surprised what comes out from underneath. that will also help keep the drain holes open.
Bravo, thank you! My temp went from 88 degrees to 71! I had extensive storm damage and had about 5" of crud, and this is after the Hvac came. I appreciate you very much
So I did this yesterday, one thing to keep in mind is the top of my AC unit came off easily enough but it was a NIGHTMARE to get it back on. Honestly 80% of the time I spent on this job was getting the sides lined up properly to fit under the top piece. This was on a 2.5ton Trane unit. Just a tip for anyone with a similar model. Also cleaning it did nothing but my coils weren't that dirty to start with.
Agree, most problematic part of this is getting top back on, all holes lined up, and hope it all fits and screws don't strip. He made that look so easy but can be difficult for a novice.
Most of the dirt is in between the fins. Dont use the carosive spray ever just water every spring. Have a qualifid tech check every thing else out every few years. If you already cleaned it and they dont have to and they only have to do the technical stuff you saved 30 minutes of labor that you dont have to pay 50 dollars for. And trust me they wont complain we hate that part. Cleaning your condensate pump and trap also save time.
As an hvac installer and service tech the evaporator coil which is your air handler inside is incredibly important if that is dirty or you don’t change your filters it could cause it to freeze up and or cause your system to not move the heat in your house as efficiently
Want to take the time to say thanks. I have cleaned my coils for the last two years, but I never thought about them inside due to possibly having two rows. Will check this year (and will clean the inside while I am there as well. Haha... something I should have done anyway). Two big thumbs up, my man!!
I had a musty smell this year so I started doing some searching and found your channel. Cleaned my unit and found the evap was partially covered in mold. All clean now and no smell or other associated issues. Going to do the soft start and capacitor as well. This unit was last "serviced" two years ago. Subscribed!
My elder mom has a technician clean her condenser yearly and it looks nice when she looked at the outside. I decided to check it, there was 2" of leaves in there and all the drain holes were plugged. I turned off power, took the top off and spent half an hour cleaning it from the inside/outside. I also added a net to the top to prevent leaves from entering the unit. I agree to keep them clean to reduce costs. I also have a washable intake filter that I wash monthly. Look forward to your other HVAC DIYs in case I am missing something.
I am so going to try this. My AC unit is 10 years old and I have been so nervous about hiring somebody because there's so many scammers out there that don't do an effective job so I am definitely going to try this for stage one of taking care of my AC thank you.
I just washed mine out today. I definitely need 2 spray cans to cover both inside and out. I made sure to clean it when there’s shade to avoid the sun/heat drying out the cleaner ahead of time. I hope it runs more efficiently. My energy bill last summer was almost $600. 🤞🏼
3 years since mine was cleaned. Man it was pretty bad, but this video was a life saver! Excellent content. The comment section wasn’t kidding though, that housing is a pain to get back on.
Thank you for the awesome video. The last time I had my A/C unit serviced (added freon) my service tech said that I need to be saving for a new unit. My A/C unit was very loud when running. I just did your cleaning inside and out. Much more quieter in running. My A/C unit is 22 years old. Hopefully I can have more years out of it.
Just wanted to thank you for making this video. The way you covered each step so precisely make it very simple to follow. Thank you so so so much since my AC unit is running better than ever after the clean up.
You are amazing! So detailed, easy to understand. We did this in the am today. It was filthy!! Not done in years (we are new tenants). Got a little nervous when it didn't turn back on immediately, but that was because the breaker wasn't seated all the way properly. Come back in - about 10 minutes it all came back together. Can feel cooler air than before!! Thank you so much!
I have an older unit that’s been living trouble the past couple years. This video is great. I’m going to do this. I did something similar when my unit stopped putting out cold air. We bought this house 2 years ago. When i did the coil clean there was so much dirt and muck in the coils and inside the bottom pan and the drains being totally clogged it took me hours to do. I have rods and screws in my low back. But i did so much bending over to get to the pan to scrape it and dig the 1” gunk from it that I couldn’t stand up straight for a few days. Just a couple weeks ago I found a good deal on a combo pack of garden nozzle sprayers asks one was the long one. I do have a pressure washer but I understand that’s not a good thing to use. But it’s been a year since i cleaned it. I figure it’s about time. Going to do it a bit differently as to not hurt myself again. Thank you for this awesome video. It gave me a better understanding of what as how to do it better. The comments have also helped. Except for the evaporator. I have no clue what that is or where it is.
Thanks for the great advice. I bought the purafilter coil cleaner from Lowes. It is so easy to do it yourself. The only thing I would recommend is to wear a mask or cover your nose. The spray is rough. Definitely wear gloves & safety goggles. My coils look great and clean. I'm glad I did it. I found a dead wasp nest near the electrical outlet and inside. Got rid of them and sprayed away everything else. Looks brand new. I saved myself about $90 from my HVAC guy. I will do this way from now on. Thanks
Great Information! I generally clean the coils on my units every spring. Never thought about removing the top and definitely will do now. I do pull the fan and lube the motor yearly with a drips of machine oil.
Every year, my outside AC unit is "serviced" by a company. Because it stopped working, I followed your instructions and when I opened it there was over 1 inch of mud covering the bottom. I was shocked. I was charged $200/hr for the cleaning of this unit last Fall. Never again. Thanks so much!
I clean ours 2-3 times per season. We have cottonwoods here and they can cover the coils fast at the peak of the season. Due to the construction of our unit, a weatherking, the coils are behind luvors and are harder to clean. I use high energy magnets to hold door screen over them and keep the coils clean and free od debris. This is the second season with the new unit so it is spotless still.
Very simple and easy to follow instructions. Thank you for posting this video as I live in south Texas and the summers are brutal. I’m gonna knock this out first thing tomorrow morning. Appreciate you bud.
Excellent tutorial. I just did something very similar to my own condenser unit this past summer. Made a huge difference. And it's not tough to do at all! Excellent habit to practice at least every two or three years, or more often in dustier environments. Well done!
What is the average temperature in the summer for you? I am considering giving this a shot. Im in texas, we are consistently triple digits. Did you notice a difference pretty quickly?
@@DFW2017 If you're asking me, I live in SoCal and we get triple digits, but not as often as you would. But yes, I noticed an improvement in cooling. I also ditched the more restrictive intake filters for the lightweight Flander's easy flos, which I swap out monthly.
For all those concerned about corrosive effects of simple green. I have been using it for approximately 25 years now with no problems. I mix it to the strength on the website and I also don't let it sit on there for no longer than about 5 minutes and then rinse thoroughly with clean water. If you don't want to use simple green use a liquid dish soap, but my air conditioners are close to trees and I need something to help get the tree sap off and for me simple green works better than dish soap. FLY NAVY!!!
Simple Green is corrosive to aluminum (which is what the fins are made out of). Don't be cheap and instead use the proper cleaner for the job -- otherwise your "cheap" solution may cost you thousands to replace corroded coils.
Having cleaned tens of thousands of coils over the past 20 years, this is an outstanding video. I would add.......while the top is open, try to split the coils apart a bit and use your hose to rinse straight down between the coils. That will clean the face area of the inside coil. If there is cottonwood seed or any other vegetation that has made it between the coil, use a thin round brush on a wire to pull it out from the top before putting any water to it.
On Average what do service professionals like yourself who have cleaned tens of thousands of coils over the years typically charge homeowners for this service? Wondering what it will cost me to hire someone to do this for me versus doing it myself. What is a fair price to pay for a coil cleaning service not that I don’t like getting my hands dirty but I’m a pretty busy guy I’m not sure it would be the best use of my time. I appreciate any and all feedback from anyone including yourself.
If you have animals around, and don't want them drinking the runoff water from the Fin Cleaner, you can use a spray bottle found at most hardware stores and fill with warm water with just a teaspoon of Dawn dish soap. That will do the same thing as the fin cleaner. Also, add the soap AFTER filling the spray bottle, so that it doesn't foam up on you in the bottle. You want it to foam up on the fins and not in the bottle.
Thanks for this. I sprayed off my coil box occasionally, but never cleaned it. I have it serviced every other year or so. But it was starting to freeze over. I followed your instructions and was shocked at how much dirt and dog hair was stuck on the coils. It’s looking great now. Hopefully clear up my freezing issues.
Awesome, just awesome. I cleaned must indoor ac unit, and it make a huge difference in the cooling. I found that after a few seasons of using this indoor unit that it was almost plugged up with dog fur and household dust. AC units are like air cleaners, so they suck up a lot of dust too. Thank you for your very in depth cleaning procedure. I am an engineer so I really appreciated your covering the safety aspects of you procedures. Chet
You might want to look into a better filter for your air handler or identify if there are spaces in the filter rack where air can bypass it and fill them. Two years to clog a coil is a bit quick.
@@davereeves1967 I was going to recommend the same thing. I used the 4 inch space guard filter on a unit I installed in my house almost 20 yrs ago. When I changed the system out last year the coil had almost nothing on it after those 20 years. Never buy the cheap filters with the strands. Always buy a pleated filter even if its the cheapest one they make
I did this a couple of years ago and the A/C went from not keeping up in extreme heat to no problem. Could not believe it, will be doing it again this year.
I cleaned my Rheem single coil this year my self. I took EVERYTHING off, all sheet metal. Used exact cleaner and a soft bristle brush to agitate the dirt in the coil fins.
I love your videos. My first husband use to take care of stuff like this. My second husband isn't able to. Glad to have someone like u around with ur clear instructions to help this lady out!!!💖
I was skeptical at first but found that to be a really a good tutorial. Granted, I have 30 years of experience in the appliance and a/c field. The only things I would change is (1), include a breaker disconnect that you flip off as well as the pull out disconnect, (2) use concentrate foaming coil cleaner that comes in a gallon jug. Dilute that down with water into a small pump-up sprayer or even a hand-held spray bottle and you don't have to worry about it coming back into your face. Even as clean as your unit was, you would not believe how much will foam out with the proper cleaner. Overall, I have to give you at least a 95 score if I was actually grading a test on it.
Here are 2 additional pro tips; If you pre-rinse the coil before applying the cleaner it not only removes any large particulates like cottonwood, it also allows the cleaner to penetrate the coils deeper. And it is highly recommended to not use a coil cleaner on micro channel units which (according to manufacturer's service manuals) has the potential to cause leaks and may void any warranty claims.
there is microchannel safe cleaners as well I use them all the time on refrigeration units, but even then you really only should use it if the coil is really bad
@@facecrook3454 micro channel coils are made of very thin aluminum channels with fins between them, fin and tube are a copper tube with fins attached to the tube the easiest way to tell if you are unsure what your coil is, look at the ends of the coil for u shaped copper bends that's a fun and tube coil, if it looks more like a car radiator that's likely a micro channel. It's actually pretty easy to tell at a glance once you have seen them if you Google the 2 different types you can find pictures that will make it easier to spot the difference.
Mine was covered with a thick layer of dust and gunk. It was dry, so I used a very soft brush and brushed it off (peeled off like dryer lint in the dryer lint catch) before using water and cleaner (Simple Green). I'm really glad I did. A little sweep up and then the actual washing was pretty minor. If I got that gunk wet first it would've made the job much harder. Maybe my experience will save someone extra work. Thanks for the video!
I used to run an A/C workshop. When spraying the cleaner, you have to start at the bottom of the coils going up. Starting at the top, the foam will flow down and cover the coils that have not been sprayed on. This foam cover is only at the outside and the inside coils did not benefit from the cleaner. After rinsing, you'd find that some coils were not cleaned, then you have to apply the cleaner again. We used Coilbrite of Atco Chemicals, Marrietta, Georgia.
At certain times during the year, I get alot of cottonwood seeds in the coil, that have to be washed down at an angle from the top downwards to the bottom. It does make alot of difference on how well the unit runs.I have never taken the top off to check for a 2nd set of coils, but I will now.
On a single row , i would agree but on a double row your pushing the dirt from the inner coil back of the outer and visa versa. They need to be spilt and washed between the two.Its a delicate operation however. Doesnt matter how shiny the tubes are, they are designed for air to flow thru and take away the heat. Condensor cleaner is designed to be sprayed between the fins and then foam to push the debris back out of the fins. If it foams before its a waste.
Thank you. I am going to do this. Your right it will save quite a bit to do this your self. It does not look hard to do!! I am a female and I will definitely try this.
We noticed our AC was louder than usual this spring, so I used this approach over the weekend, and now it is quiet and also no longer makes the house lights flicker when it starts up. Luckily, the previous owners installed one of those insulating/sound proofing covers, so I didn't have to worry about that step.
I shot a video a couple years ago of splitting coils, but yes, a lot of people forget about it or don’t know about it. Just by spraying the outside, it does look clean, but he packs everything in the center causing your higher head pressure along with higher discharge air temp and lower efficiency. Anyways, nice video. Have a great day.
I appreciate the helpful video about how to clean the air conditioner coils. I just cleaned my air conditioner coils and my house is cooler. I never thought about how much money and the importance of cleaning the air conditioner coils saves.
Unfortunately, half the battle is getting to those coils and everyone’s duct work/system is different. Once you get to the coil there, it is the same. Same type cleaner, rinse water and making sure the drain is clear. I’ve opened mine twice. The first time it was a horror show because it hadn’t been cracked open in 18 years I’d say. I recracked it five years later and it was barely dirty because I keep up with filters unlike the former owner.
First time homeowner and bought a house with a 3 year old unit similar to this. The coils were completely covered on the outside and I sprayed it down with my hose from the outside and got a good bit of the debris out. The corners were the tough part and still have some junk in there. I didn't feel comfortable enough taking the lid off to do it from the inside, but I may give it a go now after seeing this. AC is on today for the first time and it's working well but I think it could work better if I do a second cleaning inside -> out.
Thank you for sharing my friend. I wasn't searching for this but it is a reminder for me to get out there and clean mine. It's been years now and I want to make sure I get this done before we get into the thick of the hot soupy summer here in New Jersey.
Okay, why not. HVAC tech here. Some good points. There's nothing wrong with cleaning outside in AND inside out. You wanna let that cleaner sit on your coils for at least a few minutes. You don't HAVE to remove the entire top like this man does. You could just remove the fan motor, easier to rest on the unit. If you feel comfortable unplugging the condenser fan wires, you could do that to set the entire top on the grass beside the unit. Your fan blades can get caked over time, a brillo pad or something similar isn't a bad idea. It's better to shop vac the inside of your unit if it has a lot of leaf litter built up instead of bending over to grab it out by hand. It goes without saying to avoid wetting the control panel and the disconnect plug. It takes very little effort to hook up a shop vacuum to the outlet of your drain line (If you know where that is). And make sure it's set to wet vac. And lastly, even water is better than nothing. If you're tight on funds and time I highly recommend just using water. Make sure to AVOID high jet settings on your hose to avoid bending your coil fins. Don't spray at an angle for the same reasons. And that's some very basic cleaning tips.
@@richierich1169 I never used that phrase in this comment. But it stands for evaporator. There are four basic components to ALL HVAC units. Compressor, condenser, metering device, and evaporator. The evaporator is the coil that gets super cold, and has normal air blow across. It picks up that cold, and you receive cold air from your vents. It CAN get dirty. But it's less likely to. The video above is the condenser coils, they get dirty way more often. We do clean evaporator coils, but it's more rare. Hope that helps.
@@heythere6983 Sure. It happens the same way mold can grow on literally anything. Spores, moisture, and little to no sunlight. Mold is a lot less likely to grow on your coils, but I'v seen it grow on the outside casing 100s of times. Saying that outloud....I'v done this way too often. lol Coil cleaner and a water rinse would do the trick, even the weaker coil cleaners are strong enough to get rid of mold. Mold can also appear inside your drain pan/drain line. Pouring cleaner, and hot water....OR just bleach some hot water should do the trick there. Rememeber the bleach is NOT to be used on coils, only drain pans and drain lines. Period. If you're concerned with mold growing INSIDE your air vents/ducts....there is a method for that too. I recommend renting a fogger, hooking it up with some mold-kill, and aiming it at your RETURN vent(s). Let it run for half a day to a full day. Do not stay in that house. The next day you should be fine. But you may want to wait another day to be on the safe side. Regular cleanings prevent this from happening again. Just fyi.
@@Niveous23 mine was full of algae . normally these units are on the side or back of a house and one side gets shade and never gets sun. that was dirtiest part. looks good hope it works better. thanks a lot !
Thanks great tips, it would be nice for the manufacturer to provide hinges and stop to make it easier for the homeowner or repair person to open the top portion for cleaning and repair.
My father taught me use sprayed with hose gently and use soft brush gently brush it downward without hurting the coils. I have been doing tubs way for years and works great!
As one commenter already mentioned, I just remove the screws holding the fan housing bracket to access the inside of the unit. My chemical of choice is Simple Green which also bio friendly. Also use on the coils inside the house.
@@jamessharp9790 Simple Green HD, the purple stuff, is not corrosive to aluminum. I use it in a 1 part "purple "Simple Green" to 3 parts water mix in a garden sprayer, and it works great. I discovered this product and used it in an ultrasound bath to clean small engine carburetors. It's also more cost effective than the foaming coil cleaners. Cheers!
Good video! 👍 I thoroughly clean my A/C myself every 2-3 years. Once a year My HVAC people do prop up the fan and hose it from the inside out for five minutes during the AC tuneup. When I do it, I use the exact same method that you use, even the same exact coil cleaner. To make sure the drainage holes are clear, I insert a small screwdriver and push through. After the cleaning is done I like to vacuum up any standing water in or around the unit. I also put a coat of wax on top to prevent paint fading. I’ll be cleaning mine again within the next two weeks. Temperatures are rising again. 🥵
Just did a thorough cleaning of my unit. Removed the top, cleaned the crud off the bottom, blew out the coils then scrubbed the fan blades. I used my pressure washer to clean the fins from the inside. Then I put it back together and scrubbed the top of the unit. I thought it needed a repaint but once I got the grime off, it looks pretty good. Not gonna wait so long for the next cleaning.😅
Outstanding video! Followed your instructions verbatim, and all went well. Start to finish, job took about an hour. I even followed the suggestion someone else provided by using bungee cords to hold fan to a ladder set against the house. Thanks for sharing your expertise! !
I am curious. How long has it been since your AC unit was cleaned?
Oh, This video was very helpful!! Haven't cleaned it ever... It's 5 yrs old. I didn't even know there was such a thing as a coil cleaner product. Thank You Much!!!
Last year. Thank y'all
Omg, never knew had to be. My bad 🤦
Only once a year unless we have a haboob come through getting everything covered with dust.
Here's a good example of a dust storm: ua-cam.com/video/8vQMuwRjI6s/v-deo.html
@@moonovermiami9787 Same. We hired a guy to check on status of the AC, and he pointed out how dirty to coils look on the outside and wanted a few hundred dollars to clean it, so here I am.
Wow, so helpful. Just had AC guys here to do check and said I needed condensers cleaned
Tried to get me a contract. So looked for a video on how to. Great video. I am a 73 yr. Old lady and I'm going to go out and do it myself. Thanks so much!!!
How did it go? I'm wanting to do mine myself also but have never tried to do anything on the HVAC. I've fixed a lot of things around the house but I'm a little scared on this one.
Did it work out Ma'am?
Are you safe? 😢
Oh, she be chillin'! WTG lady!
Some of the contractors I know use Easy-off oven cleaner.
I didn't get what you said about how long the coil clean spray stays and then washed it. Did you say we have to wait 5 days or 5 minutes and then wash it? Thanks
Im an A/C contractor and I approve this video. I might add pay attention to the length of the screws you take out. On some units the screws for the electrical component compartment are longer and if you use them on the coil grates it can puncture the coil.
Very cool of you to add this comment. No pun intended.
LMFAO. People really need that common sense reminder.
@@ua7pyro591 unfortunately they do. I have seen new techs do it, so it wouldnt be hard for a home owner
Idk WHY in the world people don't just (professionally) install a gas shock spring to the x2 and instead of using the absolute worst kind of combination being those stupid ass 5/16 sheet metal screws instead of mocking up hinges and cutting screws down to size with locking knylon nuts and the most important on f use non cofj
I like to take masking tape and tape the screw I remove to the top of the unit in the position I remove it. The tape holds the screw un place and I simply remove the screw and tape when I get ready to reinstall the screw. Two birds with one stone...you don't mix the srews up and you hold them in place.
Thank you for creating this video. My 3 year old AC was blowing out warm air. The company I purchased the unit from came to check the unit and told me I needed a new compressor and quoted me 4K to replace it. Kind of strange since the unit was under warranty for parts. After watching your video, I replaced my filter and cleaned all of the coils on the AC. Turned it on and it works fine now. Thank you again. You saved me lots of money.
I'd fire that AC company.
"filter" as in the filter in the house? Or some other filter?
What filter?
Smack the tech who tried that. 2x
@@erkl8823 If your heat and air come out the same vents, yes, the furnace filter.
I'm not someone who posts often on social media at all, and I have never before left a UA-cam comment, but I have to let you know that this video totally fixed my AC unit today! My husband and I are not in a place financially right now to pay someone to fix the AC, and our house has been so hot. With the help of your video, we team-worked it together today, and the problem is totally solved! Air is blowing cold as can be! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
That is really sweet of you to say that… I have the same problem and so hopefully I will get the same results after I clean mine today🙏
You should be watching many fixit UA-cam videos to help you do things yourself and save money. I do and I really can’t recommend them enough.
Make sure your indoor coil is clean.
Use the same cleaner on the indoor coils,change your return air filters every 30 days, never use highly restricted filters. Personally recommend stainless steel washable filters, wash and clean every 30 days,febreeze,reinstall,
@@TheDeadheadable ...yes BTW that part is called the Evaporator. It has another part in the same system called the Condenser that also need to be cleaned (if you can easily get at it!)
My Dad was an A/C Tech after he retired from the Air Force, and he preached filters and clean coils!! Change the filters when you make out your electric bill every month, clean your coils spring and fall, especially with heat pumps! RIP Dad! :)
You can use a hose
Changing the filter every month is way too much... Every 3 months is fine
If you have animals that shed like I do, every month is absolutely required.
MSgt USAF retired respect for my brother in arms
@@ScareHollow Cheap insurance, and we don't have indoor animals! Dad put in a 2" double filter rack. I buy good filters for the top slot, and cheap filters for the bottom rack. Absolutely no issues with our AC system in 10 years! Thanks Dad! :)
To secure the cover/fan assembly I put an A-Frame ladder next to the unit on the wiring conduit side and use rubber tie down bungees to tie it up. Great when working alone.
Great tip. I would never leave that unsecured. If I did I 100% guarantee it would fall over and damage the unit or me. Your suggestion is excellent!
@@riverraisin1 I have the scars on my noggin to show a little sense was knocked into me. Just a little. 😳
This is gold!
@@TexaSurvival I'll take 2 ounces. Thank you.
You must have been controlling me with your brain... I thought of the same thing as he was putting that up on the side!! LOL
My father was in commercial HVAC all his life. He told me to never use those commercial cleaners as they are corrosive and can cause refrigerant leaks in your system. What he told me to use is the heavy duty simple green mixed with water. Been doing it for years now and no leaks but thanks for the tips. FLY NAVY!!!
What is the mixture ratio?
Yeah I can see that working too. I will say the reason I use the one in the video is because it does not use harsh chemicals, is biodegradable, safe for pets, and according to the company not corrosive to any metals on the condenser. So 100% safe to use and works awesome. Appreciate the Simple green input. Thank you for your service as well!
@@HowToHomeDIY There's a brand (Refrigeration Technologies) that sells coil cleaner in a concentrated gallon size and claims if there isn't a hose or water supply nearby you don't even need to rinse if diluted 20:1. A business might purchase that much but a spray can of cleaner like you used is perfect for a simple annual cleaning (don't need to store it after use, mix it when needed, or try to remember where you stored it last year). Tip about hardware was so important. In the Navy, most equipment seemed to have triple (or more) the number of mounting screws and one instructor claimed the additional hardware was necessary because new technicians would torque the hardware so tight they'd strip the threads out and the rest would have to hold the lid on. Very informative video and spot on for us DIY'ers!
@@doja1307 It says on the simple green bottle but without looking I'm going to say I think it's 50% simple green 50% water. FLY NAVY!!!
Agreed Simple Green does the job and is much cheaper. I have a 2 gallon pump sprayer which I use 3oz SG with hot water, spray and let sit 10 minutes and rinse.
What about spraying with a solution of diluted Dawn dish Detergent? Very mild. And here's an important tip. After replacing lid make sure wires are tucked in and not dangling as fan will slice them. I learned from experience.
Thanks. You are amazing! Clear n concise. I'm 73yo, no expert but going to try it.
You are very welcome! Really glad to hear you liked it. Thanks a lot for the feedback and the Super Thanks! Good luck on the project!
Great video. I noticed last year my unit worked, but not as good as it once did. I went to Lowe’s and bought a couple cans of A/C Coil Cleaner. I’d did both the inside and outside. Got everything put back together. Powered up the system and I was completely shocked at how big a difference this made. This was not a subtle difference, it was a major difference. Thank you again!
I need to do mine now.
@@kenc.9067 Awesome. It was easy and really makes a difference. Good luck!
Very well explained video. You answered all my question thank you
How so? On your bill?
@@pabriny No! Improvement in the respect that the unit is cycling more efficiently and the temperature as it exits the vents ins ide the house is 4 degrees colder than it was before the cleaning. I will know when I get my next electric bill if the efficiency makes a difference in cost.
Wow, this video was a lifesaver! My AC was blowing warm air during a heatwave, and I was about to give up hope. But thanks to this tutorial, I cleaned the coils myself, and now it's like a winter wonderland in my living room! To anyone doubting, if a total DIY newbie like me can do it, so can you! Thanks for saving my summer and my wallet!
Thanks, Dude! I just spent $9 on a can of A/C cleaner and did what a professional wanted to charge me $165 to do. Your video just saved me $156!
how bout you put your money where your mouth is and send 'How to Homev $50-75 bucks and show us all how thankful you really are
That 165 gets you a lot more than that. Yes cleaning your coil properly is very important and yes please do that yourself. Did you check any of the other things that are the majority of that visit. Cus if you cleaned it before the tech got there we wouldn't have to do that there your bill would be half that. Trust me the other stuff is just important. With out the tools and know how you cant do the other stuff. And as far as checking the refrigerant that requires EPA certification. You could do that your self with some 100 dollar amazon gages. And not know what anything your looking at means or is supposed to be. Do you even know what kind of metering device is on your indoor coil?. Dont forget the 49k fine for mishandeling refrigerant If you get cought even takeing the caps off the service ports Your neighbor or anyone that justs want 20k for a new boat can you in gets half that. Every one has a camera in there pocket. Refrigerants aren't a game.
Oh boy...always one of them@@TheDeadheadable
Try and find me hvac boy 😂😂😂@@TheDeadheadable
Lol, calm down Karen.@TheDeadheadable
I'm an A/C guy and I just grab the hose and wash at a 45 degree angle from the outside a couple times a year. All the books say wash from the inside but, in actual practice, it doesn't work because the velocity of the water through the coil isn't enough to wash out the dirt. I don't use coil cleaner. If you can see through it with a flashlight when you're done, it's good to go. Putting those covers back on the side can be a real pain.
Yea I do it the same way. Especially when u have like 4 or 5 maintenances lined up for the day.
if the velocity of the water isn't enough to wash from the inside out, then it won't be enough to wash from the outside in. If the water pressure isn't enough to push water through the coils they really must be needing a serious cleaning. You aren't the first HVAC tech to do a half a$$ job and leave. "Every contractor is an incompetent thief" Ron Swanson
@@jbouchard667 ..so if business is slow you take the time to do it right?
@WeWereYoungandCrazy not necessarily. If the coils are plugged then sure do it from inside out. But if it has a dusting on it then it's not going to make a difference. There's alot of things that are suggested from different manufacturers but in all honesty they are just not practical in the real world.
@@WeWereYoungandCrazy are you an hvac technician? Do you hook up your gauges and do testing to see it makes a difference?
Summer is here again. After installing central AC 7 years ago the external unit had never been cleaned. Thanks to this video I was confident enough to follow the directions and clean my AC. Today I'll follow up with the shop vac and the drainage line from the inside unit and hopefully be in good shape for the rest of the AC season. Thank you for your great video and expertise!
Ok
Expertise is a bit of a stretch .
First of all this is a great video. And secondly, the comments here are so helpful, almost every comment is adding more value and insight into the subject at hand. Wow, what a community 👏👏👏
Good video. One thing when putting screws back, turn counterclockwise first until you hear a click and then go clockwise to tighten them. This way threads will never strip.
100% great tip
Computer techs and automation engineers do this all the time! Took me 30 years to learn this simple trick! Made me feel stupid when I first heard it. 😂
This is especially true when replacing self-tapping screws that have been removed from a plastic part.
Always have done this and it works perfect for thread alignment of two items. Especially on guns and other delicate screws with fine threads.
Works for almost anything with rigid threads. Sometimes I do it when putting lids on jars, or any time that cross-threading could be an issue.
I do this every year just before the cooling season begins. I used to use the canned foaming spray like you but moved up to a professional HVAC coil cleaner sold in a gallon bottle. I simply put it in a yard sprayer and pressurize it with the pump. But most importantly, I also take the time to clean the evaporator inside the furnace. That makes a HUGE difference! I did a before & after with a digital oven thermometer and the air temp at the vents went from 59 to 53 degrees. Wow! Worked so well I removed the grill from my car and did those coils to. Air temp in the car, 37!
Link to the cleaner you use please.
Right, Dave. Cleaning the inside evporator coil is just as important...even though it requires a good deal more prep and cleanup. And don't forget some clorox in the condensate drain line periodically.
I have an older unit that’s been giving me trouble the past couple years. Had someone come out and said it sounded like the compressor going out. But yet got it going and it’s still going. Can you give me more insight on the evaporator? I have no clue what that is or where exactly it is. Thank you.
Depending on which color cleaner you use, dilute the purple cleaner to at least 50/50 if not more. And rinse twice after washing off the coil. Purple cleaner is great but very strong by itself and WILL cause leaks if not rinsed 100%.
What the best way to clean the ones in the furnace? I looked and mine are really dirty? Do I have to take it out and bring outside and do the same thing like the outside?
If you clean the coils and the unit doesn't start up right away, don't panic! Here is why. I cleaned my heat pump coils today, but the unit would not start up right away. I found that the reason for this is the crankcase heater needs to come up to temperature. This takes 5 or 10 minutes for my old Trane XL1400. The reason for the heater is to prevent refrigerant from migrating to the compressor and mixing with the oil there. If that happens, the oil might foam up and leave the compressor, causing eventual compressor failure when the compressor starts up. A small heater acts to prevent this problem. Thanks for the informative video.
I'm new to South and never had an HVAC. I've had to have it serviced twice in less than two years. I appreciate your clear cut videos, they help.
Great video. Thank you. I cleaned my AC unit today after 6 years and there wasn't a lot of dirt, but it was time to clean. I suggest wrapping the wire screen with rope or a bungy cord. It makes replacing the lid much easier.
Hey, that’s a damn good tip! Putting one of these back together and lining it all up once the sheet metal moves around is a pita. I’m going to have to try this tip shortly.
Maybe I will find out video on what doing that looks like, thanks
I just cleaned my central A/C unit earlier today. So glad I watched your video yesterday. I didn't even know about coil cleaner, nor did I realize the importance of cleaning from the inside. Since my unit appeared to have not been cleaned in over 20 years, so I used my old ShopVac to remove the caked-on debris. I probably should've got down in there with a wire brush, but keeping the top from falling down on my head proved quite a challenge! Then I sprayed the coils, waited 15 minutes, rinsed, then repeated. Then I had a problem. All the drains were clogged. I found the drains by removing the access panel for the compressor compartment. I must've sprayed the bottom of the compartment with 50 gallons of water until there wasn't even a speck of dirt! Tomorrow's the big day! I'm going to test run the A/C.
Here are the results of yesterday's A/C test: ran the unit for almost an hour at 67 degrees, couldn't break 68 degrees. Not bad for an A/C unit that's about 33 years old. Besides, for the five years I've owned this house, I've kept the thermostat between 73 and 77 degrees. I figured that by going easy on the old machine (Amana SRCF24-60), I can make it last another 10 or 15 years.
You won't get another 15 years
Go for 15 more! The only downside to older units is "maybe" not as energy efficient as newer units.
Our AC Guy told me the typical age for an AC unit is 12 to 14 years before it quits. Mine lasted me 24 years. I give credit to this by cleaning mine out every year. At the price of what it cost the homeowner to replace a unit, it definitely pays to keep the unit clean. It's a quick and easy way to save repair costs.
Nah, you were just lucky.
@@GeoffreyB203 I’ll take my preventative maintenance over luck any day of the week.
@Lynn Harris good for you
@@GeoffreyB203kind of an ignorant comment, since reducing work load on any mechanical device should definitely prolong its life.
@denonpmb Key word " should." My comment was not ignorant, and here's why. A preventive maintenance contract or a service contract allows you the privilege of having a guy in case of emergencies. See, you're thinking his system lasted 24 years with all the original parts. No, I guarantee his equipment broke down plenty of times, but his guy was there to save the day. See if I charged you monthly or yearly and called it a service technician retainer fee people wouldn't buy it. So, a smart businessman will call it a preventive maintenance contract and send a tech out a few times a year to put on a show. Because people believe in reducing workload on equipment ,okay change your filter and call your guy when it breaks.
I'm an A/C coil, and I approve of this cleaning method.
😂
what does your comment say?
😂
I've maintained my own systems for 46 yrs. Keep the area around your condenser unit clean. Don't allow grass clippings, etc. to spread near it. I never use commercial coil cleaners because they are harsh and the aluminum fins/aluminum coils or copper coils are sensitive to chemical attack. A little dish soap (NOT automatic dishwasher detergent) in warm water and a spray bottle are all that's needed, if a jet of water from the garden hose (NOT a pressure washer) alone isn't enough. Often spraying from the inside isn't needed at all and opening the case risks scratching the finish allowing rust to start. Never use anything containing bleach near condensers (or evaporator coils). This is important. Always keep a spare start/run capacitor for your system!!!
Yes sir. I used a foam cannon and with some dawn soap and it worked wonders. I clean out my AC unit annually before the spring seasons starts.
Don’t forget to check/replace/file the compressor contactor every two years as regular preventative maintenance, pitted contacts will increase your power bill and deteriorate the electric windings in the compressor causing a costly failure.
@@elmorocha4973 Replaced mine at about 45 yrs. because of pitting after a mouse tried to take up residence between the contacts. Otherwise never did it. No compressor failures ever.
@@elmorocha4973 But I'll order one. Thanks for the suggestion.
@@elmorocha4973
I don't recommend filing the contacts...I learned this working on large motor starter contactors..(up to 800 Hp 3 phase). You'll prematurely wear off the silver contacts.
I change out my AC motor starter contactor every 5 years....$20 - 30.
Cheap.
🇺🇸👍
Great video. Camera work was top notch. I always appreciate someone who does a good thorough job. A+
Great video, I clean mine myself every few years. One thing I would say differently than you is that you should clean the coils out from the inside regardless of if you have one or two rows of coils. Under normal operation, air is pulled IN through the coils and the air comes OUT of the top of the unit. That means most of your dirt and debris will be on the outside of the coils. If you then spray the coils from the outside, you are just spraying that dirt and debris deeper into the coil fins. If you spray from the inside, you are getting all that junk out.
😊 Proper thinking!!!
EXCELLENT!
Word! Great tip!
Thank you for the great tip
If that was the case then the outside of the coils would never be cleaned. You can see all the dirt and mildew that came off from spraying the outside which cannot be removed from spraying inside alone. I think spraying the inside and outside are equally important. If youre concerned about pushing dirt back into the coils then spray the outside first then the inside last. Simple solution
Best tutorial I’ve seen! There is so much misinformation and conflicting information about how to do this all over the Internet (and UA-cam). This video is clear, very detailed and makes complete sense to me. It seems like a very safe method to clean the unit without doing any damage. Thank you!
Thank you!! I found another video and cleaned the outside coils with some spray cleaner. HOWEVER, had no idea there were possible 2nd set on the inside. I will be re-cleaning it in the next week as soon as I get 2 cans of your recommended cleaner. This will help so much!! I'm sharing this video with all friends. It's 100 degrees today, first of the year, and going to get really hot here in AZ soon. God bless you!!
Being a caretaker on 3 ranches I'm always on the lookout for ways to do my job better. Just watched this video and one on wire nuts and its been a good learning Sunday. Thanks!
Great video. Using this coil cleaner product is also helpful for us folks that live in the hot dusty southwest deserts, to clean the air conditioning condenser, radiator fins, and transmission coolers, for our vehicles as well. As in your video, the cleaner can be applied from both the engine side, and the grille side. I usually do it when the vehicle has been running but not too hot to touch. Spray the components listed, and let it sit for awhile, and then use the garden hose sprayer to flush out all the dirt , bugs, and debris that collect in those areas. It helps the vehicle to run cooler and the a/c to work better, especially if it has not been done for a year or two.
Thank you! The hardest part was securing the top fan housing to keep it stable and avoid damage to the fan blades. I also like trimming away any bushes or branches that would prevent air flow to the condenser (clearance of 24 inches is sometimes called for). I also raked away debris/woodchips, to prevent rainfall from sending wood chips back into the unit. One can was not enough imo. This video provided the know-how and confidence to get the job done, very well done!
Yep same issue here and I have a rather tall unit making the balancing act even more precarious!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! My AC stopped working last night. I kept looking for videos that would explain what I needed to do in a manner that I could understand. I disconnected the power first thing. I took the top off the condenser and saw lots of cob webs and leaves. I vacuumed them all out. Then took simple greet and sprayed the inside of the flat coils. I used a vacuum (wet/dry) to get as much water as possible out. then I took the grate out since there we a lot of dirt behind it. I rinsed it out and vacuumed it dry. Put it all back together, put the circuit breaker back, and it now works. thank you again. Now to find a video on how to clean the filters on the house heater. Why stop at one win!
Brilliant!! It feels so rewarding to not only save money, save your investment but also know you are capable of accomplishing some pretty “professional” services yourself 🏋️♂️🙌 I might suggest too, you add the “AC Cleanout” to a household maintenance calendar or list, taking care to clean the AC unit in spring and fall.
I say this at the risk of sounding patronizing because I just replaced my hot-water-on-demand/boiler system after a mere 6 years because the installer didn’t tell me I needed to have it professionally flushed every year. $12 grand spent the first time, 6 yrs ago and now another $16 grand this year for a whole new system.
Huge thanks! Just finished, took almost a blanket off with vac first, then cleaned coils, running VERY well now!
EXCELLENT!! Thank you! We were quoted $500 to do this job and I KNEW I could do it myself. This video is worth watching!! Thank you! Thank you!
I just cleaned my air conditioner evaporator coils. This has saved my family $24-$30 per month. Thanks for all you do.
People!!! Make sure you pay attention to the screws you take out too. On some models, some of the screws might be a little longer and if you mix them up where they go, you could potentially damage the coil.
Did that with a window unit...cleaned it all up ,an pssst wrong screw in the wrong whole..Dammit😎
It's amazing. People go to college, become engineers and actually design something as stupid as that
I get a piece of cardboard and screw them in (by hand)the order/place I take them out. You can draw a rough picture of the unit with emblem to be sure of orientation. You can even label the holes with a very fine point sharpe if you want. I use a magnetic mat for metal screws on my bench, but don't use it outside. Working on computers/laptops it makes a huge difference in screw length as well.
@@JDL_2020 this may sound silly but really make sense
Thanks for this tip.
1 thing you forgot to show, like i do on mine is to spray between the unit and the cement slab you would be surprised what comes out from underneath. that will also help keep the drain holes open.
Best ac clean up video I've seen so far. Never knew about interior double sided coils. 👍
Bravo, thank you! My temp went from 88 degrees to 71! I had extensive storm damage and had about 5" of crud, and this is after the Hvac came. I appreciate you very much
So I did this yesterday, one thing to keep in mind is the top of my AC unit came off easily enough but it was a NIGHTMARE to get it back on. Honestly 80% of the time I spent on this job was getting the sides lined up properly to fit under the top piece. This was on a 2.5ton Trane unit. Just a tip for anyone with a similar model. Also cleaning it did nothing but my coils weren't that dirty to start with.
Yup same here its a real pain after I remove the top it just gets all unsprung then.,
Agree, most problematic part of this is getting top back on, all holes lined up, and hope it all fits and screws don't strip. He made that look so easy but can be difficult for a novice.
what else would you like to complain about and get off your chest? Go ahead, I'm waiting
@@wheelerking8380 take your Alzheimer's medication boomer
Most of the dirt is in between the fins. Dont use the carosive spray ever just water every spring. Have a qualifid tech check every thing else out every few years. If you already cleaned it and they dont have to and they only have to do the technical stuff you saved 30 minutes of labor that you dont have to pay 50 dollars for. And trust me they wont complain we hate that part. Cleaning your condensate pump and trap also save time.
As an hvac installer and service tech the evaporator coil which is your air handler inside is incredibly important if that is dirty or you don’t change your filters it could cause it to freeze up and or cause your system to not move the heat in your house as efficiently
You’re talking about the filters in the house?
How to clean that?
Want to take the time to say thanks. I have cleaned my coils for the last two years, but I never thought about them inside due to possibly having two rows. Will check this year (and will clean the inside while I am there as well. Haha... something I should have done anyway). Two big thumbs up, my man!!
I had a musty smell this year so I started doing some searching and found your channel. Cleaned my unit and found the evap was partially covered in mold. All clean now and no smell or other associated issues. Going to do the soft start and capacitor as well. This unit was last "serviced" two years ago. Subscribed!
My elder mom has a technician clean her condenser yearly and it looks nice when she looked at the outside. I decided to check it, there was 2" of leaves in there and all the drain holes were plugged. I turned off power, took the top off and spent half an hour cleaning it from the inside/outside. I also added a net to the top to prevent leaves from entering the unit. I agree to keep them clean to reduce costs. I also have a washable intake filter that I wash monthly. Look forward to your other HVAC DIYs in case I am missing something.
I am so going to try this. My AC unit is 10 years old and I have been so nervous about hiring somebody because there's so many scammers out there that don't do an effective job so I am definitely going to try this for stage one of taking care of my AC thank you.
I just washed mine out today. I definitely need 2 spray cans to cover both inside and out. I made sure to clean it when there’s shade to avoid the sun/heat drying out the cleaner ahead of time. I hope it runs more efficiently. My energy bill last summer was almost $600. 🤞🏼
3 years since mine was cleaned. Man it was pretty bad, but this video was a life saver! Excellent content. The comment section wasn’t kidding though, that housing is a pain to get back on.
Thank you for the awesome video. The last time I had my A/C unit serviced (added freon) my service tech said that I need to be saving for a new unit. My A/C unit was very loud when running. I just did your cleaning inside and out. Much more quieter in running. My A/C unit is 22 years old. Hopefully I can have more years out of it.
This is huge on a/c units. Worth every dime to keep it clean and efficient. Thank you
Just wanted to thank you for making this video. The way you covered each step so precisely make it very simple to follow. Thank you so so so much since my AC unit is running better than ever after the clean up.
You are amazing! So detailed, easy to understand. We did this in the am today.
It was filthy!! Not done in years (we are new tenants).
Got a little nervous when it didn't turn back on immediately, but that was because the breaker wasn't seated all the way properly.
Come back in - about 10 minutes it all came back together. Can feel cooler air than before!! Thank you so much!
I have an older unit that’s been living trouble the past couple years. This video is great. I’m going to do this. I did something similar when my unit stopped putting out cold air. We bought this house 2 years ago. When i did the coil clean there was so much dirt and muck in the coils and inside the bottom pan and the drains being totally clogged it took me hours to do. I have rods and screws in my low back. But i did so much bending over to get to the pan to scrape it and dig the 1” gunk from it that I couldn’t stand up straight for a few days.
Just a couple weeks ago I found a good deal on a combo pack of garden nozzle sprayers asks one was the long one. I do have a pressure washer but I understand that’s not a good thing to use. But it’s been a year since i cleaned it. I figure it’s about time. Going to do it a bit differently as to not hurt myself again. Thank you for this awesome video. It gave me a better understanding of what as how to do it better.
The comments have also helped. Except for the evaporator. I have no clue what that is or where it is.
Thanks for the great advice. I bought the purafilter coil cleaner from Lowes. It is so easy to do it yourself. The only thing I would recommend is to wear a mask or cover your nose. The spray is rough. Definitely wear gloves & safety goggles. My coils look great and clean. I'm glad I did it. I found a dead wasp nest near the electrical outlet and inside. Got rid of them and sprayed away everything else. Looks brand new. I saved myself about $90 from my HVAC guy. I will do this way from now on. Thanks
Great Information! I generally clean the coils on my units every spring. Never thought about removing the top and definitely will do now. I do pull the fan and lube the motor yearly with a drips of machine oil.
Really glad to hear you liked it and are staying on top of that maintenance. Thanks a lot for the feedback Dave!
Every year, my outside AC unit is "serviced" by a company. Because it stopped working, I followed your instructions and when I opened it there was over 1 inch of mud covering the bottom. I was shocked. I was charged $200/hr for the cleaning of this unit last Fall. Never again. Thanks so much!
Thanks for this video! I’m new to owning A/C so had no idea this was necessary. Just followed your simple steps and everything is working fine.
I clean ours 2-3 times per season. We have cottonwoods here and they can cover the coils fast at the peak of the season. Due to the construction of our unit, a weatherking, the coils are behind luvors and are harder to clean. I use high energy magnets to hold door screen over them and keep the coils clean and free od debris. This is the second season with the new unit so it is spotless still.
Great idea w the screen! Cottonwoods here also and they really make a mess. Thanks!
Very simple and easy to follow instructions. Thank you for posting this video as I live in south Texas and the summers are brutal. I’m gonna knock this out first thing tomorrow morning. Appreciate you bud.
I was going to and then I got high 😅
Excellent tutorial. I just did something very similar to my own condenser unit this past summer. Made a huge difference. And it's not tough to do at all! Excellent habit to practice at least every two or three years, or more often in dustier environments. Well done!
@repentandbelieveinJesusChrist1 WHAT THE HELL HAS TO DO JESUS WITH THIS MATTER? I WILL TELL YOU SOME THING: JESUS DOESN'T LOVE PRIDE PEOPLE.
What is the average temperature in the summer for you? I am considering giving this a shot. Im in texas, we are consistently triple digits. Did you notice a difference pretty quickly?
@@DFW2017 If you're asking me, I live in SoCal and we get triple digits, but not as often as you would. But yes, I noticed an improvement in cooling. I also ditched the more restrictive intake filters for the lightweight Flander's easy flos, which I swap out monthly.
Great information thanks so very much. Very useful.
@repentandbelieveinJesusChrist1That's not going to help your ac unit. However, listening and watching this video just might.
For all those concerned about corrosive effects of simple green. I have been using it for approximately 25 years now with no problems. I mix it to the strength on the website and I also don't let it sit on there for no longer than about 5 minutes and then rinse thoroughly with clean water. If you don't want to use simple green use a liquid dish soap, but my air conditioners are close to trees and I need something to help get the tree sap off and for me simple green works better than dish soap. FLY NAVY!!!
Simple Green is corrosive to aluminum (which is what the fins are made out of).
Don't be cheap and instead use the proper cleaner for the job -- otherwise your "cheap" solution may cost you thousands to replace corroded coils.
you forgot to say FLY NAVY!!!
This guy is awesome, Got a crazy price to fix my AC from a company, did it myself for 20 bucs.
100% fantastic advice, I usually check mine seasonally... Absolutely has to be done, and once it's done you're unit will last for years and years...
thanks for posting! I clean mine annually, but was always scared of cleaning the inside. Now I will do both!
Having cleaned tens of thousands of coils over the past 20 years, this is an outstanding video. I would add.......while the top is open, try to split the coils apart a bit and use your hose to rinse straight down between the coils. That will clean the face area of the inside coil. If there is cottonwood seed or any other vegetation that has made it between the coil, use a thin round brush on a wire to pull it out from the top before putting any water to it.
I really appreciate the feedback and added input from all of your experience! Thank you!
On Average what do service professionals like yourself who have cleaned tens of thousands of coils over the years typically charge homeowners for this service? Wondering what it will cost me to hire someone to do this for me versus doing it myself. What is a fair price to pay for a coil cleaning service not that I don’t like getting my hands dirty but I’m a pretty busy guy I’m not sure it would be the best use of my time. I appreciate any and all feedback from anyone including yourself.
@@Encore-Entertainment We only did commercial work. I am retired. Don’t know how much it runs today.
@@Encore-Entertainment $125.
If you have animals around, and don't want them drinking the runoff water from the Fin Cleaner, you can use a spray bottle found at most hardware stores and fill with warm water with just a teaspoon of Dawn dish soap. That will do the same thing as the fin cleaner. Also, add the soap AFTER filling the spray bottle, so that it doesn't foam up on you in the bottle. You want it to foam up on the fins and not in the bottle.
Thanks for this. I sprayed off my coil box occasionally, but never cleaned it. I have it serviced every other year or so. But it was starting to freeze over. I followed your instructions and was shocked at how much dirt and dog hair was stuck on the coils. It’s looking great now. Hopefully clear up my freezing issues.
This was very helpful to me. I have never cleaned AC coils in my life, and this was so easy! I’m definitely going to do this every year now!
Awesome, just awesome. I cleaned must indoor ac unit, and it make a huge difference in the cooling. I found that after a few seasons of using this indoor unit that it was almost plugged up with dog fur and household dust. AC units are like air cleaners, so they suck up a lot of dust too. Thank you for your very in depth cleaning procedure. I am an engineer so I really appreciated your covering the safety aspects of you procedures.
Chet
You might want to look into a better filter for your air handler or identify if there are spaces in the filter rack where air can bypass it and fill them. Two years to clog a coil is a bit quick.
@davereeves1967 not when homeowners yank the filter out because "it was clogged, so I tossed it and now my AC works much better now!" (@_@)
@@davereeves1967 I was going to recommend the same thing. I used the 4 inch space guard filter on a unit I installed in my house almost 20 yrs ago. When I changed the system out last year the coil had almost nothing on it after those 20 years. Never buy the cheap filters with the strands. Always buy a pleated filter even if its the cheapest one they make
I did this a couple of years ago and the A/C went from not keeping up in extreme heat to no problem. Could not believe it, will be doing it again this year.
I cleaned my Rheem single coil this year my self. I took EVERYTHING off, all sheet metal. Used exact cleaner and a soft bristle brush to agitate the dirt in the coil fins.
This was the third video I've watched and it's the only video that taught me something. Thanks.
I love your videos. My first husband use to take care of stuff like this. My second husband isn't able to. Glad to have someone like u around with ur clear instructions to help this lady out!!!💖
Maybe give a third husband a go..
@@guymann4016 🤣
@@guymann4016Boomers really think husband = handyman
I was skeptical at first but found that to be a really a good tutorial. Granted, I have 30 years of experience in the appliance and a/c field. The only things I would change is (1), include a breaker disconnect that you flip off as well as the pull out disconnect, (2) use concentrate foaming coil cleaner that comes in a gallon jug. Dilute that down with water into a small pump-up sprayer or even a hand-held spray bottle and you don't have to worry about it coming back into your face. Even as clean as your unit was, you would not believe how much will foam out with the proper cleaner. Overall, I have to give you at least a 95 score if I was actually grading a test on it.
What is the brand name of the cleaner you mentioned, please?
Oh! so your a big time professor now huh? I grade my own shit, I get a 100.....cry yourself to sleep because you can't flunk me tough guy
Here are 2 additional pro tips;
If you pre-rinse the coil before applying the cleaner it not only removes any large particulates like cottonwood, it also allows the cleaner to penetrate the coils deeper.
And it is highly recommended to not use a coil cleaner on micro channel units which (according to manufacturer's service manuals) has the potential to cause leaks and may void any warranty claims.
Hope people know the difference between the two. Just water for the micronchannel.
there is microchannel safe cleaners as well I use them all the time on refrigeration units, but even then you really only should use it if the coil is really bad
@@f5fstop could you explain the difference?
I wonder if oven cleaner would damage the coils?
@@facecrook3454 micro channel coils are made of very thin aluminum channels with fins between them, fin and tube are a copper tube with fins attached to the tube the easiest way to tell if you are unsure what your coil is, look at the ends of the coil for u shaped copper bends that's a fun and tube coil, if it looks more like a car radiator that's likely a micro channel. It's actually pretty easy to tell at a glance once you have seen them if you Google the 2 different types you can find pictures that will make it easier to spot the difference.
Mine was covered with a thick layer of dust and gunk. It was dry, so I used a very soft brush and brushed it off (peeled off like dryer lint in the dryer lint catch) before using water and cleaner (Simple Green). I'm really glad I did. A little sweep up and then the actual washing was pretty minor. If I got that gunk wet first it would've made the job much harder. Maybe my experience will save someone extra work. Thanks for the video!
WOW. This is so much more comprehensive and informative than the other videos I’ve watched/AC technicians have explained. Thank you!
I agree! I watched 2 previous videos that simply showed the guy hosing down the outside 😂
I used to run an A/C workshop. When spraying the cleaner, you have to start at the bottom of the coils going up. Starting at the top, the foam will flow down and cover the coils that have not been sprayed on. This foam cover is only at the outside and the inside coils did not benefit from the cleaner. After rinsing, you'd find that some coils were not cleaned, then you have to apply the cleaner again. We used Coilbrite of Atco Chemicals, Marrietta, Georgia.
At certain times during the year, I get alot of cottonwood seeds in the coil, that have to be washed down at an angle from the top downwards to the bottom. It does make alot of difference on how well the unit runs.I have never taken the top off to check for a 2nd set of coils, but I will now.
On a single row , i would agree but on a double row your pushing the dirt from the inner coil back of the outer and visa versa. They need to be spilt and washed between the two.Its a delicate operation however. Doesnt matter how shiny the tubes are, they are designed for air to flow thru and take away the heat. Condensor cleaner is designed to be sprayed between the fins and then foam to push the debris back out of the fins. If it foams before its a waste.
Thank you. I am going to do this. Your right it will save quite a bit to do this your self. It does not look hard to do!! I am a female and I will definitely try this.
You are very welcome! Really glad to hear you liked it. Thanks a lot for the feedback and good luck on the project Sandra!
We noticed our AC was louder than usual this spring, so I used this approach over the weekend, and now it is quiet and also no longer makes the house lights flicker when it starts up. Luckily, the previous owners installed one of those insulating/sound proofing covers, so I didn't have to worry about that step.
Awesome! Glad to hear it’s working better. Thanks a lot for the feedback Justin!
I shot a video a couple years ago of splitting coils, but yes, a lot of people forget about it or don’t know about it.
Just by spraying the outside, it does look clean, but he packs everything in the center causing your higher head pressure along with higher discharge air temp and lower efficiency.
Anyways, nice video. Have a great day.
Great video. Never knew this was something I should be doing. Amazed at how much dirt/grime was on the coils. So much quieter and more efficient now!
This was super helpful. It was shameful how filthy my coils and pans were. AC was blowing out 58° air prior to cleaning and now blowing out 56° air.
I appreciate the helpful video about how to clean the air conditioner coils. I just cleaned my air conditioner coils and my house is
cooler. I never thought about how much money and the importance of cleaning the air conditioner coils saves.
I clean my coils every spring but never knew there was a cleaning spray. Thank you for this!
Do I have to use a cleaner or just can rinse it out? Do you know if this is the reason my ac blows kinda warm? I have never cleaned it
Great video. Clear instructions either reasons why / why not. You're a pretty good teacher!
Really glad to hear you liked it. Thanks a lot for the kind words!
This video was great! How about a follow up video on cleaning the evaporator coils?
Unfortunately, half the battle is getting to those coils and everyone’s duct work/system is different. Once you get to the coil there, it is the same. Same type cleaner, rinse water and making sure the drain is clear. I’ve opened mine twice. The first time it was a horror show because it hadn’t been cracked open in 18 years I’d say. I recracked it five years later and it was barely dirty because I keep up with filters unlike the former owner.
First time homeowner and bought a house with a 3 year old unit similar to this. The coils were completely covered on the outside and I sprayed it down with my hose from the outside and got a good bit of the debris out. The corners were the tough part and still have some junk in there. I didn't feel comfortable enough taking the lid off to do it from the inside, but I may give it a go now after seeing this. AC is on today for the first time and it's working well but I think it could work better if I do a second cleaning inside -> out.
Thank you for sharing my friend. I wasn't searching for this but it is a reminder for me to get out there and clean mine. It's been years now and I want to make sure I get this done before we get into the thick of the hot soupy summer here in New Jersey.
Well, another project assigned for this week but with your great instructions I can do it right the first time. Thanks pal!
Okay, why not. HVAC tech here. Some good points. There's nothing wrong with cleaning outside in AND inside out. You wanna let that cleaner sit on your coils for at least a few minutes. You don't HAVE to remove the entire top like this man does. You could just remove the fan motor, easier to rest on the unit. If you feel comfortable unplugging the condenser fan wires, you could do that to set the entire top on the grass beside the unit. Your fan blades can get caked over time, a brillo pad or something similar isn't a bad idea. It's better to shop vac the inside of your unit if it has a lot of leaf litter built up instead of bending over to grab it out by hand. It goes without saying to avoid wetting the control panel and the disconnect plug. It takes very little effort to hook up a shop vacuum to the outlet of your drain line (If you know where that is). And make sure it's set to wet vac.
And lastly, even water is better than nothing. If you're tight on funds and time I highly recommend just using water. Make sure to AVOID high jet settings on your hose to avoid bending your coil fins. Don't spray at an angle for the same reasons. And that's some very basic cleaning tips.
The evap? They mention it in other comments. I haven’t the slightest idea what it is or where. I have an older unit
@@richierich1169 I never used that phrase in this comment. But it stands for evaporator. There are four basic components to ALL HVAC units. Compressor, condenser, metering device, and evaporator. The evaporator is the coil that gets super cold, and has normal air blow across. It picks up that cold, and you receive cold air from your vents. It CAN get dirty. But it's less likely to. The video above is the condenser coils, they get dirty way more often. We do clean evaporator coils, but it's more rare. Hope that helps.
Do these units get mold sometimes? If so how’s the best way to clean that ? Or is it somewhat impossible to fully eradicate the mold at that point?
@@heythere6983 Sure. It happens the same way mold can grow on literally anything. Spores, moisture, and little to no sunlight. Mold is a lot less likely to grow on your coils, but I'v seen it grow on the outside casing 100s of times. Saying that outloud....I'v done this way too often. lol
Coil cleaner and a water rinse would do the trick, even the weaker coil cleaners are strong enough to get rid of mold.
Mold can also appear inside your drain pan/drain line. Pouring cleaner, and hot water....OR just bleach some hot water should do the trick there. Rememeber the bleach is NOT to be used on coils, only drain pans and drain lines. Period.
If you're concerned with mold growing INSIDE your air vents/ducts....there is a method for that too. I recommend renting a fogger, hooking it up with some mold-kill, and aiming it at your RETURN vent(s). Let it run for half a day to a full day. Do not stay in that house. The next day you should be fine. But you may want to wait another day to be on the safe side.
Regular cleanings prevent this from happening again. Just fyi.
@@Niveous23 mine was full of algae . normally these units are on the side or back of a house and one side gets shade and never gets sun. that was dirtiest part. looks good hope it works better. thanks a lot !
Thanks great tips, it would be nice for the manufacturer to provide hinges and stop to make it easier for the homeowner or repair person to open the top portion for cleaning and repair.
My father taught me use sprayed with hose gently and use soft brush gently brush it downward without hurting the coils. I have been doing tubs way for years and works great!
This video was very helpful. I used the coil cleaner and a spray bottle with water in it and it was running well after. Thank you!
As one commenter already mentioned, I just remove the screws holding the fan housing bracket to access the inside of the unit. My chemical of choice is Simple Green which also bio friendly. Also use on the coils inside the house.
Good deal . It is however corrosive to aluminum but you’re almost certainly washing it off fast
@@jamessharp9790 What about ZEP Is it corrosive? That and Simple Green smell nice, too ;-)
@@jamesplotkin4674 yeah it probably won’t matter much since it’s rinsed off quickly
@@jamessharp9790 Simple Green HD, the purple stuff, is not corrosive to aluminum. I use it in a 1 part "purple "Simple Green" to 3 parts water mix in a garden sprayer, and it works great. I discovered this product and used it in an ultrasound bath to clean small engine carburetors. It's also more cost effective than the foaming coil cleaners. Cheers!
Good video! 👍 I thoroughly clean my A/C myself every 2-3 years. Once a year My HVAC people do prop up the fan and hose it from the inside out for five minutes during the AC tuneup. When I do it, I use the exact same method that you use, even the same exact coil cleaner. To make sure the drainage holes are clear, I insert a small screwdriver and push through. After the cleaning is done I like to vacuum up any standing water in or around the unit. I also put a coat of wax on top to prevent paint fading. I’ll be cleaning mine again within the next two weeks. Temperatures are rising again. 🥵
8:55 Yeah it is! It's satisfying just watching you rinse your coils. Can't wait to do mine! 😁
Just did a thorough cleaning of my unit. Removed the top, cleaned the crud off the bottom, blew out the coils then scrubbed the fan blades. I used my pressure washer to clean the fins from the inside. Then I put it back together and scrubbed the top of the unit. I thought it needed a repaint but once I got the grime off, it looks pretty good. Not gonna wait so long for the next cleaning.😅
Outstanding video! Followed your instructions verbatim, and all went well. Start to finish, job took about an hour. I even followed the suggestion someone else provided by using bungee cords to hold fan to a ladder set against the house. Thanks for sharing your expertise!
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