Looking for info on cleaning mini split gold coil fins

[FabricGATOR]

I love Mini Split A/C inverter technology. I love energy efficiency and longevity.

I am looking for the very best procedure for cleaning, protecting, maintaining my GOLD FIN coated condenser coils on inverter type outdoor units.
And how to remediate damaged gold fin coating when it has been neglected.

NuCalgon has three types of coil cleaning chemicals that are approved for Mini Split and two products that are to protect coils from corrosion in locations such as coastal salt applications.

So my subject is a discussion about how to best maintain the gold/blue fin corrosion coating and what to do if it begins to corrode.

Anyone?

 

[fitter30]

If the condenser coil just has normal dirt plain water is all that is needed. Coil cleaners seem to degrade the integrity of the fins. Condenser coil look at opposite end of the piping see if the coil is split. If coil is split the dirt is between the coils. Inside coil should pull away from outside coil after plastic ties or clips are pulled. Coils will only split about 85%. Hose from inside out.

 

[FabricGATOR]

Thank you fitter30. Good info/advice there.

I heard tell (or read, perhaps here at GJ) about not even using city tap/hose water as for the chlorine content and its effect on aluminum copper... I suppose I could rinse with distilled water after (or collected evaporator water for free)

I have been searching online, asking the HVAC manufacturer tech support, and even Nu-Calgon and have not found any solid information yet.

A friend has corrosion forming on his gold fin Florida mini split outdoor unit installed on his carport. May have been spray dosed with animal urine. I wall mount installed mine a year ago and will doing some seasonal maintenance in the next month or so.

 

[PoorUB]

I worked in HVAC service for years and coils are tougher than you think. Avoid acids and high PH cleaners. Simple as that. No need to over think it.

I have cleaned mini split coils with high PH cleaners when they were nasty, in a commercial kitchen environment for example and the mini split ran for years.

I can not mage city water bad enough to hard a coil, sounds like internet lore to me. So the water is safe to drink, but God forbid you wash a col with it?

Cal-Green or Tri-Power are fine as are many others.

 

[FabricGATOR]

I worked in HVAC service for years and coils are tougher than you think. Avoid acids and high PH cleaners. Simple as that. No need to over think it.

I have cleaned mini split coils with high PH cleaners when they were nasty, in a commercial kitchen environment for example and the mini split ran for years.

I can not mage city water bad enough to hard a coil, sounds like internet lore to me. So the water is safe to drink, but God forbid you wash a col with it?

Cal-Green or Tri-Power are fine as are many others.

I have done a bit of coil cleaning in my years, yes, they are not a doily dainty weldment in many ways... And sometimes the higher/lower pH cleaners were needed in neglected cases. Important to rinse and/or neutralize residual caustics. I would use a mild baking soda base rinse if using Actibrite or sometimes a vinegar dilute rinse to neutralize Alkibrite (Parker-Virginia brands) always ending with a generous hose water rinse...

So, I'm not new to this, rather, I desire to up my game on the latest technology with these 'modern' coil coatings.

Thank you PoorUB,
Cheers!

 

[chinboys]

I learned the hard way to use the mildest degreaser or soap possible or just plain water to rid the dirt that wasn't blown off by an anemic leaf blower when I used a Karcher pressure washer with a foam cannon some decades ago on my 3 tonne Carrier old-style condensor when my HVAC guy had to replace it after I had damaged it.

 

[FredWanaker]

pressure washers and cooling fins don't play well together. Neutral ph Soap in a pump up sprayer, a hose and a little compressed air at low pressure go a long way. Keep the male dog away from the coil if you want it to last.

 

[Phuckin' Jim]

Yet another reason to mount the outdoor unit a couple feet off the ground.

 

[FabricGATOR]

Yet another reason to mount the outdoor unit a couple feet off the ground.

So I just installed a Mr Cool Universal heat pump system in place of my Trane Wreck that failed just at the ten year mark due to formosan corrosion of the A-coil (evaporator). Local HVAC company informed me that "they just don't make a factory repair part anymore..."?huh, it is still under warranty? and "just replace it with a new unit is the smart way to go..." Alas, he will never get a recommendation nor any work from me...
MrCool Universal (or Gree Flexx, or Pioneer makes sells one too...) they are all Chinesium) Mr cool makes some BS claim to be Made in USA right here in Kentucky... but they are not fooling me. If you really read the verbage they distribute them from their Kentucky warehouse and they are made by a American OWNED company (in China) BTW, interestingly, this MrCool company has the same address as Ingram's water and air (an online hvac mail order distributor)

I digress (I get wound up when folks try to wrap me around the axle in all the BS lies and misdirection)

So my high SEER (20+ seer) heat pump system is installed and is working great! I mounted on the wall hanger bracket as suggested by Mr Jim, but more so than for dog pee, as I observed that the rain would splash a little mud and sand up that would get then get sucked into the outdoor unit when it was running in a heavy storm. IE: lost heat exchange capacity.

Today I am again searching for the REAL INFORMATION about how to best maintain by new Gold Fin outdoor / Blue Fin indoor coils and I came across my own post here. Here it is a year later and I suppose I am the only one looking for this information because I imagine I am the only one who can foresee or anticipate that potential for coil failure.

These new coils are coated with some sort of polymer coating to inhibit corrosion. This is great and a newer technology with a very real advantage... BUT if we use the wrong cleaning chemicals (or even chlorinated tap water) IF aluminum corrosion were to start to form between this protective coating and the aluminum fins... that protective 'paint' is then going to be THE debris that IS CLOGGING the coils and causation of lost efficiency.

 

[pcmeiners]

"Avoid acids and high PH cleaners. Simple as that. No need to over think it."

Fully agree...either high PH or acid will eat into aluminum or it's alloys, get the closest to neutral PH cleaner as you can get.

 

[acmikee]

like other have said you want to avoid acids and high PH cleaners they will destroy the coils. i like to use simple green its biodegradable and use it once or twice a year

 

[vga]

Water only.