Condenser Coil Cleaner

[BrandoJames]

After watching a video by YouTube mechanic Eric the Car Guy, I was thinking about buying a gallon jug of condenser coil cleaner for $35 (Amazon). Anyone ever use this stuff or something similar.

I was going to use it on both my vehicles as well as my residential outdoor AC unit. Just wondering if this was better than just spraying with water. Thanks.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000R81QCG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Nu-Brite is pretty good stuff. Don't be tempted to mix it stronger than instructed and don't use a standard pressure washer.

Tommy

 

[nadogail]

Would you wash your laundry in just plain water, or would you add soap?

Coil Cleaner, used as directed, is like adding Tide to your washing machine.

 

[danski0224]

Some of that stuff is pretty nasty, and it can easily strip painted/coated fins on some residential condensers- even if you follow the instructions.

If the condenser fins are plain aluminum, then there really isn't an issue.

Simple Green or similar is usually good enough to get the dirt off, and it won't hurt the plants.

 

[Jim greengo]

I just use plain water out of a hose.

 

[Tica]

Many techs now avoid using the pink acid-based cleaner and use the Nu-Brite alkaline foaming cleaner. The pink cleaner will erode coils with multiple uses. Be advised - the alkaline cleaner is not recommended for application on condensers with painted coil fins because it will strip the paint. Like others have said - a shop vac followed by a hose will work great.

 

[TangoFoxTrot]

Is this type of coil cleaner acidic or unsafe, it's usually on the shelves at places like Home Depot

 

[danski0224]

The canned stuff is usually for indoor evaporator coils and is usually "no rinse".

 

[SALIV8]

I use eco coil cleaner. Mild but very effective.

 

[Rusty Fords]

Industrial plant sites I deal with will not let us use any thing but simple green (environmentally concerns), some wont even allow us to use even that and yet another we have to schedule a vac truck to come in and vac up all the water we use to clean the coils mind you at that site we can't even use and chemicals.

 

[Showkey]

Yet .......Simple green and aluminum is not the best combo.......been discussed here many times. The strong base cleansing products and aluminum. Alternative aircraft version of simple green.

Simple green and Purple power type cleaners come up on collector car and motorcycles forums where in etches aluminum.

https://simplegreen.com/faqs/15/

 

[rlitman]

The canned stuff is usually for indoor evaporator coils and is usually "no rinse".

It's "no rinse" on evaporators, so long as the unit is running, because condensate will rinse the evaporator. The same cleaners work well on condensers, but require a rinse there.

 

[BrandoJames]

Some of that stuff is pretty nasty, and it can easily strip painted/coated fins on some residential condensers- even if you follow the instructions. If the condenser fins are plain aluminum, then there really isn't an issue.

I have an old Lear Siegler AC unit (over 30 years old). My condenser coils definitely aren't painted, not sure if they're "coated". Would the coated coils look different from the plain aluminum? (HVAC newbie here, thanks).

 

[danski0224]

If the condenser fins are painted, it should be fairly obvious.

Not sure on any coatings, except for tin, which is typically for units near a coast.

 

[monkeyspanners]

If its just dust, plain water will work fine, you only really need chemicals if the coil has grease or similar soiling.
If you need to use chemicals they really need rinsing well, any chemical left behind will become concentrated once the water has evaporated away and could damage the coil fins.