Hey guys, I have recently taken over a site that has an air compressor with some really bad approach temps on it's AC/OC. Judging from all the white crustys built up on this thing, it looks like the last guy thought running a sprinkler on it was a permanent solution. Can anyone recommend a chemical that will remove some of this buildup? Normally I clean my compressors with Simple green crystal and a pressure washer but that won't cut the hard water buildup. The cooler is aluminum but is also heresite coated, so I could get away with some pretty strong stuff before getting into the aluminum (I don't care if the heresite coating is ruined)
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Heat exchanger cleaner
- Thread starter DeeKay
- Start date
I'll be in there with a pressure washer regardless to clean all the other gunk off of the cooler. Just was looking to see if anyone had any experience with a specific chemical that is good for eating up the hard water deposits.Amazon or supplyhouse. Com sells condenser cleaner solutions.
Do not use a pressure washer.
Just allow the cleaner to its job and rinse.
fitter30
Well-known member
Mineral deposits will be between the fins. Could try to remove the cooler if it would fit in a contractors plastic bag or plastic sheet to make a tub and soak it in vinegar might work.
Firebrick43
Well-known member
most descaler chemicals are acids.
I mostly have used Nu Calgon coil cleaners (they have dozen of different ones for different types of coils and what needs to be cleaned).
Looked at their cheat sheet and they have scale remover but I don’t think you want it on aluminum
https://nucalgon.com/media/4890/3-239_coil_chart.pdf
I mostly have used Nu Calgon coil cleaners (they have dozen of different ones for different types of coils and what needs to be cleaned).
Looked at their cheat sheet and they have scale remover but I don’t think you want it on aluminum
https://nucalgon.com/media/4890/3-239_coil_chart.pdf
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pcmeiners
Well-known member
Vinegar is acid, it will definitely eat the aluminum.
"Looked at there cheat sheet and they have scale remover but I don’t think you want it on aluminum "
Fully agree, sulfonic acid is corrosive.
Your employer needs to get a 316 stainless finned cooler if the same environment is maintained.
"Looked at there cheat sheet and they have scale remover but I don’t think you want it on aluminum "
Fully agree, sulfonic acid is corrosive.
Your employer needs to get a 316 stainless finned cooler if the same environment is maintained.
Cooler is 6" thick and 72x60" takes a day to pull out/put back in and we can't be down longer than a few hours at a time unfortunately.Mineral deposits will be between the fins. Could try to remove the cooler if it would fit in a contractors plastic bag or plastic sheet to make a tub and soak it in vinegar might work.
It's not the environment that caused this, its the previous tech being lazy and not cleaning the cooler, Then running a sprinkler on it constantly to bring temps down.Vinegar is acid, it will definitely eat the aluminum.
"Looked at there cheat sheet and they have scale remover but I don’t think you want it on aluminum "
Fully agree, sulfonic acid is corrosive.
Your employer needs to get a 316 stainless finned cooler if the same environment is maintained.
Since this cooler is heresite coated, I could probably get away with a mild sulfuric acid solution, I don't care if the coating is sacrificed as this shouldn't even have the heresite coating on it in the first place.
fitter30
Well-known member
Sulfuric and vinegar both have a ph 2-3 but that's straight. Minerals would need a acid to remove them. Depending on the tds of the water have seen ac coils turn to scrap in a month or two.
pcmeiners
Well-known member
"It's not the environment that caused this, its the previous tech being lazy and not cleaning the cooler, Then running a sprinkler on it constantly to bring temps down."
I was referring to the environment of having a lazy/inept tech anywhere near a machine.
I was referring to the environment of having a lazy/inept tech anywhere near a machine.
Going to give this stuff a shot when I'm back up at this site in a couple of weeks.
Well the Eco Lyme worked decently well, enough to drop my approach temps by 20° which keeps me far enough away from a high temp shutdown. If I had time to do multiple applications and rinses I could probably get all of the scale off but this unit is due for replacement in a few months anyway, this should at least get it through most of the summer. I wish I would have taken before and after pics but I forgot.