a/c cleaning question

[UNIQUE_NAME]

i was inspecting my salon a/c due to lack of air flow, the v-bunk and aft-cabin have a simliar situation to a lesser degree. the inside condensor fins are caked with probably 30 years of crud. i tried to snake a vacuum in but there is no way to access this area because of the fan cage bolted there and the way the unit it installed. compressed air from the outside really didn't do much either. is there a "magic" cleaner or trick someone can share to clean them?
am i destined to drain the system and disconnect the condensors to clean them?

jim

 

[Genesis]

There is an evaporator coil cleaning spray available at Home Depot and Lowes. It works. If you can get the can in there to spray the coils, it'll clean 'em right up.

BTW feel around that evaporator carefully. Hatt was nice enough to put a mesh in front of many of these units, and if you have that in front of your coils, THAT's what's gunked up. Remove it - it shouldn't be there - filters should be where you can get to them! Gigabite had one of these and it was a MAJOR PITA.

 

[rangerscott275]

Is putting freon into units hard to do yourself? what is process?

 

[Freebird]

If there's a magic trick, nobody has taught it to me. Roll up your sleeves and start wrenchin' bubba! I've got a problem with fan output in the master stateroom on my 41DC. The rheostat doesn't have any effect on fan speed, which is stuck on low. I tried taking it out of the loop thinking that would give me a high speed only setting, which would be fine. That didn't work. I've been trying to get someone to work on this thing for 2 months now with no success. I figure I may have to replace the fan motor. Anybody have any suggestions to get my fan back up to speed, I'm gittin' hot here lately.

 

[dwaynec]

Home Depot sells a cleaner that you just spray on the fins and it kinda foams back into them that does a pretty good job of cleaning all the accumulated crud. All you have to do is spray this stuff on pretty good and then turn on the A/C. The condensation from the cooling action will rinse the stuff into the drain pan. I just tried to find my can, but the Admiral decided that my stuff was not properly stored and so relocated it to a much more practical space. Have to wait till she gets back to find out where it is now properly stored...

 

[UNIQUE_NAME]

thanks
from what i could see there were no screens on the condensors. thats not to say once i get some of the grime off they won't be there. does anyone happen to remember the name of this cleaner? you KNOW the look/answer i will get from the clerk when i ask for a consensor cleaner.

jim

 

[Genesis]

Tell 'em you want air conditioning coil cleaner.

Or just go back to the section where all the AC filters and such are - its right there. I don't recall the name but its in a spray can with a light blue and white label.

 

[egaito]

Tell 'em you want air conditioning coil cleaner.

Or just go back to the section where all the AC filters and such are - its right there. I don't recall the name but its in a spray can with a light blue and white label.

Remember, this is Home Depot we're talking about...you'll likely find it yourself quicker than asking....

 

[UNIQUE_NAME]

went to home depot and wandered the isles looking. after a fruitless search, had to ask. was directed to shelves with expanding foam and drain cleaner.
now i know where motor vehicle people go to retire.

jim

 

[67hat34c]

it is usualy in the ac duct area and or area with ac filters. you realy have to look to find it. The stuff is a light acid, when put on diluted you dont have to rinse.

 

[Beckytek]

You should have filters on all the inlets to the air handlers so they don't get clogged up. I went to home depot and got the type you cut to order. Its amazing the amount of dust they accumulate. I clean them twice a year and have no problems with air flow.
I had one of my fan controls go bad, (no speed control). I have the lunaire AC
units. I found a shorted triac in the box. Ordered a new one from Digikey for $1.24 and works great now. While I was waiting for the part to arrive I substituted a 10 ohm 20 watt resistor in place of the box. It worked fine, of course I had only one speed.

 

[(Nobody You Know)]

If you are lucky enough to get access you will probably find more gunk on the fins of your "squirrel cage" blower. That spray may help this area. Hatty didn't have in mind you (or me) trying to access these ond other items when they laid the hull (for all you bubbas out there that's a production thing, has nothing to do with sex).

Bill

 

[luckydave215]

I hate Homeless Depot. They have it, but you can't find it.