Always great information and videos!!! Btw-you can get the fin combs at a specialty ac supply store-lots of hail around here and they do a great job of re-straightening. (The bent fins were flagged by an inspector before we sold our last home.)
Thank you so much for your video. It actually helps me a lot. My outside unit is 22 years old, I never clean it because I don't know it should be cleaned. I am so ignorant. But after watching this video several times, I was able to clean my unit. I am now very proud of myself. Thank you for your video talking about a lot of details to guide me through all the steps. Bravo!!!!!!!!
Yea but alot of dirt gets pushed back in...i been cleaning em for years and always use sumn to eat that stuff off first and sumn to foam n push it out then just rinse downward... basically gotta get into some acidic ingredients
I've just used some Dawn detergent mixed up in a spray bottle if you don't want to buy the cleaner or can't find it. Spray it on, wait a few minutes and hose it off. Works pretty good. Or, just use a hose by itself. That works if it's not real dirty.
~ Thank you for your video. I have the same A/C unit, so after watching this video a couple of times, it made me feel comfortable, tackling the job on my own. The only somewhat difficulty I had, was replacing the shroud. I must say, the air flow is MUCH better now. Thank you for your efforts on your content. I am one of your newer Subscribers.
Thank you so much for the love and support! I’m glad I was able to help! This should help improve temperature. As for airflow this doesn’t contribute to that, but the airflow should be improved if you change out the filter, don’t worry I will show that on a future video 👍🏽😊🙏🏽
@@FixThisHouse ~ Thank you! I must admit, I am happy to receive your reply, & enjoy Subscribing to Tubers that actually pay attention & appreciate their followers. Carry on! 👊🏽
First, the unit should not be placed on the ground. It should be off the ground to limit debris entering the unit. Second, a strong stream of water once a season is all you need. Lastly, Goodman is garbage.
Thank you for this! I had just ordered a bottle from Amazon that HVAC guys use. Mixed 1:3 ration. Fantastic cleaner. Also, got a hand pump, 1 gal. for that. Its amazing what comes out of it using cold water. Only after 1.5 years. It looks like new. You saved me heavy. Many people don't understand how well the AC unit can work, after cleaning the coil. PLEASE remember to pull the breaker out and NOT to get the breaker wet!!!!!!! To get this done by a cert tech is around 400.00 and +, here in NJ.
perfect timing for us - our AC is short cycling in this high humidity, high heat wave (95-105F, 60-90% humidity, which both are high for here). cleaned the furnace air filter. next, the AC itself . . . for the first time in 20 years . . . no trees or other items nearby. low humidity of 10-40% most of the time.
I hve the same unit & had ice on pipe & condenser-i live in NV its HOTT -we went all day with no a/c & now i find ur video- funny thing is I cant ever get my house as cool as I would like-im hoping this is my fix- if not we’ll im screwed-it’s 930 at nite & im doing it rn- my house is 90 degrees-i will update comment once done. Im so grateful to hve found this video- being im a single woman I do alot of my own work- thnk you 🤩
Good video. I used to use 409 on my unit. I did that as long as they were building in my subdivision. This video is a good reminder that I need to do it again.
You can also totally remove the cover by disconnecting the wires from the capacitor, fan and cutting zip-ties, then reinstalling when done. Got a tip from Steve Lavimoniere Channel, 35 plus year tech who said using that foam stuff can corrode the metal.. In the case you do, must rinse the living heck out of it with the hose... Rinse it like there's no tomorrow.
Nice video. The temp difference is mostly due to spraying cold water on the surface. A better way would be to measure high side pressure before and after. Thank you.
As usual, Great Video. I've got an older unit something like this one, that I'm afraid to guess how many years it's been cleaned or ever has been. It's getting to the end of July, and with the temperatures very High, I think I'll wait until the Temps start dropping to clean it; as if something unforeseen happens I won't be without A/C. I use a Fin Comb sometimes to straighten the alum fins when they get bent, don't remember what the fin number is per inch is. Thanks again for the Video, you make these videos very concise and step by step, so we can follow the exact procedures how to do it; also you add the CAUTIONS where needed which in Great, to make the job Safe. Thanks again.
Last week I just did my very first deep cleaning with similar spray can from Lowe’s. Almost did the same thing but I didn’t check the outside part as thoroughly as you did. Didn’t take the outside screen off. Next time which I’ll do it in the fall. But did wash off the outside.
It's not that difficult to remove the top completely. There are 3 wires that go to the fan, 2 go to the capacitor and 1 goes to the board. Take a picture of the wires before you unplug them there is also a wiring diagram on the inside of the cover in case you forget where they go. Having that fan propped up on the coil is very precarious.
I listened to this guy to a T because I have the exact same unit and almost messed up my fan! DO NOT remove the top 4 screws he mentions. They hold the fan shroud to the fan. It is completely unnecessary to remove those screws. You then have to worry about getting the shroud back on while trying to not have it damage the fins on the sides.
Just hit it with some purple power vehicle and boat cleaner... You can get that shit usually in the pressure washer section or the RV section of walmart, for like 9$ for a gallon jug Load it up in a hand pump foaming sprayer or one of those garden hose-end foaming sprayers
Perfect thanks! Have a multi pattern nozzle now but it has a big handle. Because of it, tend to turn the water on accidentally. It usually gets me wet : ( Like this nozzle because it has a small thumb activated on/off.
My central air system stopped working. I looked outside and fan was not moving. I shut system off and turned it back on after an hour. Fan started moving again but shut off again soon thereafter. No cool air. No tripped circuit breakers. System seemed to be blowing cold air before this heatwave. Will hosing off my coils outside get me working again??
Hi, would you mind updating the Infrared thermometer link, please? It's not the correct one. Thanks for the video! Appreciate the information in your posts. They are so helpful.
Great video. question, i have three returns in a single story house, without filters (with the potential of creating dirt in the return ducts), there is only one filter in the machine in the unit. my question is, is it better to remove the one in the machine, and install the filters by the return vents? that way I avoid having dirty ducts ?
I cleaned my evaporator coils today and noticed the fan when the unit cuts on starts slowly and then in a few seconds turn at full speed. Is this normal?
Please don't use non-contact infrared thermometers to try and measure discharge temps. That's not what they do. They measure surface temps as an average across area, not fluid temps. Also, those cleaners that foam when they leave the can are way less than ideal. A coil cleaner that applies as a liquid and foams over time will push much more contamination out of your coils. A gallon of a nu-brite cleaner will probably last you longer than you'll own your home, for a reasonable price. Wet the coil before application.
Serious question because I was about to clean mine. If the chemicals for this require a respirator and gloves, it is okay to let them run into the ground? My garden is pretty close to mine and I wonder and nervous about the chemicals I am putting in my soil.
That thing is a mess. Mine is near my garden house.Just give it a good rinsing every now and then.Simple Green in a pump sprayer inside and out will do the job
Be careful with the foam cleaners since they are acidic even the “no rinse” kind. Seen too many coils that have fallen apart due to people not rinsing the coil enough after application. The coils are aluminum and aluminum is etched by acid.
I'm not taking my top off again. The wires in the wire harness are much too short, its not worth the risk of damaging the wires. I think the cleaner and the water will do a sufficient job cleaning the other side of the coils.
**Do Not** take out the first 4 screws on top on this specific model, they hold on the fan cowling, which then drops down when you remove the top and is very difficult to put back on. When you tilt up the top , the fan cowling is what everything rests on. As you see later in the video, when he has the fan propped open, those 4 screws are in place along with the cowling. It cause me a ton of trouble. Do Not remove the 4 screws that hold on the fan cowling. I seriously thought this video was great until that happened.
Another hack video. Cleaning the condenser alone without cleaning the evaporator is worthless It's a whole harder to clean the evaporator. You never see these youtubers cleaning the evaporator. Show the entire cleaning
What? Are you talking about the fan shroud? It's fine. The flange of the shroud covers the top of the fins, even if they bend it doesn't matter because there won't be air flow across them when the unit's running.
$10 for a can of Frost King, my 13 yr old unit is blasting cold air inside. I immediately could tell a difference with the 90 degree heat outside . By the way , I did not disassemble, just make sure you spray into the fins, from bottom to top slowly, let sit 5 mins and rinse with a hose. Do not rinse with a pressure washer. Great video!
I HAVE WATCHED 6 DIFFERENT, HOW TO CLEAN AC UNITS AND BYYY FARRRR THIS VIDEO KICKS BUTT!! VERY DETAILED!! THANK YOU!! SIR, A JOB WELL DONE!!...........THANK YOU SIR!! SAM 101 AIRBORNE!
Great video. I am a novice at this, so worried about not getting the sides back on correctly. Would have been better if you didn't fast forward through that process.
I turn up the thermostat and wait until the unit isn't running. Then I turn the breaker in the fuse box to off, then I disconnect the power outside. A co-worker got a hell of a shock when he only turned off the breaker at the box, someone got warm, and went and turned the breaker back on. Ideally, lock and tag out like a professional.
I'm concerned that you made no effort to verify the disconnect worked. Always use a meter with probes to verify and appliance is disconnected from electricity.
If you have a large dog that lives in the yard or spends time there, I would take the shroud off once a year. Dogs like to get near the unit because of the air flow. The hair from the dog gets sucke through the louvers and sticks to the fins. I've seen them completely blocked by dog hair.
It's funny how so many videos on this job show the guy leaning the top cover on the edge of the coils and in the next sentence they say how fragile the coil fins are and to be careful around them. lol
Ive cleaned these things for years...i myself have always used some acidic ingredients to eat it off way back in there and also sumn to foam n push it out to me then rinse downward but thats me...i do it for other ppl as one of my jobs
