Inside AC coils

Texun1 · 03-08-2011, 03:23 PM

I was doing a little work inside today and decided to clean the ac filters. After I pulled the filters I noticed a cob web up inside. I happen to have a flash light on the counter. I was shocked when I looked up inside the unit. The coil inside both of my units was almost solid with dust, grass and styrofoam balls (from the insulation). The actual coil was only visible in a few spots.

There is only a small opening to work thru and I used a flexible clothes dryer vent brush to get up into all of the areas. I followed this up with a good shot of air from the compressor. I can at least see all of the coil unit now. I have cleaned the outside coil twice a year and the filters more than I can count. I just never thought about up inside the unit.

Something else that can be done at this time is to add a little duct tape to all of the seams that you can reach. I think this will help with some of the stuff that gets sucked in plus cut down on the hot outside air that is drawn thru the cracks.

TXiceman · 03-08-2011, 06:28 PM

The coil is still probably pretty well plugged. You have gotten the surface gunk off. The best thing to do is to remove the unit from the roof. Once on the ground, with the cover off, there is a plate over the evaporator coil area. Remove this cover plate ...lots of sheet metal screws. Now get a can of foaming coil cleaner and follow the instructions on the can. Rinse the coil throughout from the back side. Do not use a lot of water pressure or air pressure as the aluminum fins are fairly soft and easily damaged.

Now be sure and stay current on the air filter cleaning.

Ken

Texun1 · 03-08-2011, 06:57 PM

I agree that the unit needs major follow up. I have been on top of the internal filters while I have been the owner. The material that was pluging mine was from external sources. The grass and Styrofoam did not get picked up in the day to day filtering. This had to come from leaks in the system over the years of service.

My wife works for Lennox believe me I get my ear full on the upkeep of AC units in my little world.