Up until 15 minutes ago I was afraid to do anything to clean my AC condenser. Now I'm ready to tackle the whole thing. Thank you for such an informative video!
We JUST had a guy come out to recharge our freon and clean the condenser unit. I tried to pay attention to what he was doing all the while trying not to be OBVIOUS about it. This video showed me more than what I learned with the little bit I gleaned off the service call. Now I know EXACTLY what is going on and what I need to do. Thank GOD for TH-cam. TH-cam is my "GO TO" for just about ANYTHING I need to know to avoid unnecessary service calls and fees from outside sources. TH-cam really IS a Godsend.
This was an excellent video. I am an 82 yr old female who likes to do my own home maintenance when possible. Thank heavens I have access to TH-cam. I have now subscribed to your channel. Keep up the good work & thanks for being so clear & concise with your directions & information.
I tell my 2 daughters the only thing a man can do better than a woman is Pee standing up! So please ma’am make some video’s! You are an inspiration to everyone!
This man is a good teacher. Takes you through the job in understandable segments. He is knowledgeable but not arrogant; he does not talk down to those trying to do this job, even sharing some of his missteps, which helps us also not do the same. I am not related or even know this guy but I recommend his DIY videos. Very helpful. Keeping this clean will hopefully lower electrical bill.
Thank you ,appreciate your positive response . Many pros are quick to bash even when the appropriate steps and information is given. It takes a good person to admit that others have done a good job and I really do appreciate your comment!
@@James-xj4ho an HVAC guy that I know charges like $250 and it takes him 45 minutes or less 🤦. I should just become a pro at cleaning these and all I'd had to do was clean one or two of these a day and be set $$$$.
I’ve done this for 27 years on my unit, a home original 3 ton Rheem. Yes, 27 years of stress free cooling! I use a 1 gallon pump sprayer with water and dawn dish soap. Cheaper and does a wonderful job dispersing the liquid. You can see my coils from distance. Shines!
Thanks for posting this- a homeowner for 40 years and I had never thought about it. Jut did mine and had clogged the inside with dryer vent lint. Just totally blocked! I did the "cleanex" test before and after, and the results were amazing. From no air being sucked in .. to a hurricane!
@@cactusladysouth1000 First, hold up a tissue (Kleenex) against all 4 sides when the air con is running to check the suction of the fan ( it's ability to pull air across the coils ). Do the same thing when you are finished cleaning to observe. In my case, I recorded the before and after- the difference was incredible. The tissue was pulled tight. Additionally, I realized that a significant amount of lint from my nearby clothes drier vent had been sucked into the rear of the unit WITH A THIN LAYER OF LINT ACROSS THE FINS! So just another factor to look out for.
@@cristaldailey7408 in Canada we have no choice but to use the kleenex trick... we have a metal dollar coin..is that not lonie or what! (the coin is called a lonie)
My husband has never given attention to our air conditioner in 20 years! 2 years ago it stopped blowing cold air. I'm sick of the mold growing on my furniture and cupboards from the high humidity!!! So, I'm going to take care of this issue myself! Watching lots of videos to know what I'm doing somewhat. God, I wish I had a husband like this guy who is willing to actually do some work!
You must get that couch potato off his rear. But what’s to say this repairman/ husband would be an improvement over the louse you married? Looks like he’s not exactly on top of things either. Im sure there is a course available online which councils effective nagging. It might help. It’s TH-cam’s like this that put ideas into women’s head.
That was pretty harsh - “actual work” is subjective, and I’m sure your husband is doing more than you are willing to recognize. I realize that this is TH-cam and you may not have meant it in the way it comes across- however it’s important to remember that you will always find what you are choosing to look for. The mind is very powerful and can create a story for everything you are choosing to find as “evidence”. The fact is, that he may very well be doing the same as he sees you. You could just choose to learn things that interest you and allow or help him find what interests him. Cleaning an A/C unit or any manual labor/service/tinkering does not make a man a good husband or father. Try recognizing what HE excels at. If he has changed since you fell in love and chose him to be your life partner- try communicating and listening with the intention of understanding eachother- creating a safe, non judgemental environment to have real and open conversation may be the way to enjoy each other and quite possibly learn these new things together. Good luck to you and glad you are willing to learn how to maintain and fix what breaks. It’s always fun when partners learn and laugh together.
@@GenX-Gemini your words are true, wise and kind. However, I made a catastrophic error in judgement when I chose a spouse. Some ppl have issues that can't be fixed. A wedding band does not mean you'll have an actual helping partner. Sometimes it proves to be imprisonment and extremely detrimental to one's physical and mental health. I've survived due to my sheer willpower, thick backbone and a vow to make sure my children don't carry on the male tradition on their father's side. Every now and then I forget myself and accidently opine over my choices. It's understandable that ppl could misconstrue my situation and think my words harsh, ignorant or unfair. Please believe me when I say that my words in that post were the kindest I could actually say. I wish I had made better choices but I didn't and so I walk alone but not under my own terms. I admit that I do feel regret when I meet or see men that are intelligent, thoughtful, equal partners. You seem to be one of those men. Your family, spouse and friends are lucky to have you in their lives.
@@ogg5949 I appreciate your kind words- and I completely and totally understand what you mean and what you are feeling (I was in a similar situation but reverse) although the journey is similar, I also realize it’s not the same. For me, It took a lot of courage to leave, and that courage came from me wanting to protect my 3 children - I raised them alone, while I was in horrible mental and emotional battles trying to unravel what she did to me. I was alone, physically and mentally and was the poster child for wearing a “mask” just to hide what was really going on. Nobody would understand and as a man, I already knew the response would be to “get over it” or “man up” so I said nothing and played the part. I focused on the task at hand and pushed my shit deep down so I could cope and be present for the kids I was raising. In hindsight it was a huge mistake because I SHOULD have gone to therapy every other week, but I digress. I got lucky, and stayed the course- my oldest daughter is 26 now, she is an architect, my middle daughter is 21, and works in the service industry- and my son is 16 still in high school and a good student. I screwed up a lot over the 13 yrs, and still do- but one thing I HAD to do as they struggled mentally about their “mom” that disappeared, was open up to them about my mental struggle- I didn’t unload it obviously but I did speak and answer which gave them the courage to unload. There is much more than can be said here, but No matter what - the most important thing I need you to hear is this- you may feel alone- but you are not. It’s important for you to know that. We are never alone, there are many of us and that knowledge in itself is powerful. I don’t know your beliefs, and I’m not really a religious dude- but i will say that I have come to understand that there are lessons to be learned about ourselves in every situation. Even if you feel that the situation or how you got there is the lesson, it’s not- those choices were intentional for you to learn the lesson you need to learn about YOU. Your reactions, emotional and mental responses, your observations etc. once you learn how to break yourself free from the reaction/responses of your past, and begin to do it differently to break a cycle YOU have been in. You will be free from the situation/moment and clear on the path forward. You are not alone, you’re doing great, and you are where you need to be in this moment. Look inward for your mind and body’s responses to what you observe, and recognize what doesn’t feel good- then begin to do differently so it does feel good- if it’s a struggle- it’s not the time for that and do something else entirely. You are strong, and powerful in the sense that you know exactly where you are and how you got there. That is a HUGE advantage- just learn the response you have and break cycles, even if that seems scary- remember that you are not alone and you have absolute control over YOUR choices, and ONLY your choices. Allow others their choices- that is their journey- your choices should be for what feel good for YOU.- try to find 5 things that bring YOU joy every day- be intentional about finding them and feel the shift. Good luck to you!!!
30 years in the field. First video I’ve seen that shows the proper way! Atta boy!!🙌🏾 Be sure to check your indoor air filter. Half the time service calls due to airflow.
Thank you , You are one of the few HVAC trades people to actually give a positive response . Most are too scared that I'm taking their business I guess so they try to worry people with stupid negative comments. Thanks!
@@HouseImprovements BIDENS economy we have to save where ya can! Other vids I’ve seen them push it deeper into the condenser coil. Always push opposite directions the impurities entered.
Costco installed 7 years ago and AC maintenance guy comes twice every year to check and so I am not sure he open fan and clean Will check this winter beginning and make sure he clean up as this video shows Thanks guy for your detailed instructions
Costco installed 7 years ago and AC maintenance guy comes twice every year to check and so I am not sure he open fan and clean Will check this winter beginning and make sure he clean up as this video shows Thanks guy for your detailed instructions
I've been a home owner for 20 years and it wasn't until the shock wore off from replacing my HVAC that I learned the importance of cleaning out the condenser especially because my home only has one zone (no backup-) As I gracefully age, I have come to the realization that Air Conditioning is more important to me than indoor plumbing and internet :). great video, thanks for the lesson
I can’t thank you enough for making this video. I am a grown man and I am afraid of very little on this earth, however when it comes to working on my AC unit I am nothing more than a big baby. After watching this video I feel as though I can conquer cleaning my air conditioning unit.
I want to thank you for this video. I am a 70-year-old retired widow and wanted a video on to take grass shavings out of the bottom of my air conditioner and you helped me quite a bit. Thank you very much. save me a service fee. Even though I have a contract for service.
Very good video. Vacuuming and the use of soap helps. I would like to add a suggestion. I am a turf mechanic and I have run into the problem with dirty radiators that can make the engines overheat and I found a tool that has proven to make the cleaning a whole lot easier. I used it to clean my A/C condenser at home with very good results. The tool is called Radiator-Genie. It consist of two long Wands, one is made to fit an air hose and the other is made to fit a garden hose. For the condenser you only need the water wand. The spray pattern is excellent and the pressure will not harm the fins but will clean them like new.
@@michaelmartinez9382 Yes the Radiator Genie can be used on an A/C condenser as well. It is especially design for cleaning fins and without any damage. Good Tool to have.
Very imporant to do on a cars A/C system also. Cleaning the condenser in front of the radiator very important. A 10% blockage on a cars A/C condenser causes 20% reduction in efficiency. I found this to be true many years ago as a customer brought her car into the shop and said her A/C wasn't cooling. It was a 100 degree day and hooked up the gauges and A/C would run until high side pressure hit 450 psi and shut down compressor. Cleaned out condenser rechecked pressure and it dropped to 225 and A/C worked fine. Drove car with thermometer in vent and kept temp at 40 degrees. that's all it took. So clean your A/c condenser yearly and keep the bugs cleaned out if there are a lot.
I hope this isn't a dumb question ...but obviously, the car ignition would be off. But my question is, similar to the example for the home AC unit, would you need to remove the fuse (power) from the car AC before beginning the cleaning? Also, you mentioned using air pressure to clean it. So no spray cleaner and/or no water spray for the car AC condenser?
@@Boutys_mom He never said anything about using air pressure. He said, "Cleaned out condenser rechecked pressure." You do not have to remove any fuses to rinse your condenser out. I run water through mine a couple times a year. You can spray, but don't blast the fins. Cleaners aren't needed unless you've completely neglected your unit.
I’ve been watching your videos for years and you’ve taught me so much about construction and home maintenance! Add another job to the list! Thanks a lot, Shannon!!! Always appreciate you!!
Excellent video! I like the way you naturally went through the process (probably like we all would!) then double backed with advice and suggestions on how to do it better. this is the way "how to" videos should be...natural the way we might do it. Well done!
trust me ive done everything in the hvac world this guy is full of crap. I have monitored head pressures this guy aint gonna change a thing.. its good to clean your coils but damn. pshh. this is overkill.
Just did mine.,I had this Fin Cleaner from the Air Purifier. Followed the process. Easy job ! I used the flashlight and absolutely was a massive improvement. I have vacuumed out the bottom, but never cleaned the fins…needless to say, not sure how it cooled. Great tip, thank you!!
This was so helpful. My husband just passed away and he did all this for us. Now I'm pretty confident that I can do this myself. I'm going to go get the spray. Thank you so much for this very informative video. Have a great day!
Thanks for showing us this video. I already spent about $400 to replace the relay that I could've easily avoided by watching a video like this so this video for sure will help me save on any further unnecessary repairs on my air conditioner due to poor maintenance!
I’m a first time home buyer of just a little more than a year now and I was wondering what I could do maintain my central air conditioning system… Today, this video shows up in my TH-cam feed! Now I know what to do! Awesome video! Thanks!
Thank you soooo much for this instructional video. Just finished my first cleaning and it went exactly as you explained. Good to know it best to spray that stuff on the inside of the unit and blow the gunk to the outside. I would have done just the opposite had I not watched this. I saved myself hundreds from being ripped of by local HVAC companies...with your help!
@@juniorr817boii I wouldn't say colder, because the thermostat controls that...but it gets cold quicker, ultimately resulting in less run time on the unit, less wear and tear and of course energy savings. A mighty good return for a $5.00 can of spray and an hour of my time!
Found this 1 day too late. Just paid $560 to have system checked, coils cleaned and and 1lb of freon added. Thanks for the information. I'll be doing this every year from here on in.
My brother-in-law who is a Air- Heat Serviceman uses a Form of Citrus Acid to clean cooling Fins, it is concentrate that he dilutes and puts into his pump up sprayer it does a Great Job cleaning fins...
I love that you present your human frailties like the fact that you bought the spray two years ago and hadn’t gotten to it yet. It’s just like the rest of us. But you’re doing it now and sharing your knowledge. Thanks very much for helping me be confident to do my own. It needs it!
It's been about 25 years since our home was built and the only work performed on our unit is a fan motor change and a couple of Capacitors changed out. No cleaning except under the unit every week when I mow and blow. It sits in a clean place away from trees or plants on our sidewalk, but, maybe it wouldn't hurt to clean them fins now. Thanks for showing us how to do the job properly!
Was embarrassed to say it but I’m with you guys, never even knew it was a thing to clean these. I figured I probably have to take some leaves out every now and then but never this. Me and wife are wondering why the AC doesn’t feel the same as when we first bought the house. Almost 4 years of neglect. I’ll have to do it soon
Thank you. I have to do mine later this year. I have never done them and we have been in the house for over 12 years. Again, thank you and may GOD bless you for your demonstration.
I just did this operation and the unit seemed noticeably cooler afterwards. On a hot day have the kids stand out there with a mist of water on the thing. The house will cool even more.
I feel like im catching a Canadian accent. Big fan of Canadians. Actors, musicians, and now this fellow helping me learn how to clean my AC properly. Thanks man 👍👍🤘
If you live in an area where there are Cottonwood trees, you will find the same amount of fuzzies on your coil as he shows in this video when he exposes the outside fins. In our area, the Cottonwood trees shed enough white cotton balls to make it look as though it snowed. Your A/C will suck it in and it will coat the fins of your compressor. A good video to help you prevent it from impacting the efficiency of your A/C.
Having worked with HVAC systems, this is a very, important preventive maintenance (PM) job to be done. Cleaning the condenser unit will keep your A/C unit working efficiently, save you $ on both, your hydro bill and the costs involved in calling out a service repair person, to clean your condenser unit for you when it breaks down. Take the time to do it and vacuum out your pan of debris too, as well as, washing it out. The coils in your unit will work effectively, to the degree they can transfer heat flow to the ambient air.
I was putting down mulch in the garden bed where mine sits and noticed how nasty mine was. It's only two years old! My neighbor has a cotton wood tree that releases massive amounts of these white fuzzy seeds that just float through the air in May-June like it's snowing out. I'm doing this TODAY.
@@terryhill4732 much tougher to clean but yes it needs to be done by a professional. Then after watching him, you can decide if you have the skill needed. The main thing is to use top grade air filters and change out every 3 months. That will go a long way in keeping yur system in good shape.
The brush-cap does an excellent job of straightening those bent fins as long as you don’t apply too much pressure. You just start below the bent fin where it’s still straight and slowly move it vertically while applying moderate pressure. Did that on my home and camper. And that can was definitely old. Lol. Great video!
Because of circumstances, I received twelve "clean & check" coupons from my A/C system installer. I trusted that the seemingly conciencious techs were doing what needed to be done. Watching this, I now have no idea what they actually went through. I'm not saying they didn't do things fully and correctly, but this video does make me wonder. I now feel secure in doing this service myself. Thanks.
I’m so glad I stumbled upon you! My A/C is having a really hard time keeping up in this southern Oklahoma 107 temperatures. I’ve put new insulation on the outside pipe, hosed off the fins from the outside but noticed there is a lot of gunk that I suspect needs to be washed out from the inside! Thanks for this video because now I’m going to tackle taking it apart!
Pipe insulation does absolutely nothing to improve efficiency. Its only to protect your sheetrock from condensation. If your suction line is not beer can cold your low on freon.
@@jamiefoster5978 well, there seem to be several issues the least of which was the cottonwood fluff clogging up the coils that the ac people were supposed to clean on May 31. The second I believe is low Freon, the third is im thinking my drain line in the house may be clogged because occasionally over the past few days I’ve gotten a whiff of what smells like a line frozen. I learned today that the rotted pipe insulation had no effect whatsoever but thanks for that information! I called the AC people back since they obviously didn’t do the full summer tune up and got a guy who came out and tore the outside unit apart and cleaned it with some sort of corrosive solution and he washed it all out then came back in and checked the air temp blowing out of the vents and said it was at 60 degrees. With that said it was already 81 in the house at 2:20 when he left and the unit is still running and it’s stayed a steady 79 degrees for the last 4 hours but it’s still 98 at 8:10 pm. If it does this again tomorrow I’ll be calling him to come check the Freon and the drain. If you have any other suggestions please send them my way! The unit is an 7 year old Lennox.
@@nativechata9332 Lennox evaporator coils suck. if your low on freon its 100 percent the evaporator coil. You should have a 10 year parts warranty if you registered it when you bought it. Good luck
@@nativechata9332 MAKE THEM add FREON!!! I live here in Florida, was blowing 63F at the vents. 101F outside and never got below 78 in Condo with constant running. I told the AC guy the vents are usually @ 48 to 54F. He tried arguing about "System Pressure" will determine if it needs Freon or not. I told him that 4 years ago the Tech did not have a enough Freon with him to top it off properly, so he had BETTER add FREON this time. He said the system pressure was not low enough to "really" need Freon added, but he would do it since there was "some" room. It took 22 ounces of FREON and was back to blowing 48F at the Vent when it was 101F outside. Got the Condo down to 71F in MINUTES after that. :~)
Great video! I'm so glad that I watched this. We have a service man come by and check everything. BUT, he has never done anything like this. THIS WILL CHANGE!
So far watching a lot of cleaning videos you are the only one that advise people to leave it and let it dry after a few hours. I was cleaning mine and the breaker keeps tripping until I found your video. I'm waiting a few hours for it to dry and flip the switch back on
I don't usually comment on many how to videos but this was excellent! It was an easy step by step process and really liked your honesty about forgetting to wear the safety glasses and covering the cut off box (good work cameraman) as we all do it not that we are not safety aware just that time to time we forget! Thanks for a very informative video!
@@timothyjerry2455 If this wasn't the right way to clean, it'd be useful to let us know what IS the right way? Or at least what you feel is wrong or missing.
Excellent video. Thank you so much!!! I wash and wax the outside of my unit at least once per year, and always cover it before the leaves fall in Autumn, but was always very frustrated that I could never clean it on the inside. Yes, I saw the screws, but didn't dare open the unit! Oh boy, my condenser has a thorough cleaning coming now!!! I'm no longer terrified to open the unit. A million thanks for the great video and great explanation!!!
Been spraying my yearly and built air-conditioning units at Lennox Manifacting for 40 plus years never known about the spraying detergent but look good I'm going use it next time thanks Very helpful and you looked safe
Good video...my wife is more handy than I am, and I'd normally stay away from anything the least bit " handy", but this was easily explained, followed, and executed! Thanks, Shaun!
Great video topic, most of us know about the drain line maintenance; but this is something local companies charge for and it can easily be done yourself.
On average here in kansas city it around 350 bucks to do the outside condenser and the inside A coil, I have always just used a water hose with rain shower adaptor. This time I was looking to see what chemicals can be used
You are very detailed. I paid someone to clean my A/C unit ($80). I'm not exactly sure what they actually did, if anything. It still had a few leaves and debris in the bottom. I just bought a mesh cover that doesn't restrict air flow so it can stay on all year. I'm not sold to the idea my neighbor does for winter. Completely wraps it with a cover and insulation. I see that as something that will harbor moisture, create mold and the insulation will make a nice home for squirrels or mice.
One suggestion. On the lid of the foaming cleaner is a soft brush intended to gently straighten bent metal fins. This process is a bit delicate but straightforward. I do this to my RV’s air conditioner annually. Thanks for the video.
This video popped up in my feed, after watching it i decided to clean our condenser on our AC unit, i couldn't even see the lines running thru the condenser before i cleaned it. After letting the cleaner set, as i was rinsing the condenser off, you could see the dirt coming off of it. After i was finished i can see all the lines thru the condenser, what a difference.
Thanks for the video. Now I am motivated to do mine. It's 6 years old. I only been spraying the coils from the outside. Kudo to the Camera Man, for the observation regarding the power box. 👍👍
Don't know when this video was done, but it sure helped me. I know my A/C unit needs to be cleaned, but not quite sure just how to do it. I did buy cans of foam about 2 years ago with intent to clean it....now I 'think' I can do the job. I hope...will probably watch the video again for reassurance though!! Thanx again.
If you have a compressed air source, it's helpful to blow out the loose material before using the liquid cleaner. Could even use a shop vac before the cleaner too.
Excellent video! Very informative. I'm in North Texas and it's the middle of summer, (AKA - NASTY!!). I've been thinking of cleaning mine, but unsure of the steps. Very timely! Your explanations are clear and concise. Thanks again!
I've been doing a lot of home improvement around our house this summer, thanks to a variety of videos on YT. And thanks to your video I'm now confident about cleaning our AC condenser tomorrow. Your presentation is excellent, right to the point, and I've subscribed to your channel. Many thanks !
Awesome vid with attention to basic detail. Narration is very helpful. Super helpful. Very thankful for your service to those of us who are other professions.
I'm glad you revisited the disconnect. I was looking at that at the beginning thinking, yeah, but those wires are still hot - cover it back up. LOL The foam is probably well worth it. I've cleaned AC units w/out the foam and it was more work.
I've been watching your channel for years. Congrats on this great video. Looks like it did really good. Also you're so close to a million subs. You guys deserve it. Hard work paying off.
Just did mine today,couldn’t believe the amount of crap on the coils.Glad I did it this year.I just used a hose on medium pressure .All good.Thanks for all your help.👍
After pulling the fuse link, put the cover back on, or you can become the fuse. The best thing to do is kill the circuit in the service panel, then pull the fuse outside.
Thanks for this very timely video. I cleaned my unit last year for the first time and it made a huge difference. Unless you really like those pretty louvered covers take them off and leave them off for one less thing to remove next year.
I use a shop vac with the brush on the fins first, then compressed air to blow out the dust. There is a fin comb available that can correct any bent fins. Good video.
Thank you for the very informative video! Clear, concise , and easy to follow! My 32 year old Trane is getting replaced next week. Time for a quieter and more more energy efficient unit. The Trane was a good and faithful soldier! I will definitely use your video on an annual basis for my new unit. Thanks again! Cheers!
Just purchased my first home 3 months ago and i too didn’t know cleaning these was a thing. My unit is old and no telling if it ever this was done. Vegas heat isn’t a joke so I’ll be doing this today just so i know it was done at least once. Great vid💯
I was a tech for 30+ years and many a/c units I serviced were never cleaned properly. Home owners that neglect maintenance are shortening the life of their units . I would always wet the coils first with water then use the coil cleaner . It always seemed to do a better job of getting deeper into the coils with the foaming action especially if that coil is really hot . Cooling down the coil first with water works best .
Dandelion puff balls and Cottonwood trees are especially bad about clogging those fins, so if you have either in your area, do this yearly Often best in spring and if a visual inspection around the end of the "bloom" for those fuzzy things shows anything blocked you might even do it again just with water to knock out the fuzz. A bit of time will save you on your power bill as the unit will be much more efficient and will extend the life of the unit by a huge amount. Overheating and extended run times wear out the unit much faster.
this is a fantastic easy to follow video...... when my a/c guy comes out to service my system they don't do this...... even when I asked them about it I didn't get a straight answer now that I know how to remove the top fan/cover I'll be doing this to - thumbs up !
RE: leaving the cleaner on the coil longer If it's an *_etching_* cleaner, it is _very_ important not to leave it on longer than they recommend. Those cleaners chew away on any oxidation on the coil-and can eat into the coil itself if left on too long. These are not common coil cleaners, thankfully, but it is something to look out for.
You want a jug.. the one that renmoves you fingernails. I seen a guy who dipped his fingers in that stuff more like used a brush with out gloves . Those nails were nasty. Smelled bad.. well thats what he told us.. but on something that could work the automotive cleaners that foam that push loose debris from between coil fins
That would be an acid type coil cleaner you are referring to. They shouldn't be used on condensing coils at all. They can actually reduce the coil to fin contact and actually reduce heat transfer.
@@tombarker6298 No. See products like Viper Bright, which are strong alkaline cleaners. They will cause damage if you don't rinse them off in the time specified.
Never gave these a second thought until the unit at our station became obstructed by what looked like pollen(?) I'm surprised we don't have PM's scheduled for the whole county. Especially now with supply chain issues. Better to keep it running well now, rather than having to fix it (soon). Helpful tutorial. Even though I'm still booking "My guy" to see what's what, At least I'll know better what to expect when he comes. Thank you.
Depending on the dirt in the fins you can blow out the dust after vacuuming and cleaning the inside with a leaf blower (No air compressor, it can bend the fins). Some of the stuff comes out better when dry.
Agree on the dry approach (have done myself before wet), but...depending on the size of the top opening (and your blower), tough to get the right angle, or cover complete coil...but still worth a shot
3 years ago I started watching when I was building my house thank you very much I learned a lot about you videos thank you so so so much for make them , 80% of the house that was rebuilt by you videos thank you so much God bless you👍😊
I used to use Spray Nine to clean my air cleaner which had metal fins that collected the allergens/dirt etc, and I smoke so instead of spending a fortune on special cleaners for reusable filters in anything I use spray nine which melts smoke off immediately and any grease build up. I think I am going to try it on my sons unit, the AC isn't keeping up on really hot days and I know he has owned it 5 years and never cleaned it. I am sure it would help, since the previous owner most likely didn't clean it ever either. Though they did keep a piece of window screening on top of fan to filter any large debris like leaves from entering the inner part. Great video and you do a fine job teaching. I think taking off the outside panels would be beneficial and easier in the long run.
Good stuff. I'm glad you came back at the end and mentioned the disconnect cover. That could be bad. We just bought a house with 2 heat pumps, and a friend of mine mentioned maybe I should clean my coils out before our 95-105 degree summer starts. I completely forgot about it while we've been struggling to keep the house cool and paying to have capacitors replaced! I'm going out to get some of this foaming stuff and doing this today!!
@@barrydomin8118 Don't know about cleaning foam product, but my local ACE hardware has a "coil cleaner" in a spray bottle (about 10 bucks) and I have used it for years, it works well. Always follow manufacturers recommendations. Take your time, it takes me about an hour to do mine. Be safe.
@@barrydomin8118 I don't know why everyone wants the foam spray, the proper cleaning solution is a blue liquid that has to be diluted in water and sprayed out of a chem sprayer. Course the average Joe probably wouldn't find it anyway since it is sold only through hvac vendors 😁
I have been doing hvac for 30 years (yup im old). I have never used a chemical on residential coils. It could harm pets and animals. A good hosing and your good to go
A very good video explaining the going-ons to an efficient ac unit. One thing which I would like to emphasise to the would-be DIY cleaner is that to try not to splash water on the electrics and to make really sure that the unit is completely dry before replacing the fuse connector or switching on. Thanks for your instructible video.
@@OFLHLGZ28 It is true that it rains, but splashing water with a pipe like that may reach the wires inside the electrics compartment. To do that cleaning one normally switches off the electricity to the unit to avoid a short!
@@Ladyjdiva7 There is no hard-fast rule. If you think that the splashing of water reached the electrics, it is wise to switch on maybe after 12 hours to make sure that the water dries out. If you can direct a fan on the box where there are the electrical connections the splashing will dry out faster.
Well done. I try to do mine each spring. Makes a huge difference on the proper heat transfer of Freon with good air circulation across those coils. Good job.
Very clear, concise; good video with good view angles, good audio; by far the best I've found yet. Good explanation of removing the top grill and fan unit, taking care with the conduit. Also, had not been aware of the drains in the pan -- thanks, ours were partly blocked from the outside. We got mud splash in the lower few inches that caked on the outside; Simple Green loosened it (it's supposedly pH neutral, so I'm assuming it's OK). I wonder if fuzz/dirt caked around the joints in the shroud are where rust will first show up. Discouraging that the manufacturer doesn't supply a User Guide with cleaning instructions (I looked, failed to find one). Thank you.
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Up until 15 minutes ago I was afraid to do anything to clean my AC condenser. Now I'm ready to tackle the whole thing. Thank you for such an informative video!
Hit the breaker aswell disconnects are known to fail.
Same here lol. I love DIY videos. I like your your TH-cam name as well lol.
Me too!
We JUST had a guy come out to recharge our freon and clean the condenser unit.
I tried to pay attention to what he was doing all the while trying not to be OBVIOUS about it.
This video showed me more than what I learned with the little bit I gleaned off the service call.
Now I know EXACTLY what is going on and what I need to do.
Thank GOD for TH-cam.
TH-cam is my "GO TO" for just about ANYTHING I need to know to avoid unnecessary service
calls and fees from outside sources.
TH-cam really IS a Godsend.
Remember the fins will cut you and will bend very easily. Just be careful, no problem
This was an excellent video. I am an 82 yr old female who likes to do my own home maintenance when possible. Thank heavens I have access to TH-cam. I have now subscribed to your channel. Keep up the good work & thanks for being so clear & concise with your directions & information.
Wonderful!
I tell my 2 daughters the only thing a man can do better than a woman is Pee standing up! So please ma’am make some video’s! You are an inspiration to everyone!
This man is a good teacher. Takes you through the job in understandable segments.
He is knowledgeable but not arrogant; he does not talk down to those trying to do this job, even sharing some of his missteps, which helps us also not do the same. I am not related or even know this guy but I recommend his DIY videos. Very helpful. Keeping this clean will hopefully lower electrical bill.
2wasssa😅ejn😊q😂jjj😂😊r
197 years old with 190 year hvac experience professional here, I approve this video
😂
as a professional HVAC Tech this was the best DIY video ive seen.
Thank you ,appreciate your positive response . Many pros are quick to bash even when the appropriate steps and information is given. It takes a good person to admit that others have done a good job and I really do appreciate your comment!
Good to know.
How much does a service like this coast?
@@James-xj4ho an HVAC guy that I know charges like $250 and it takes him 45 minutes or less 🤦. I should just become a pro at cleaning these and all I'd had to do was clean one or two of these a day and be set $$$$.
I’ve done this for 27 years on my unit, a home original 3 ton Rheem. Yes, 27 years of stress free cooling! I use a 1 gallon pump sprayer with water and dawn dish soap. Cheaper and does a wonderful job dispersing the liquid. You can see my coils from distance. Shines!
EXACTLY!!! 👍👍
Thanks !
Soap cleaner is not good!!!!!!!! That’s same thing you use it to clean your car it is going to form rust
@@jusokicin8105 27 years says differently!
@@jusokicin8105 why would dawn dish detergent cause the metal to rust any faster than water itself? That doesn't make sense.
I like this guy's "aboat" and "oat", Canadians rock!
Paul, oh yes, I was going to comment on that, too 👍🏼❗️
Thanks for posting this- a homeowner for 40 years and I had never thought about it.
Jut did mine and had clogged the inside with dryer vent lint. Just totally blocked!
I did the "cleanex" test before and after, and the results were amazing. From no air being sucked in .. to a hurricane!
What is the kleenex test?
@@cactusladysouth1000 First, hold up a tissue (Kleenex) against all 4 sides when the air con is running to check the suction of the fan ( it's ability to pull air across the coils ). Do the same thing when you are finished cleaning to observe. In my case, I recorded the before and after- the difference was incredible. The tissue was pulled tight.
Additionally, I realized that a significant amount of lint from my nearby clothes drier vent had been sucked into the rear of the unit WITH A THIN LAYER OF LINT ACROSS THE FINS! So just another factor to look out for.
@@gars1074 I hadn't seen it done with a kleenex, but rather a dollar bill!
@@cristaldailey7408They're worth about the same.
@@cristaldailey7408 in Canada we have no choice but to use the kleenex trick... we have a metal dollar coin..is that not lonie or what! (the coin is called a lonie)
My husband has never given attention to our air conditioner in 20 years! 2 years ago it stopped blowing cold air. I'm sick of the mold growing on my furniture and cupboards from the high humidity!!! So, I'm going to take care of this issue myself! Watching lots of videos to know what I'm doing somewhat. God, I wish I had a husband like this guy who is willing to actually do some work!
You must get that couch potato off his rear. But what’s to say this repairman/ husband would be an improvement over the louse you married? Looks like he’s not exactly on top of things either.
Im sure there is a course available online which councils effective nagging. It might help. It’s TH-cam’s like this that put ideas into women’s head.
That was pretty harsh - “actual work” is subjective, and I’m sure your husband is doing more than you are willing to recognize. I realize that this is TH-cam and you may not have meant it in the way it comes across- however it’s important to remember that you will always find what you are choosing to look for. The mind is very powerful and can create a story for everything you are choosing to find as “evidence”. The fact is, that he may very well be doing the same as he sees you. You could just choose to learn things that interest you and allow or help him find what interests him. Cleaning an A/C unit or any manual labor/service/tinkering does not make a man a good husband or father. Try recognizing what HE excels at. If he has changed since you fell in love and chose him to be your life partner- try communicating and listening with the intention of understanding eachother- creating a safe, non judgemental environment to have real and open conversation may be the way to enjoy each other and quite possibly learn these new things together. Good luck to you and glad you are willing to learn how to maintain and fix what breaks. It’s always fun when partners learn and laugh together.
@@GenX-Gemini your words are true, wise and kind. However, I made a catastrophic error in judgement when I chose a spouse. Some ppl have issues that can't be fixed. A wedding band does not mean you'll have an actual helping partner. Sometimes it proves to be imprisonment and extremely detrimental to one's physical and mental health. I've survived due to my sheer willpower, thick backbone and a vow to make sure my children don't carry on the male tradition on their father's side. Every now and then I forget myself and accidently opine over my choices. It's understandable that ppl could misconstrue my situation and think my words harsh, ignorant or unfair. Please believe me when I say that my words in that post were the kindest I could actually say. I wish I had made better choices but I didn't and so I walk alone but not under my own terms. I admit that I do feel regret when I meet or see men that are intelligent, thoughtful, equal partners. You seem to be one of those men. Your family, spouse and friends are lucky to have you in their lives.
@@ogg5949 I appreciate your kind words- and I completely and totally understand what you mean and what you are feeling (I was in a similar situation but reverse) although the journey is similar, I also realize it’s not the same. For me, It took a lot of courage to leave, and that courage came from me wanting to protect my 3 children - I raised them alone, while I was in horrible mental and emotional battles trying to unravel what she did to me. I was alone, physically and mentally and was the poster child for wearing a “mask” just to hide what was really going on. Nobody would understand and as a man, I already knew the response would be to “get over it” or “man up” so I said nothing and played the part. I focused on the task at hand and pushed my shit deep down so I could cope and be present for the kids I was raising. In hindsight it was a huge mistake because I SHOULD have gone to therapy every other week, but I digress. I got lucky, and stayed the course- my oldest daughter is 26 now, she is an architect, my middle daughter is 21, and works in the service industry- and my son is 16 still in high school and a good student. I screwed up a lot over the 13 yrs, and still do- but one thing I HAD to do as they struggled mentally about their “mom” that disappeared, was open up to them about my mental struggle- I didn’t unload it obviously but I did speak and answer which gave them the courage to unload. There is much more than can be said here, but No matter what - the most important thing I need you to hear is this- you may feel alone- but you are not. It’s important for you to know that. We are never alone, there are many of us and that knowledge in itself is powerful. I don’t know your beliefs, and I’m not really a religious dude- but i will say that I have come to understand that there are lessons to be learned about ourselves in every situation. Even if you feel that the situation or how you got there is the lesson, it’s not- those choices were intentional for you to learn the lesson you need to learn about YOU. Your reactions, emotional and mental responses, your observations etc. once you learn how to break yourself free from the reaction/responses of your past, and begin to do it differently to break a cycle YOU have been in. You will be free from the situation/moment and clear on the path forward. You are not alone, you’re doing great, and you are where you need to be in this moment. Look inward for your mind and body’s responses to what you observe, and recognize what doesn’t feel good- then begin to do differently so it does feel good- if it’s a struggle- it’s not the time for that and do something else entirely. You are strong, and powerful in the sense that you know exactly where you are and how you got there. That is a HUGE advantage- just learn the response you have and break cycles, even if that seems scary- remember that you are not alone and you have absolute control over YOUR choices, and ONLY your choices. Allow others their choices- that is their journey- your choices should be for what feel good for YOU.- try to find 5 things that bring YOU joy every day- be intentional about finding them and feel the shift. Good luck to you!!!
why dont you "actually do the work" yourself
30 years in the field. First video I’ve seen that shows the proper way! Atta boy!!🙌🏾
Be sure to check your indoor air filter. Half the time service calls due to airflow.
Thank you , You are one of the few HVAC trades people to actually give a positive response . Most are too scared that I'm taking their business I guess so they try to worry people with stupid negative comments. Thanks!
@@HouseImprovements BIDENS economy we have to save where ya can! Other vids I’ve seen them push it deeper into the condenser coil. Always push opposite directions the impurities entered.
Costco installed 7 years ago and AC maintenance guy comes twice every year to check and so I am not sure he open fan and clean
Will check this winter beginning and make sure he clean up as this video shows
Thanks guy for your detailed instructions
Costco installed 7 years ago and AC maintenance guy comes twice every year to check and so I am not sure he open fan and clean
Will check this winter beginning and make sure he clean up as this video shows
Thanks guy for your detailed instructions
I've been a home owner for 20 years and it wasn't until the shock wore off from replacing my HVAC that I learned the importance of cleaning out the condenser especially because my home only has one zone (no backup-) As I gracefully age, I have come to the realization that Air Conditioning is more important to me than indoor plumbing and internet :). great video, thanks for the lesson
I am going to be cleaning mine this weekend and the first place I wanted to look for advice is Shannon. Never steers me wrong.
I can’t thank you enough for making this video. I am a grown man and I am afraid of very little on this earth, however when it comes to working on my AC unit I am nothing more than a big baby. After watching this video I feel as though I can conquer cleaning my air conditioning unit.
I want to thank you for this video. I am a 70-year-old retired widow and wanted a video on to take grass shavings out of the bottom of my air conditioner and you helped me quite a bit. Thank you very much. save me a service fee. Even though I have a contract for service.
Very good video. Vacuuming and the use of soap helps. I would like to add a suggestion. I am a turf mechanic and I have run into the problem with dirty radiators that can make the engines overheat and I found a tool that has proven to make the cleaning a whole lot easier. I used it to clean my A/C condenser at home with very good results. The tool is called Radiator-Genie. It consist of two long Wands, one is made to fit an air hose and the other is made to fit a garden hose. For the condenser you only need the water wand. The spray pattern is excellent and the pressure will not harm the fins but will clean them like new.
Great suggestion on the Radiator Genie. Can use it on the A/C condenser on the car as well. Thanks!
@@michaelmartinez9382 Yes the Radiator Genie can be used on an A/C condenser as well. It is especially design for cleaning fins and without any damage. Good Tool to have.
Very imporant to do on a cars A/C system also. Cleaning the condenser in front of the radiator very important. A 10% blockage on a cars A/C condenser causes 20% reduction in efficiency. I found this to be true many years ago as a customer brought her car into the shop and said her A/C wasn't cooling. It was a 100 degree day and hooked up the gauges and A/C would run until high side pressure hit 450 psi and shut down compressor. Cleaned out condenser rechecked pressure and it dropped to 225 and A/C worked fine. Drove car with thermometer in vent and kept temp at 40 degrees. that's all it took. So clean your A/c condenser yearly and keep the bugs cleaned out if there are a lot.
Thanks!!!!
I hope this isn't a dumb question ...but obviously, the car ignition would be off. But my question is, similar to the example for the home AC unit, would you need to remove the fuse (power) from the car AC before beginning the cleaning?
Also, you mentioned using air pressure to clean it. So no spray cleaner and/or no water spray for the car AC condenser?
@@Boutys_mom He never said anything about using air pressure. He said, "Cleaned out condenser rechecked pressure." You do not have to remove any fuses to rinse your condenser out. I run water through mine a couple times a year. You can spray, but don't blast the fins. Cleaners aren't needed unless you've completely neglected your unit.
@@Boutys_mom no
I’ve been watching your videos for years and you’ve taught me so much about construction and home maintenance! Add another job to the list! Thanks a lot, Shannon!!! Always appreciate you!!
Awesome! Thank you!
You have a knack for showing me how to do the things I've been putting off for months. Thanks Shannon!
Excellent video! I like the way you naturally went through the process (probably like we all would!) then double backed with advice and suggestions on how to do it better. this is the way "how to" videos should be...natural the way we might do it. Well done!
trust me ive done everything in the hvac world this guy is full of crap. I have monitored head pressures this guy aint gonna change a thing.. its good to clean your coils but damn. pshh. this is overkill.
What’s overkill, how should I do mine?
Just did mine.,I had this Fin Cleaner from the Air Purifier. Followed the process. Easy job ! I used the flashlight and absolutely was a massive improvement. I have vacuumed out the bottom, but never cleaned the fins…needless to say, not sure how it cooled.
Great tip, thank you!!
This was so helpful. My husband just passed away and he did all this for us. Now I'm pretty confident that I can do this myself. I'm going to go get the spray. Thank you so much for this very informative video. Have a great day!
Thank you as a single mom me and my son are gonna do our own diy!!!
Right there with ya. Then, my 10 yr old and I are going to do my parent's if all goes well!
Go for it! Single 72 yrs young Grammy here. Doing this for years! My ac guy said was cleanest unit he has seen! 👍🏻
This by far is the best A/C Unit instructional video around. Extremely thorough. Hopefully HVAC workers watch this video as well.
Thanks for showing us this video. I already spent about $400 to replace the relay that I could've easily avoided by watching a video like this so this video for sure will help me save on any further unnecessary repairs on my air conditioner due to poor maintenance!
I’m a first time home buyer of just a little more than a year now and I was wondering what I could do maintain my central air conditioning system… Today, this video shows up in my TH-cam feed! Now I know what to do! Awesome video!
Thanks!
Thank you soooo much for this instructional video. Just finished my first cleaning and it went exactly as you explained. Good to know it best to spray that stuff on the inside of the unit and blow the gunk to the outside. I would have done just the opposite had I not watched this. I saved myself hundreds from being ripped of by local HVAC companies...with your help!
Is your air blowing cooler now?
@@juniorr817boii I wouldn't say colder, because the thermostat controls that...but it gets cold quicker, ultimately resulting in less run time on the unit, less wear and tear and of course energy savings. A mighty good return for a $5.00 can of spray and an hour of my time!
Found this 1 day too late. Just paid $560 to have system checked, coils cleaned and and 1lb of freon added.
Thanks for the information.
I'll be doing this every year from here on in.
My brother-in-law who is a Air- Heat Serviceman uses a Form of Citrus Acid to clean cooling Fins, it is concentrate that he dilutes and puts into his pump up sprayer it does a Great Job cleaning fins...
I love that you present your human frailties like the fact that you bought the spray two years ago and hadn’t gotten to it yet. It’s just like the rest of us. But you’re doing it now and sharing your knowledge. Thanks very much for helping me be confident to do my own. It needs it!
By far THE BEST video on cleaning an AC
It's been about 25 years since our home was built and the only work performed on our unit is a fan motor change and a couple of Capacitors changed out. No cleaning except under the unit every week when I mow and blow. It sits in a clean place away from trees or plants on our sidewalk, but, maybe it wouldn't hurt to clean them fins now. Thanks for showing us how to do the job properly!
Was embarrassed to say it but I’m with you guys, never even knew it was a thing to clean these. I figured I probably have to take some leaves out every now and then but never this. Me and wife are wondering why the AC doesn’t feel the same as when we first bought the house. Almost 4 years of neglect. I’ll have to do it soon
100
Simple wash with water hose will do a lot; Anything → do it often but be extra careful
You also have an a-coil installed in your furnace plenum - that too needs to be cleaned periodically, clean coils and filters= efficient operation
@@africancichlids3011 What does 100 mean?
@@cactusladysouth1000 he is in agreeance.
Thank you. I have to do mine later this year. I have never done them and we have been in the house for over 12 years. Again, thank you and may GOD bless you for your demonstration.
I just did this operation and the unit seemed noticeably cooler afterwards. On a hot day have the kids stand out there with a mist of water on the thing. The house will cool even more.
I feel like im catching a Canadian accent. Big fan of Canadians. Actors, musicians, and now this fellow helping me learn how to clean my AC properly. Thanks man 👍👍🤘
If you live in an area where there are Cottonwood trees, you will find the same amount of fuzzies on your coil as he shows in this video when he exposes the outside fins. In our area, the Cottonwood trees shed enough white cotton balls to make it look as though it snowed. Your A/C will suck it in and it will coat the fins of your compressor. A good video to help you prevent it from impacting the efficiency of your A/C.
I learned this several years ago when I had a guy come out for a seasonal ac checkup. Now I always pay attention to it and try to keep it clean.
Very informative. I'm a lot more confident to tackle this maintenance task than I was before watching this video. Thanks for posting!!
Having worked with HVAC systems, this is a very, important preventive maintenance (PM) job to be done. Cleaning the condenser unit will keep your A/C unit working efficiently, save you $ on both, your hydro bill and the costs involved in calling out a service repair person, to clean your condenser unit for you when it breaks down. Take the time to do it and vacuum out your pan of debris too, as well as, washing it out. The coils in your unit will work effectively, to the degree they can transfer heat flow to the ambient air.
I was putting down mulch in the garden bed where mine sits and noticed how nasty mine was. It's only two years old! My neighbor has a cotton wood tree that releases massive amounts of these white fuzzy seeds that just float through the air in May-June like it's snowing out. I'm doing this TODAY.
Do you clean your evaporator out inside your unit also
@@terryhill4732 much tougher to clean but yes it needs to be done by a professional. Then after watching him, you can decide if you have the skill needed. The main thing is to use top grade air filters and change out every 3 months. That will go a long way in keeping yur system in good shape.
@@tomblount5635 thanks just never hear many people talking about cleaning the evaporator out when doing the condenser cleaning
Air conditioners are always talked about. I'm assuming I can do this on my heat pump too.
The brush-cap does an excellent job of straightening those bent fins as long as you don’t apply too much pressure. You just start below the bent fin where it’s still straight and slowly move it vertically while applying moderate pressure. Did that on my home and camper. And that can was definitely old. Lol. Great video!
Because of circumstances, I received twelve "clean & check" coupons from my A/C system installer. I trusted that
the seemingly conciencious techs were doing what needed to be done. Watching this, I now have no idea what they
actually went through. I'm not saying they didn't do things fully and correctly, but this video does make me wonder.
I now feel secure in doing this service myself. Thanks.
I’m so glad I stumbled upon you! My A/C is having a really hard time keeping up in this southern Oklahoma 107 temperatures. I’ve put new insulation on the outside pipe, hosed off the fins from the outside but noticed there is a lot of gunk that I suspect needs to be washed out from the inside! Thanks for this video because now I’m going to tackle taking it apart!
Pipe insulation does absolutely nothing to improve efficiency. Its only to protect your sheetrock from condensation. If your suction line is not beer can cold your low on freon.
@@jamiefoster5978 well, there seem to be several issues the least of which was the cottonwood fluff clogging up the coils that the ac people were supposed to clean on May 31. The second I believe is low Freon, the third is im thinking my drain line in the house may be clogged because occasionally over the past few days I’ve gotten a whiff of what smells like a line frozen. I learned today that the rotted pipe insulation had no effect whatsoever but thanks for that information! I called the AC people back since they obviously didn’t do the full summer tune up and got a guy who came out and tore the outside unit apart and cleaned it with some sort of corrosive solution and he washed it all out then came back in and checked the air temp blowing out of the vents and said it was at 60 degrees. With that said it was already 81 in the house at 2:20 when he left and the unit is still running and it’s stayed a steady 79 degrees for the last 4 hours but it’s still 98 at 8:10 pm. If it does this again tomorrow I’ll be calling him to come check the Freon and the drain. If you have any other suggestions please send them my way! The unit is an 7 year old Lennox.
@@nativechata9332 Lennox evaporator coils suck. if your low on freon its 100 percent the evaporator coil. You should have a 10 year parts warranty if you registered it when you bought it. Good luck
@@nativechata9332 MAKE THEM add FREON!!! I live here in Florida, was blowing 63F at the vents. 101F outside and never got below 78 in Condo with constant running. I told the AC guy the vents are usually @ 48 to 54F. He tried arguing about "System Pressure" will determine if it needs Freon or not. I told him that 4 years ago the Tech did not have a enough Freon with him to top it off properly, so he had BETTER add FREON this time. He said the system pressure was not low enough to "really" need Freon added, but he would do it since there was "some" room. It took 22 ounces of FREON and was back to blowing 48F at the Vent when it was 101F outside.
Got the Condo down to 71F in MINUTES after that. :~)
Thanks for adding another task to my honey-do list! Neither one of us had ever thought about doing this.
Great video! I'm so glad that I watched this. We have a service man come by and check everything. BUT, he has never done anything like this. THIS WILL CHANGE!
So far watching a lot of cleaning videos you are the only one that advise people to leave it and let it dry after a few hours. I was cleaning mine and the breaker keeps tripping until I found your video. I'm waiting a few hours for it to dry and flip the switch back on
I don't usually comment on many how to videos but this was excellent! It was an easy step by step process and really liked your honesty about forgetting to wear the safety glasses and covering the cut off box (good work cameraman) as we all do it not that we are not safety aware just that time to time we forget! Thanks for a very informative video!
“Excellent”if your oblivious to the correct way.
@@timothyjerry2455 If this wasn't the right way to clean, it'd be useful to let us know what IS the right way? Or at least what you feel is wrong or missing.
was looking at exposed fuse block too ! checking comments before I posted on it.
What kind of foam spray is that?
Excellent video. Thank you so much!!! I wash and wax the outside of my unit at least once per year, and always cover it before the leaves fall in Autumn, but was always very frustrated that I could never clean it on the inside. Yes, I saw the screws, but didn't dare open the unit! Oh boy, my condenser has a thorough cleaning coming now!!! I'm no longer terrified to open the unit. A million thanks for the great video and great explanation!!!
Been spraying my yearly and built air-conditioning units at Lennox Manifacting for 40 plus years never known about the spraying detergent but look good I'm going use it next time thanks
Very helpful and you looked safe
Good video...my wife is more handy than I am, and I'd normally stay away from anything the least bit " handy", but this was easily explained, followed, and executed! Thanks, Shaun!
Great video topic, most of us know about the drain line maintenance; but this is something local companies charge for and it can easily be done yourself.
On average here in kansas city it around 350 bucks to do the outside condenser and the inside A coil, I have always just used a water hose with rain shower adaptor. This time I was looking to see what chemicals can be used
You are very detailed. I paid someone to clean my A/C unit ($80). I'm not exactly sure what they actually did, if anything. It still had a few leaves and debris in the bottom. I just bought a mesh cover that doesn't restrict air flow so it can stay on all year. I'm not sold to the idea my neighbor does for winter. Completely wraps it with a cover and insulation. I see that as something that will harbor moisture, create mold and the insulation will make a nice home for squirrels or mice.
One suggestion. On the lid of the foaming cleaner is a soft brush intended to gently straighten bent metal fins. This process is a bit delicate but straightforward. I do this to my RV’s air conditioner annually. Thanks for the video.
There is no way to straighten bent fins. You will just bend more and make a mess.
This video popped up in my feed, after watching it i decided to clean our condenser on our AC unit, i couldn't even see the lines running thru the condenser before i cleaned it. After letting the cleaner set, as i was rinsing the condenser off, you could see the dirt coming off of it. After i was finished i can see all the lines thru the condenser, what a difference.
Thanks for the video. Now I am motivated to do mine. It's 6 years old. I only been spraying the coils from the outside.
Kudo to the Camera Man, for the observation regarding the power box. 👍👍
Omg best video explanation of how to clean A/C condenser ever thank you! I’m a 65 yr old female and I am going to do this tomorrow 😊
You can do it!
Time to clean mine!
I was going to call a company to clean it , but it is easy to do thanks to watching you 👍
Don't know when this video was done, but it sure helped me. I know my A/C unit needs to be cleaned, but not quite sure just how to do it. I did buy cans of foam about 2 years ago with intent to clean it....now I 'think' I can do the job. I hope...will probably watch the video again for reassurance though!! Thanx again.
If you have a compressed air source, it's helpful to blow out the loose material before using the liquid cleaner. Could even use a shop vac before the cleaner too.
That makes sense. With all that loose fuzz on the outside, I wondered why he didn’t vacuum it off while it was dry and loose.
Thank you so much for your videos, as a young home buyer fixing up a project house, your videos have been a life saver for me
Excellent video! Very informative. I'm in North Texas and it's the middle of summer, (AKA - NASTY!!). I've been thinking of cleaning mine, but unsure of the steps. Very timely! Your explanations are clear and concise. Thanks again!
One of the best, most informative, thorough videos I've ever watched! Thank you!!!!
I've been doing a lot of home improvement around our house this summer, thanks to a variety of videos on YT. And thanks to your video I'm now confident about cleaning our AC condenser tomorrow. Your presentation is excellent, right to the point, and I've subscribed to your channel. Many thanks !
Awesome vid with attention to basic detail. Narration is very helpful. Super helpful. Very thankful for your service to those of us who are other professions.
As a First Time Home Buyer, your videos have been a big help. Thank you!
I love the way he goes through the process of cleaning and talking at the same time.
I'm glad you revisited the disconnect. I was looking at that at the beginning thinking, yeah, but those wires are still hot - cover it back up. LOL
The foam is probably well worth it. I've cleaned AC units w/out the foam and it was more work.
I've been watching your channel for years. Congrats on this great video. Looks like it did really good. Also you're so close to a million subs. You guys deserve it. Hard work paying off.
Thanks for the video! I didn't know we could do this. One more maintenance thing to add to the list. Nice to know we can do this ourselves.
Just did mine today,couldn’t believe the amount of crap on the coils.Glad I did it this year.I just used a hose on medium pressure .All good.Thanks for all your help.👍
After pulling the fuse link, put the cover back on, or you can become the fuse. The best thing to do is kill the circuit in the service panel, then pull the fuse outside.
Nah just be a man
If only he mentioned that in the video...
Thanks for this very timely video. I cleaned my unit last year for the first time and it made a huge difference. Unless you really like those pretty louvered covers take them off and leave them off for one less thing to remove next year.
Good tips and content as always!! Being a new home owner, this channel definitely helps a ton.
Great to hear!
That is the very first time that I have ever seen a protection bag over the compressor. That is really neat. Thank you for the video!
I use a shop vac with the brush on the fins first, then compressed air to blow out the dust. There is a fin comb available that can correct any bent fins. Good video.
TERRIBLE idea. But enjoy anyway.
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@@Lengsel7 Why do you say that?....terrible
@@cactusladysouth1000 I say it because it's true.
@@Lengsel7 Oh, so you don't really have a reason you're just an arrogant ---------fill in the blanks.
This is my first video from you I'm watching, lots of information I didn't know, and Arizona has monsoon weather 😬 I can't wait to open it up
Good video,
The 1st thing i noticed was the cover npt back before cleaning. Glad you mentioned that for the others that might not have know.
Thank you, this is a great video on how to DIY this. Thanks for going through all the steps from start to finish and not skipping anything on camera.
Straight forward and to the point, I really appreciated this one.
I was searching for an AC cleaning vid. I saw Shannon pop up! I was like, "He's helped me with drywall and stuff! I trust him."
Glad I could help!
Thank you for the very informative video! Clear, concise , and easy to follow! My 32 year old Trane is getting replaced next week. Time for a quieter and more more energy efficient unit. The Trane was a good and faithful soldier! I will definitely use your video on an annual basis for my new unit. Thanks again! Cheers!
Just purchased my first home 3 months ago and i too didn’t know cleaning these was a thing. My unit is old and no telling if it ever this was done. Vegas heat isn’t a joke so I’ll be doing this today just so i know it was done at least once. Great vid💯
Great video Shannon, my current unit is only 2 yrs old but I’ll have look and I now know how to clean it. Cheers
I was a tech for 30+ years and many a/c units I serviced were never cleaned properly. Home owners that neglect maintenance are shortening the life of their units . I would always wet the coils first with water then use the coil cleaner . It always seemed to do a better job of getting deeper into the coils with the foaming action especially if that coil is really hot . Cooling down the coil first with water works best .
Dandelion puff balls and Cottonwood trees are especially bad about clogging those fins, so if you have either in your area, do this yearly Often best in spring and if a visual inspection around the end of the "bloom" for those fuzzy things shows anything blocked you might even do it again just with water to knock out the fuzz. A bit of time will save you on your power bill as the unit will be much more efficient and will extend the life of the unit by a huge amount. Overheating and extended run times wear out the unit much faster.
Are you a dandlion puff?
this is a fantastic easy to follow video...... when my a/c guy comes out to service my system they don't do this...... even when I asked them about it I didn't get a straight answer
now that I know how to remove the top fan/cover I'll be doing this to - thumbs up !
RE: leaving the cleaner on the coil longer
If it's an *_etching_* cleaner, it is _very_ important not to leave it on longer than they recommend. Those cleaners chew away on any oxidation on the coil-and can eat into the coil itself if left on too long.
These are not common coil cleaners, thankfully, but it is something to look out for.
Thank you
You want a jug.. the one that renmoves you fingernails. I seen a guy who dipped his fingers in that stuff more like used a brush with out gloves . Those nails were nasty. Smelled bad.. well thats what he told us.. but on something that could work the automotive cleaners that foam that push loose debris from between coil fins
Ya your right, I used the powerful one that I use on the Air Purifier, allowed 3-5min only then rinsed..
That would be an acid type coil cleaner you are referring to. They shouldn't be used on condensing coils at all. They can actually reduce the coil to fin contact and actually reduce heat transfer.
@@tombarker6298 No. See products like Viper Bright, which are strong alkaline cleaners. They will cause damage if you don't rinse them off in the time specified.
This is a very good how to Clean Air Conditioner Condenser show and we love it!
I'll clean mine this weekend! Thanks for keeping it simple
I picked up a fin straightener for our RV AC unit and it really did the trick. Could certainly be used in this case also.
Where would one get something like that?
Harbor Freight has them. Works good on vehicle radiator fins as well.
@@charleycharley2776 Thanks
Never gave these a second thought until the unit at our station became obstructed by what looked like pollen(?) I'm surprised we don't have PM's scheduled for the whole county. Especially now with supply chain issues. Better to keep it running well now, rather than having to fix it (soon). Helpful tutorial. Even though I'm still booking "My guy" to see what's what, At least I'll know better what to expect when he comes. Thank you.
Depending on the dirt in the fins you can blow out the dust after vacuuming and cleaning the inside with a leaf blower (No air compressor, it can bend the fins). Some of the stuff comes out better when dry.
What would you use to blow with?
@@cactusladysouth1000 leaf blower or a shop vac with blower attachment.
I was wondering why he didn’t use a leaf blower!
Agree on the dry approach (have done myself before wet), but...depending on the size of the top opening (and your blower), tough to get the right angle, or cover complete coil...but still worth a shot
I was wondering why he didnt use the shop-vac from the outside to get the fuzz while it was dry.
Just had a completely new unit installed. I’m going to calendar an annual cleaning based on this video. Great info, great video.
If your doing this regularly especially right from new you can likely just vacuum and rinse it out without the foam every year.
3 years ago I started watching when I was building my house thank you very much I learned a lot about you videos thank you so so so much for make them , 80% of the house that was rebuilt by you videos thank you so much God bless you👍😊
You are so welcome!
I used to use Spray Nine to clean my air cleaner which had metal fins that collected the allergens/dirt etc, and I smoke so instead of spending a fortune on special cleaners for reusable filters in anything I use spray nine which melts smoke off immediately and any grease build up. I think I am going to try it on my sons unit, the AC isn't keeping up on really hot days and I know he has owned it 5 years and never cleaned it. I am sure it would help, since the previous owner most likely didn't clean it ever either. Though they did keep a piece of window screening on top of fan to filter any large debris like leaves from entering the inner part. Great video and you do a fine job teaching. I think taking off the outside panels would be beneficial and easier in the long run.
Good stuff. I'm glad you came back at the end and mentioned the disconnect cover. That could be bad.
We just bought a house with 2 heat pumps, and a friend of mine mentioned maybe I should clean my coils out before our 95-105 degree summer starts. I completely forgot about it while we've been struggling to keep the house cool and paying to have capacitors replaced! I'm going out to get some of this foaming stuff and doing this today!!
So, any updates?
Don't forget the indoor units. Ensure the blower wheels and evaporator coils are clean as well: change filters.
Where can I find the cleaning foam?
@@barrydomin8118 Don't know about cleaning foam product, but my local ACE hardware has a "coil cleaner" in a spray bottle (about 10 bucks) and I have used it for years, it works well. Always follow manufacturers recommendations. Take your time, it takes me about an hour to do mine. Be safe.
@@barrydomin8118 I don't know why everyone wants the foam spray, the proper cleaning solution is a blue liquid that has to be diluted in water and sprayed out of a chem sprayer. Course the average Joe probably wouldn't find it anyway since it is sold only through hvac vendors 😁
I have been doing hvac for 30 years (yup im old). I have never used a chemical on residential coils. It could harm pets and animals. A good hosing and your good to go
A very good video explaining the going-ons to an efficient ac unit. One thing which I would like to emphasise to the would-be DIY cleaner is that to try not to splash water on the electrics and to make really sure that the unit is completely dry before replacing the fuse connector or switching on. Thanks for your instructible video.
I can understand what you’re saying about making sure it’s dry but it gets rained on all the time and the power is still on….
@@OFLHLGZ28
It is true that it rains, but splashing water with a pipe like that may reach the wires inside the electrics compartment. To do that cleaning one normally switches off the electricity to the unit to avoid a short!
How long would you let it dry?
@@Ladyjdiva7 There is no hard-fast rule. If you think that the splashing of water reached the electrics, it is wise to switch on maybe after 12 hours to make sure that the water dries out. If you can direct a fan on the box where there are the electrical connections the splashing will dry out faster.
Thank you, with running our AC 24 hours a day right now, it will go on the to-do list!!
Well done. I try to do mine each spring. Makes a huge difference on the proper heat transfer of Freon with good air circulation across those coils. Good job.
What do you clean yours with?
@@cactusladysouth1000 there are a variety of good coil sprays out there, but even just a thorough water rinsing helps.
Very clear, concise; good video with good view angles, good audio; by far the best I've found yet. Good explanation of removing the top grill and fan unit, taking care with the conduit. Also, had not been aware of the drains in the pan -- thanks, ours were partly blocked from the outside. We got mud splash in the lower few inches that caked on the outside; Simple Green loosened it (it's supposedly pH neutral, so I'm assuming it's OK). I wonder if fuzz/dirt caked around the joints in the shroud are where rust will first show up. Discouraging that the manufacturer doesn't supply a User Guide with cleaning instructions (I looked, failed to find one). Thank you.