Outdoors coils cleaning: Air conditioners and heat pumps

For energy savings, clean regularly the outdoor coils of your air conditioner (or heat pump).

Steps

Cleaning the outdoor coil of a central air conditioner or air heat pump involves a typical three step job:

1) accessing the inside of the coil;
2) removing the surface dirt from the coil;
3) removing the trapped dirt
(do not forget to shut off the power before beginning the cleaning job).

To access the inside of the coil you should remove the louvers or the grillwork, and lift out the top panel associated with the fan.

Removing the surface dirt

Use a brush (a sufficiently stiff brush) to remove the surface dirt from the coil. Use water to wet the dirt and to make brushing easier and more effective. You may also use a biodegradable outdoor coil cleaner to soften the surface dirt.

Spraying the cleaner

To remove the impregnated-trapped dirt, and to soften it, use an outdoor degradable coil cleaner (spray the cleaner on both sides). And after some minutes, spray cold water from the inside through the outside of the coiler.

Straightening the Coil Fins

The aluminum coil fins are easily bent and can block air flow. If this is the case, use a “fin comb” tool to comb the damaged fins to their original position. You can buy that tool in air conditioning wholesalers.