How To Clean Your AC and Coils Like the Pros Do

How To Clean Your AC and Coils Like the Pros Do | WILL Make Air Blow Colder

Рет қаралды 2,892,523

Жыл бұрын

In this video I show you how to properly clean your air conditioning unit and the condenser coils to get it running at peak efficiency. I go over some items that are incredibly important to pay attention to that are not being widely taught to look out for. By getting your air conditioner cleaned properly it will allow for it to last longer and also get it ready for summer weather so that it does a better job of keeping you cool.
Items In the Video:
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2nd Choice Viper Coil Cleaner: amzn.to/3ZZ8g6h
Klein 2 in 1 5/16 & 3/4 Driver: amzn.to/3TnqKef
Garden Hose Sprayer: amzn.to/3n2b18g
Dewalt Shop Vac: amzn.to/400abaO
Check Out These Videos:
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Blessings,
Adam
How To Home assumes no liability for damage or injury. How To Home highly recommends using proper safety procedures and professionals when needed. Our content is for entertainment purposes only. No information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not How To Home. How To Home will not be held liable for any negligent or accidental damage or injury resulting from equipment, tools, electrical, fire, electronics or any items contained in this video. Attempt projects and repairs at your own risk.

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@HowToHomeDIY Жыл бұрын

I am curious. How long has it been since your AC unit was cleaned?

@moonovermiami9787 Жыл бұрын

Oh, This video was very helpful!! Haven't cleaned it ever... It's 5 yrs old. I didn't even know there was such a thing as a coil cleaner product. Thank You Much!!!

@monkeyfoodgarden Жыл бұрын

Last year. Thank y'all

@kellyr6274 Жыл бұрын

Omg, never knew had to be. My bad 🤦

@RoadKen53 Жыл бұрын

Only once a year unless we have a haboob come through getting everything covered with dust. Here's a good example of a dust storm: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/btyBgNiot9CtZqc.html

@djdonald243 Жыл бұрын

@@moonovermiami9787 Same. We hired a guy to check on status of the AC, and he pointed out how dirty to coils look on the outside and wanted a few hundred dollars to clean it, so here I am.

@Kristy-ok2bp 8 күн бұрын

I'm not someone who posts often on social media at all, and I have never before left a KZfaq comment, but I have to let you know that this video totally fixed my AC unit today! My husband and I are not in a place financially right now to pay someone to fix the AC, and our house has been so hot. With the help of your video, we team-worked it together today, and the problem is totally solved! Air is blowing cold as can be! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

@MAgaSUXX 5 күн бұрын

That is really sweet of you to say that… I have the same problem and so hopefully I will get the same results after I clean mine today🙏

@canamrider07 Күн бұрын

You should be watching many fixit KZfaq videos to help you do things yourself and save money. I do and I really can’t recommend them enough.

@USNveteran Жыл бұрын

My father was in commercial HVAC all his life. He told me to never use those commercial cleaners as they are corrosive and can cause refrigerant leaks in your system. What he told me to use is the heavy duty simple green mixed with water. Been doing it for years now and no leaks but thanks for the tips. FLY NAVY!!!

@doja1307 Жыл бұрын

What is the mixture ratio?

@HowToHomeDIY Жыл бұрын

Yeah I can see that working too. I will say the reason I use the one in the video is because it does not use harsh chemicals, is biodegradable, safe for pets, and according to the company not corrosive to any metals on the condenser. So 100% safe to use and works awesome. Appreciate the Simple green input. Thank you for your service as well!

@AcousticAnalyst Жыл бұрын

@@HowToHomeDIY There's a brand (Refrigeration Technologies) that sells coil cleaner in a concentrated gallon size and claims if there isn't a hose or water supply nearby you don't even need to rinse if diluted 20:1. A business might purchase that much but a spray can of cleaner like you used is perfect for a simple annual cleaning (don't need to store it after use, mix it when needed, or try to remember where you stored it last year). Tip about hardware was so important. In the Navy, most equipment seemed to have triple (or more) the number of mounting screws and one instructor claimed the additional hardware was necessary because new technicians would torque the hardware so tight they'd strip the threads out and the rest would have to hold the lid on. Very informative video and spot on for us DIY'ers!

@USNveteran Жыл бұрын

@@doja1307 It says on the simple green bottle but without looking I'm going to say I think it's 50% simple green 50% water. FLY NAVY!!!

@sundancer3700 Жыл бұрын

Agreed Simple Green does the job and is much cheaper. I have a 2 gallon pump sprayer which I use 3oz SG with hot water, spray and let sit 10 minutes and rinse.

@toddmassey2210 Жыл бұрын

Im an A/C contractor and I approve this video. I might add pay attention to the length of the screws you take out. On some units the screws for the electrical component compartment are longer and if you use them on the coil grates it can puncture the coil.

@David-ry4jq Жыл бұрын

Very cool of you to add this comment. No pun intended.

@ua7pyro591 Жыл бұрын

LMFAO. People really need that common sense reminder.

@toddmassey2210 Жыл бұрын

@@ua7pyro591 unfortunately they do. I have seen new techs do it, so it wouldnt be hard for a home owner

@emiliosernajr.5312 10 ай бұрын

Idk WHY in the world people don't just (professionally) install a gas shock spring to the x2 and instead of using the absolute worst kind of combination being those stupid ass 5/16 sheet metal screws instead of mocking up hinges and cutting screws down to size with locking knylon nuts and the most important on f use non cofj

@lchase7858 10 ай бұрын

I like to take masking tape and tape the screw I remove to the top of the unit in the position I remove it. The tape holds the screw un place and I simply remove the screw and tape when I get ready to reinstall the screw. Two birds with one stone...you don't mix the srews up and you hold them in place.

@archj01 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for creating this video. My 3 year old AC was blowing out warm air. The company I purchased the unit from came to check the unit and told me I needed a new compressor and quoted me 4K to replace it. Kind of strange since the unit was under warranty for parts. After watching your video, I replaced my filter and cleaned all of the coils on the AC. Turned it on and it works fine now. Thank you again. You saved me lots of money.

@elenasunshine 11 ай бұрын

I'd fire that AC company.

@erkl8823 10 ай бұрын

"filter" as in the filter in the house? Or some other filter?

@ElevatedVehicles 10 ай бұрын

What filter?

@Barracuda48082 10 ай бұрын

Smack the tech who tried that. 2x

@ahayseed654 10 ай бұрын

@@erkl8823 If your heat and air come out the same vents, yes, the furnace filter.

@jcwoods2311 Жыл бұрын

To secure the cover/fan assembly I put an A-Frame ladder next to the unit on the wiring conduit side and use rubber tie down bungees to tie it up. Great when working alone.

@riverraisin1 Жыл бұрын

Great tip. I would never leave that unsecured. If I did I 100% guarantee it would fall over and damage the unit or me. Your suggestion is excellent!

@jcwoods2311 Жыл бұрын

@@riverraisin1 I have the scars on my noggin to show a little sense was knocked into me. Just a little. 😳

@TexaSurvival Жыл бұрын

This is gold!

@jcwoods2311 Жыл бұрын

@@TexaSurvival I'll take 2 ounces. Thank you.

@workingman2025 Жыл бұрын

You must have been controlling me with your brain... I thought of the same thing as he was putting that up on the side!! LOL

@jaammuay4323 Жыл бұрын

Good video. One thing when putting screws back, turn counterclockwise first until you hear a click and then go clockwise to tighten them. This way threads will never strip.

@colesnorris Жыл бұрын

100% great tip

@72192cody Жыл бұрын

Computer techs and automation engineers do this all the time! Took me 30 years to learn this simple trick! Made me feel stupid when I first heard it. 😂

@marct9360 Жыл бұрын

This is especially true when replacing self-tapping screws that have been removed from a plastic part.

@dennisgeroux4483 Жыл бұрын

Always have done this and it works perfect for thread alignment of two items. Especially on guns and other delicate screws with fine threads.

@edwardblair4096 Жыл бұрын

Works for almost anything with rigid threads. Sometimes I do it when putting lids on jars, or any time that cross-threading could be an issue.

@RichardsLegendaryGarage Жыл бұрын

Great video, I clean mine myself every few years. One thing I would say differently than you is that you should clean the coils out from the inside regardless of if you have one or two rows of coils. Under normal operation, air is pulled IN through the coils and the air comes OUT of the top of the unit. That means most of your dirt and debris will be on the outside of the coils. If you then spray the coils from the outside, you are just spraying that dirt and debris deeper into the coil fins. If you spray from the inside, you are getting all that junk out.

@rmrieee9748 Жыл бұрын

😊 Proper thinking!!!

@KR-nm6wm Жыл бұрын

EXCELLENT!

@johnnybates7580 Жыл бұрын

Word! Great tip!

@peterl8566 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the great tip

@Brandon-ky5gx 11 ай бұрын

If that was the case then the outside of the coils would never be cleaned. You can see all the dirt and mildew that came off from spraying the outside which cannot be removed from spraying inside alone. I think spraying the inside and outside are equally important. If youre concerned about pushing dirt back into the coils then spray the outside first then the inside last. Simple solution

@douglasthompson9482 Жыл бұрын

This is huge on a/c units. Worth every dime to keep it clean and efficient. Thank you

@ptsteelers Жыл бұрын

Want to take the time to say thanks. I have cleaned my coils for the last two years, but I never thought about them inside due to possibly having two rows. Will check this year (and will clean the inside while I am there as well. Haha... something I should have done anyway). Two big thumbs up, my man!!

@sherylclements2846 Жыл бұрын

Thank you!! I found another video and cleaned the outside coils with some spray cleaner. HOWEVER, had no idea there were possible 2nd set on the inside. I will be re-cleaning it in the next week as soon as I get 2 cans of your recommended cleaner. This will help so much!! I'm sharing this video with all friends. It's 100 degrees today, first of the year, and going to get really hot here in AZ soon. God bless you!!

@robofurious Жыл бұрын

thanks for posting! I clean mine annually, but was always scared of cleaning the inside. Now I will do both!

@140gecko 8 ай бұрын

Wow, so helpful. Just had AC guys here to do check and said I needed condensers cleaned Tried to get me a contract. So looked for a video on how to. Great video. I am a 73 yr. Old lady and I'm going to go out and do it myself. Thanks so much!!!

@stilllovintheoldies Ай бұрын

How did it go? I'm wanting to do mine myself also but have never tried to do anything on the HVAC. I've fixed a lot of things around the house but I'm a little scared on this one.

@prodigalcyclist 9 ай бұрын

Great video. Never knew this was something I should be doing. Amazed at how much dirt/grime was on the coils. So much quieter and more efficient now!

@sonicboompole2774 10 ай бұрын

Summer is here again. After installing central AC 7 years ago the external unit had never been cleaned. Thanks to this video I was confident enough to follow the directions and clean my AC. Today I'll follow up with the shop vac and the drainage line from the inside unit and hopefully be in good shape for the rest of the AC season. Thank you for your great video and expertise!

@johnlincoln7598 10 ай бұрын

Being a caretaker on 3 ranches I'm always on the lookout for ways to do my job better. Just watched this video and one on wire nuts and its been a good learning Sunday. Thanks!

@MattGoodfellow 10 ай бұрын

Huge thanks! Just finished, took almost a blanket off with vac first, then cleaned coils, running VERY well now!

@budgetdapperdork 11 ай бұрын

This was very helpful to me. I have never cleaned AC coils in my life, and this was so easy! I’m definitely going to do this every year now!

@Pkilla80 10 ай бұрын

Great video. Camera work was top notch. I always appreciate someone who does a good thorough job. A+

@jasonfoster9118 Жыл бұрын

I'm an A/C guy and I just grab the hose and wash at a 45 degree angle from the outside a couple times a year. All the books say wash from the inside but, in actual practice, it doesn't work because the velocity of the water through the coil isn't enough to wash out the dirt. I don't use coil cleaner. If you can see through it with a flashlight when you're done, it's good to go. Putting those covers back on the side can be a real pain.

@jbouchard667 Жыл бұрын

Yea I do it the same way. Especially when u have like 4 or 5 maintenances lined up for the day.

@WeWereYoungandCrazy 11 ай бұрын

if the velocity of the water isn't enough to wash from the inside out, then it won't be enough to wash from the outside in. If the water pressure isn't enough to push water through the coils they really must be needing a serious cleaning. You aren't the first HVAC tech to do a half a$$ job and leave. "Every contractor is an incompetent thief" Ron Swanson

@WeWereYoungandCrazy 11 ай бұрын

@@jbouchard667 ..so if business is slow you take the time to do it right?

@jbouchard667 11 ай бұрын

@WeWereYoungandCrazy not necessarily. If the coils are plugged then sure do it from inside out. But if it has a dusting on it then it's not going to make a difference. There's alot of things that are suggested from different manufacturers but in all honesty they are just not practical in the real world.

@jbouchard667 11 ай бұрын

@@WeWereYoungandCrazy are you an hvac technician? Do you hook up your gauges and do testing to see it makes a difference?

@mikejohn0088 Жыл бұрын

Well, another project assigned for this week but with your great instructions I can do it right the first time. Thanks pal!

@DavidGrapesVinyard Жыл бұрын

Iv'e been doing this same technique each season purple stuff cleaner, works great! Thanks for all the help setting up generator to house!

@djcharlesryan Жыл бұрын

As an hvac installer and service tech the evaporator coil which is your air handler inside is incredibly important if that is dirty or you don’t change your filters it could cause it to freeze up and or cause your system to not move the heat in your house as efficiently

@heythere6983 6 ай бұрын

You’re talking about the filters in the house?

@erpinterfaces9631 Ай бұрын

How to clean that?

@krellman7 11 ай бұрын

Great video. I noticed last year my unit worked, but not as good as it once did. I went to Lowe’s and bought a couple cans of A/C Coil Cleaner. I’d did both the inside and outside. Got everything put back together. Powered up the system and I was completely shocked at how big a difference this made. This was not a subtle difference, it was a major difference. Thank you again!

@kenc.9067 9 ай бұрын

I need to do mine now.

@krellman7 9 ай бұрын

@@kenc.9067 Awesome. It was easy and really makes a difference. Good luck!

@robertsimonofsky3959 9 ай бұрын

Very well explained video. You answered all my question thank you

@pabriny 9 ай бұрын

How so? On your bill?

@krellman7 9 ай бұрын

@@pabriny No! Improvement in the respect that the unit is cycling more efficiently and the temperature as it exits the vents ins ide the house is 4 degrees colder than it was before the cleaning. I will know when I get my next electric bill if the efficiency makes a difference in cost.

@bigg7g Жыл бұрын

Very simple and easy to follow instructions. Thank you for posting this video as I live in south Texas and the summers are brutal. I’m gonna knock this out first thing tomorrow morning. Appreciate you bud.

@danodonnell7218 Жыл бұрын

I was going to and then I got high 😅

@rolandogonzalez9134 Жыл бұрын

Best ac clean up video I've seen so far. Never knew about interior double sided coils. 👍

@zombiediarhea Жыл бұрын

People!!! Make sure you pay attention to the screws you take out too. On some models, some of the screws might be a little longer and if you mix them up where they go, you could potentially damage the coil.

@Sw-xd8qt Жыл бұрын

Did that with a window unit...cleaned it all up ,an pssst wrong screw in the wrong whole..Dammit😎

@Northof25A Жыл бұрын

It's amazing. People go to college, become engineers and actually design something as stupid as that

@jonl8445 Жыл бұрын

I get a piece of cardboard and screw them in (by hand)the order/place I take them out. You can draw a rough picture of the unit with emblem to be sure of orientation. You can even label the holes with a very fine point sharpe if you want. I use a magnetic mat for metal screws on my bench, but don't use it outside. Working on computers/laptops it makes a huge difference in screw length as well.

@robbyers7614 Жыл бұрын

@@jonl8445 this may sound silly but really make sense

@LK-bz9sk Жыл бұрын

Thanks for this tip.

@chrisbrodbeck1961 Жыл бұрын

100% fantastic advice, I usually check mine seasonally... Absolutely has to be done, and once it's done you're unit will last for years and years...

@sven_ftw 10 ай бұрын

This was a really helpful video, thank you! I was going to call someone to do this, but now I feel totally comfortable doing it myself.

@hjboots Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video i was wanting to clean mine but was not sure the correct way to do so, your video made me confident in cleaning now.

@ldoyle3rd Жыл бұрын

I did this a couple of years ago and the A/C went from not keeping up in extreme heat to no problem. Could not believe it, will be doing it again this year.

@richierich1169 Жыл бұрын

I have an older unit that’s been living trouble the past couple years. This video is great. I’m going to do this. I did something similar when my unit stopped putting out cold air. We bought this house 2 years ago. When i did the coil clean there was so much dirt and muck in the coils and inside the bottom pan and the drains being totally clogged it took me hours to do. I have rods and screws in my low back. But i did so much bending over to get to the pan to scrape it and dig the 1” gunk from it that I couldn’t stand up straight for a few days. Just a couple weeks ago I found a good deal on a combo pack of garden nozzle sprayers asks one was the long one. I do have a pressure washer but I understand that’s not a good thing to use. But it’s been a year since i cleaned it. I figure it’s about time. Going to do it a bit differently as to not hurt myself again. Thank you for this awesome video. It gave me a better understanding of what as how to do it better. The comments have also helped. Except for the evaporator. I have no clue what that is or where it is.

@kstory5309 9 ай бұрын

3 years since mine was cleaned. Man it was pretty bad, but this video was a life saver! Excellent content. The comment section wasn’t kidding though, that housing is a pain to get back on.

@JandT98086 Жыл бұрын

Hi, I’m fairly handy but I had never thought to try this before… super easy with your great instructions! Thanks so much!

@shannonhill3356 Жыл бұрын

HVAC tech here. 1) your disconnect CAN be bypassed, whether it’s a pull or a breaker, from behind the panel. You may pull or flip the disconnect breaker and still have live 240v - ALWAYS meter to ensure no live current. 2) do not use cleaners, PLEASE. A lot of coils these days are coated specifically with things that cleaners can cause blockages or even leaks (though this generally applies to indoor coil). If you must, choose a cleaner that is NON-CORROSIVE in nature (it will be clearly labeled as such). If it’s bad enough to need anything more, call a professional. 3) really recommend not leaning the top directly on the coil, but, hey…is what it is. 4) professional maintenance is like 150-250 per year, and that’s usually including benefits as well as two maintenances per year (at least in southern US). Get it instead. Non of what was stated here was wrong, it’s all mostly good information, just be careful and if you’re unsure about something just call a tech and save yourself money and a tech a headache.

@dustinboucher2513boucher Жыл бұрын

Hey can I ask you a question my girlfriends parents ac unit is good going or has gone out it was making super loud noises whille running it was loud enough to kinda scare my girlfriend her dad is paraplegic and it's on the side of house with a la m that is no grass but all rocks we are in new Mexico so I don't know what kind of if any seasonal maintenance it gets do you have any ideas what this could be

@shannonhill3356 Жыл бұрын

@@dustinboucher2513boucher I mean unfortunately that’s just not enough maintenance but you could do a few things to help narrow it down for a tech on the phone call - is there air coming out of the vents? Is the outdoor (condenser) fan running? This one is a little tougher, but can you hear the compressor running? Is there ice forming anywhere in or around the condenser, or the copper going into the furnace/air handler (indoor part) after it’s been running for a few minutes? It sounds like a fan (bearing or stuck rotor, possible blade damage) or compressor (pumping down, overheating, internal parts grinding, etc) issue to me, but you’ll definitely need a tech out to diagnose unfortunately. However, knowing 1 or all of those things above may be able to help them give you an answer over the phone, or just more quickly upon arrival. Good luck, wish I lived near you I’d come check it out 🤙🏼

@dustinboucher2513boucher Жыл бұрын

@@shannonhill3356 I was just over there it's on and it's cooling the house but it's making noise that doesn't quit sound right but not as bad as I was led to believe by my girlfriend her told told her that he was quoted as it gonna cost upwards of 9,000 dollars to repair and that seems ridiculous to me those units don't even cost that much to get a new one

@shannonhill3356 Жыл бұрын

@@dustinboucher2513boucher yeah here in FL for a decent 3.5-4t unit is like 7-10k on the low to mid-tier, brand depending. Good luck.

@ReseRain-xq9uo 9 ай бұрын

@@dustinboucher2513boucher oil fan motor shaft/bearings and straighten any bent blades. Ours was screeching overnight suddenly and found calcium deposits had built up from sprinklers on one blade. Just enough of a bend on a blade to misalign blades and cause wear.

@marksin515 10 ай бұрын

Excellent video, full of common sense. I'll be upping my coil cleaning, as I never knew there were cleaning solvents for this point. Or that you should take the top cover off. I always pay attention when I see your videos pop up, as your advice is like having a super handyman in the family, one I can trust to know the stuff I need to know. Thank you for taking time to make these videos!

@fflynnful Жыл бұрын

If you clean the coils and the unit doesn't start up right away, don't panic! Here is why. I cleaned my heat pump coils today, but the unit would not start up right away. I found that the reason for this is the crankcase heater needs to come up to temperature. This takes 5 or 10 minutes for my old Trane XL1400. The reason for the heater is to prevent refrigerant from migrating to the compressor and mixing with the oil there. If that happens, the oil might foam up and leave the compressor, causing eventual compressor failure when the compressor starts up. A small heater acts to prevent this problem. Thanks for the informative video.

@bgroovin1343 Жыл бұрын

I had a musty smell this year so I started doing some searching and found your channel. Cleaned my unit and found the evap was partially covered in mold. All clean now and no smell or other associated issues. Going to do the soft start and capacitor as well. This unit was last "serviced" two years ago. Subscribed!

@kansasfan649 11 ай бұрын

Thank you! The hardest part was securing the top fan housing to keep it stable and avoid damage to the fan blades. I also like trimming away any bushes or branches that would prevent air flow to the condenser (clearance of 24 inches is sometimes called for). I also raked away debris/woodchips, to prevent rainfall from sending wood chips back into the unit. One can was not enough imo. This video provided the know-how and confidence to get the job done, very well done!

@EJBert 10 ай бұрын

Yep same issue here and I have a rather tall unit making the balancing act even more precarious!

@LennyinFlorida Жыл бұрын

Thank you. This gives me the confidence to do that. I've only just sprayed the outside of it with a hose, but that looks relatively easy...

@hootinouts Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing my friend. I wasn't searching for this but it is a reminder for me to get out there and clean mine. It's been years now and I want to make sure I get this done before we get into the thick of the hot soupy summer here in New Jersey.

@georgewyatt2924 Жыл бұрын

Great video. Thank you. I cleaned my AC unit today after 6 years and there wasn't a lot of dirt, but it was time to clean. I suggest wrapping the wire screen with rope or a bungy cord. It makes replacing the lid much easier.

@guybrock837 Жыл бұрын

At certain times during the year, I get alot of cottonwood seeds in the coil, that have to be washed down at an angle from the top downwards to the bottom. It does make alot of difference on how well the unit runs.I have never taken the top off to check for a 2nd set of coils, but I will now.

@JoshKaminoff-cv3ke 11 ай бұрын

Wow what a difference!!! Thanks for the step by step tutorial, worked amazing!!!!

@shanew.williams Жыл бұрын

Thanks for teaching how to do this. I live in a pine forest & after 17 yrs, i can see the buildup of pine needles rising inside, as seen when looking down from above.

@tesladura3085 Жыл бұрын

Excellent tutorial. I just did something very similar to my own condenser unit this past summer. Made a huge difference. And it's not tough to do at all! Excellent habit to practice at least every two or three years, or more often in dustier environments. Well done!

@irisbaez1972 10 ай бұрын

@@repentandbelieveinJesusChrist1 WHAT THE HELL HAS TO DO JESUS WITH THIS MATTER? I WILL TELL YOU SOME THING: JESUS DOESN'T LOVE PRIDE PEOPLE.

@ThatsWSSaid 9 ай бұрын

What is the average temperature in the summer for you? I am considering giving this a shot. Im in texas, we are consistently triple digits. Did you notice a difference pretty quickly?

@tesladura3085 9 ай бұрын

@@ThatsWSSaid If you're asking me, I live in SoCal and we get triple digits, but not as often as you would. But yes, I noticed an improvement in cooling. I also ditched the more restrictive intake filters for the lightweight Flander's easy flos, which I swap out monthly.

@karenrogers3649 9 ай бұрын

Great information thanks so very much. Very useful.

@chamber5124 9 ай бұрын

@@repentandbelieveinJesusChrist1That's not going to help your ac unit. However, listening and watching this video just might.

@scottjohnson5449 Жыл бұрын

1 thing you forgot to show, like i do on mine is to spray between the unit and the cement slab you would be surprised what comes out from underneath. that will also help keep the drain holes open.

@lindajohns2010 10 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! This is one of the most helpful, practical DIY videos I have ever seen!

@ajsibley6859 8 ай бұрын

WOW. This is so much more comprehensive and informative than the other videos I’ve watched/AC technicians have explained. Thank you!

@maitai4476 9 ай бұрын

Thanks for this video! I’m new to owning A/C so had no idea this was necessary. Just followed your simple steps and everything is working fine.

@Niveous23 Жыл бұрын

Okay, why not. HVAC tech here. Some good points. There's nothing wrong with cleaning outside in AND inside out. You wanna let that cleaner sit on your coils for at least a few minutes. You don't HAVE to remove the entire top like this man does. You could just remove the fan motor, easier to rest on the unit. If you feel comfortable unplugging the condenser fan wires, you could do that to set the entire top on the grass beside the unit. Your fan blades can get caked over time, a brillo pad or something similar isn't a bad idea. It's better to shop vac the inside of your unit if it has a lot of leaf litter built up instead of bending over to grab it out by hand. It goes without saying to avoid wetting the control panel and the disconnect plug. It takes very little effort to hook up a shop vacuum to the outlet of your drain line (If you know where that is). And make sure it's set to wet vac. And lastly, even water is better than nothing. If you're tight on funds and time I highly recommend just using water. Make sure to AVOID high jet settings on your hose to avoid bending your coil fins. Don't spray at an angle for the same reasons. And that's some very basic cleaning tips.

@richierich1169 Жыл бұрын

The evap? They mention it in other comments. I haven’t the slightest idea what it is or where. I have an older unit

@Niveous23 Жыл бұрын

@@richierich1169 I never used that phrase in this comment. But it stands for evaporator. There are four basic components to ALL HVAC units. Compressor, condenser, metering device, and evaporator. The evaporator is the coil that gets super cold, and has normal air blow across. It picks up that cold, and you receive cold air from your vents. It CAN get dirty. But it's less likely to. The video above is the condenser coils, they get dirty way more often. We do clean evaporator coils, but it's more rare. Hope that helps.

@heythere6983 6 ай бұрын

Do these units get mold sometimes? If so how’s the best way to clean that ? Or is it somewhat impossible to fully eradicate the mold at that point?

@Niveous23 6 ай бұрын

@@heythere6983 Sure. It happens the same way mold can grow on literally anything. Spores, moisture, and little to no sunlight. Mold is a lot less likely to grow on your coils, but I'v seen it grow on the outside casing 100s of times. Saying that outloud....I'v done this way too often. lol Coil cleaner and a water rinse would do the trick, even the weaker coil cleaners are strong enough to get rid of mold. Mold can also appear inside your drain pan/drain line. Pouring cleaner, and hot water....OR just bleach some hot water should do the trick there. Rememeber the bleach is NOT to be used on coils, only drain pans and drain lines. Period. If you're concerned with mold growing INSIDE your air vents/ducts....there is a method for that too. I recommend renting a fogger, hooking it up with some mold-kill, and aiming it at your RETURN vent(s). Let it run for half a day to a full day. Do not stay in that house. The next day you should be fine. But you may want to wait another day to be on the safe side. Regular cleanings prevent this from happening again. Just fyi.

@youdontknowme2915 11 ай бұрын

This video gave me the confidence to clean my 2 units… It was very helpful and I am glad to hopefully lower my electric bill, even if only so slightly!!!! Thanks tons!!!

@LamontGlass Жыл бұрын

Thank you for a great educational Video. Nice job on the editing and the script. Very professional and easy to listen.

@kathleendavis2008 Жыл бұрын

I love your videos. My first husband use to take care of stuff like this. My second husband isn't able to. Glad to have someone like u around with ur clear instructions to help this lady out!!!💖

@guymann4016 Жыл бұрын

Maybe give a third husband a go..

@t3chm8 Жыл бұрын

@@guymann4016 🤣

@farklestaxbaum4945 10 ай бұрын

So I did this yesterday, one thing to keep in mind is the top of my AC unit came off easily enough but it was a NIGHTMARE to get it back on. Honestly 80% of the time I spent on this job was getting the sides lined up properly to fit under the top piece. This was on a 2.5ton Trane unit. Just a tip for anyone with a similar model. Also cleaning it did nothing but my coils weren't that dirty to start with.

@PlymouthVT 10 ай бұрын

Yup same here its a real pain after I remove the top it just gets all unsprung then.,

@martinlicht1969 5 күн бұрын

Agree, most problematic part of this is getting top back on, all holes lined up, and hope it all fits and screws don't strip. He made that look so easy but can be difficult for a novice.

@wheelerking8380 4 күн бұрын

what else would you like to complain about and get off your chest? Go ahead, I'm waiting

@farklestaxbaum4945 4 күн бұрын

@@wheelerking8380 take your Alzheimer's medication boomer

@otiswinters3674 10 ай бұрын

Much easier job than I thought! Thanks for sharing your excellent advice and video too!

@brendab8681 11 ай бұрын

Thank you for the awesome video. The last time I had my A/C unit serviced (added freon) my service tech said that I need to be saving for a new unit. My A/C unit was very loud when running. I just did your cleaning inside and out. Much more quieter in running. My A/C unit is 22 years old. Hopefully I can have more years out of it.

@daves8510 Жыл бұрын

I do this every year just before the cooling season begins. I used to use the canned foaming spray like you but moved up to a professional HVAC coil cleaner sold in a gallon bottle. I simply put it in a yard sprayer and pressurize it with the pump. But most importantly, I also take the time to clean the evaporator inside the furnace. That makes a HUGE difference! I did a before & after with a digital oven thermometer and the air temp at the vents went from 59 to 53 degrees. Wow! Worked so well I removed the grill from my car and did those coils to. Air temp in the car, 37!

@Hclann1 Жыл бұрын

Link to the cleaner you use please.

@thinking6307 Жыл бұрын

Right, Dave. Cleaning the inside evporator coil is just as important...even though it requires a good deal more prep and cleanup. And don't forget some clorox in the condensate drain line periodically.

@richierich1169 Жыл бұрын

I have an older unit that’s been giving me trouble the past couple years. Had someone come out and said it sounded like the compressor going out. But yet got it going and it’s still going. Can you give me more insight on the evaporator? I have no clue what that is or where exactly it is. Thank you.

@pjackson8322 Жыл бұрын

Depending on which color cleaner you use, dilute the purple cleaner to at least 50/50 if not more. And rinse twice after washing off the coil. Purple cleaner is great but very strong by itself and WILL cause leaks if not rinsed 100%.

@TheAvada32002 Жыл бұрын

What the best way to clean the ones in the furnace? I looked and mine are really dirty? Do I have to take it out and bring outside and do the same thing like the outside?

@thomassloat7936 11 ай бұрын

Thanks, Dude! I just spent $9 on a can of A/C cleaner and did what a professional wanted to charge me $165 to do. Your video just saved me $156!

@wheelerking8380 4 күн бұрын

how bout you put your money where your mouth is and send 'How to Homev $50-75 bucks and show us all how thankful you really are

@kentroutt3313 Жыл бұрын

Easy-going easy to use & always use self protection from any cleaner that is used for any type of task/job etc. Thanx for the information & video & THANK YOU NAVY FOR YOUR SERVICE. SEMPER FI, MY DAD WAS A MARINE 👍

@johnciallelli8562 Жыл бұрын

Great video! My AC unit is only 2 years old and I will be cleaning my system this week.

@TxHiTech Жыл бұрын

I clean my coils every spring but never knew there was a cleaning spray. Thank you for this!

@gueroburban4989 10 ай бұрын

Do I have to use a cleaner or just can rinse it out? Do you know if this is the reason my ac blows kinda warm? I have never cleaned it

@daweb812 Жыл бұрын

Great Information! I generally clean the coils on my units every spring. Never thought about removing the top and definitely will do now. I do pull the fan and lube the motor yearly with a drips of machine oil.

@HowToHomeDIY Жыл бұрын

Really glad to hear you liked it and are staying on top of that maintenance. Thanks a lot for the feedback Dave!

@robtaylor-mm8mg 10 ай бұрын

Awesome video, I had searched a video to explain why my A/C isn't blowing cold and I think your video may have solved my problem.

@DGTubbs Жыл бұрын

8:55 Yeah it is! It's satisfying just watching you rinse your coils. Can't wait to do mine! 😁

@dekdawg21 Жыл бұрын

This is awesome, just got central air last summer and this is good to know how to do.

@HowToHomeDIY Жыл бұрын

Oh awesome! Really glad you liked it and the timing seems good. Thanks a lot for the feedback Glenn!

@lagrock Жыл бұрын

Great video. Clear instructions either reasons why / why not. You're a pretty good teacher!

@HowToHomeDIY Жыл бұрын

Really glad to hear you liked it. Thanks a lot for the kind words!

@dsbennett 10 ай бұрын

Thanks for this video. In our last house, I had a very good techician service our unit every fall, but he never cleaned the outside unit. We are in a new home now. I'll be cleaning my unit every year.

@michelleblackwood7720 Жыл бұрын

Thank you this is the best video ive found esp showing the drainage holes. Bet Ive found the cause of my problems.

@anz388 11 ай бұрын

First of all this is a great video. And secondly, the comments here are so helpful, almost every comment is adding more value and insight into the subject at hand. Wow, what a community 👏👏👏

@chetmarcotti4953 Жыл бұрын

Awesome, just awesome. I cleaned must indoor ac unit, and it make a huge difference in the cooling. I found that after a few seasons of using this indoor unit that it was almost plugged up with dog fur and household dust. AC units are like air cleaners, so they suck up a lot of dust too. Thank you for your very in depth cleaning procedure. I am an engineer so I really appreciated your covering the safety aspects of you procedures. Chet

@davereeves1967 Жыл бұрын

You might want to look into a better filter for your air handler or identify if there are spaces in the filter rack where air can bypass it and fill them. Two years to clog a coil is a bit quick.

@g0merkyle Жыл бұрын

@davereeves1967 not when homeowners yank the filter out because "it was clogged, so I tossed it and now my AC works much better now!" (⁠@⁠_⁠@⁠)

@toddmassey2210 Жыл бұрын

@@davereeves1967 I was going to recommend the same thing. I used the 4 inch space guard filter on a unit I installed in my house almost 20 yrs ago. When I changed the system out last year the coil had almost nothing on it after those 20 years. Never buy the cheap filters with the strands. Always buy a pleated filter even if its the cheapest one they make

@mikeglasgow9618 Жыл бұрын

It does matter how you spray your foaming cleaners . ... You should always spray from the bottom up. The reason being is that if you start at the top, some the foaming action which is already taking place will block the cleaner from penetrating the coil. If you start from the bottom. You always have uninterrupted surface for the cleaners. JMO... RETIRED HVAC/R TECH WITH 35 YEARS EXPERIENCE HERE.

@bjbhehir Жыл бұрын

Just curious how much do HVAC charge to do this?

@mikeglasgow9618 Жыл бұрын

@@bjbhehir I'm retired now. Have been for a few years. I didn't work Residencial for many years But. When I did. It was around 75...100 dollars plus 59 dollars for the service call. Many companies have thing called service plans where the come to your home 2 times a year. In the fall for a furnace check and in the spring for an a/ C check. These plans are usually about 200,,,,,, to 250 a year.

@GeneralAlex4 5 күн бұрын

Who the hell uses a can? we buy gallons and mix it thru the sprayer and garden hose.

@USNveteran Жыл бұрын

For all those concerned about corrosive effects of simple green. I have been using it for approximately 25 years now with no problems. I mix it to the strength on the website and I also don't let it sit on there for no longer than about 5 minutes and then rinse thoroughly with clean water. If you don't want to use simple green use a liquid dish soap, but my air conditioners are close to trees and I need something to help get the tree sap off and for me simple green works better than dish soap. FLY NAVY!!!

@beepbop6697 9 ай бұрын

Simple Green is corrosive to aluminum (which is what the fins are made out of). Don't be cheap and instead use the proper cleaner for the job -- otherwise your "cheap" solution may cost you thousands to replace corroded coils.

@zacinnc78 28 күн бұрын

you forgot to say FLY NAVY!!!

@williamkacensky4796 Жыл бұрын

Great advice and demo. This needs to be done yearly in a dusty location like Nevada.

@HowToHomeDIY Жыл бұрын

It absolutely does. And really yearly should be the goal no matter where you are. Appreciate the feedback William!

@williamkacensky4796 Жыл бұрын

@How To Home You didn't mention the name of the coil cleaner, so I did a screenshot and noticed Web for the name brand. I picked up a can at Lowe's here in Las Vegas. $7.95. Will clean mine tomorrow. Thanks for the reply back. I appreciate your videos.

@louisbrown4620 Жыл бұрын

Thanks. Watched this when I first woke up this morning and the A/C looks great now. I needed to do this badly and I knew it, but was unsure and uncomfortable about the process. I felt extremely confident after watching the video. I’m going to go and do my parents in a few days and I’ll be getting compliments from the wife. This was all to you. Thanks and God Bless.

@pritikinaa Жыл бұрын

Awesome! Thanks for this. It's much easier than I thought it would be.

@billyhighfill 11 ай бұрын

Thank you sir. I have literally learned SOOOOO MUCH from watching KZfaq videos such as yours. I am literally a handyman now, BECAUSE OF KZfaq!!! 💪💪💪💪🤜🤛🤟🏿🤟🏿🤟🏿.

@77devera Жыл бұрын

Very informative and straight to the point video! I can't wait to do this to my rental properties and primary home!

@HowToHomeDIY Жыл бұрын

It makes a huge difference! Thanks a lot for the feedback. I really appreciate it!

@roostershooter76 Жыл бұрын

If you have animals around, and don't want them drinking the runoff water from the Fin Cleaner, you can use a spray bottle found at most hardware stores and fill with warm water with just a teaspoon of Dawn dish soap. That will do the same thing as the fin cleaner. Also, add the soap AFTER filling the spray bottle, so that it doesn't foam up on you in the bottle. You want it to foam up on the fins and not in the bottle.

@elenasunshine 11 ай бұрын

Not sure how this video ended up on my feed but it's very useful information! Thank you!!

@Potatodude223 Жыл бұрын

I'm so glad I subscribed to you. you're the first video i found that spoke into this subject.

@neutrodyne Жыл бұрын

If you have an older unit you may want to check the fan motor and see if it has 2 oil holes with plugs in them to oil the motor. if it does I would remove those plugs and put a few drops of 20-weight non-detergent oil in them and then put the plugs back in it.

@sonitx Жыл бұрын

Having cleaned tens of thousands of coils over the past 20 years, this is an outstanding video. I would add.......while the top is open, try to split the coils apart a bit and use your hose to rinse straight down between the coils. That will clean the face area of the inside coil. If there is cottonwood seed or any other vegetation that has made it between the coil, use a thin round brush on a wire to pull it out from the top before putting any water to it.

@HowToHomeDIY Жыл бұрын

I really appreciate the feedback and added input from all of your experience! Thank you!

@Encore-Entertainment Жыл бұрын

On Average what do service professionals like yourself who have cleaned tens of thousands of coils over the years typically charge homeowners for this service? Wondering what it will cost me to hire someone to do this for me versus doing it myself. What is a fair price to pay for a coil cleaning service not that I don’t like getting my hands dirty but I’m a pretty busy guy I’m not sure it would be the best use of my time. I appreciate any and all feedback from anyone including yourself.

@tonyshelton3744 Жыл бұрын

@@Encore-Entertainment We only did commercial work. I am retired. Don’t know how much it runs today.

@jeanm2202 Жыл бұрын

@@Encore-Entertainment $125.

@mike-ix6iy 9 ай бұрын

Good advice; not everyone can do what you did even though; to a mechanical person its straight forward stuff. I fixed my a/c with one of your videos, so thank you very much.

@brucecann1591 Жыл бұрын

Great video. Cleaned mine this last weekend. Thanks

@USSTOLEDOSSN769 Жыл бұрын

I just cleaned my central A/C unit earlier today. So glad I watched your video yesterday. I didn't even know about coil cleaner, nor did I realize the importance of cleaning from the inside. Since my unit appeared to have not been cleaned in over 20 years, so I used my old ShopVac to remove the caked-on debris. I probably should've got down in there with a wire brush, but keeping the top from falling down on my head proved quite a challenge! Then I sprayed the coils, waited 15 minutes, rinsed, then repeated. Then I had a problem. All the drains were clogged. I found the drains by removing the access panel for the compressor compartment. I must've sprayed the bottom of the compartment with 50 gallons of water until there wasn't even a speck of dirt! Tomorrow's the big day! I'm going to test run the A/C.

@USSTOLEDOSSN769 Жыл бұрын

Here are the results of yesterday's A/C test: ran the unit for almost an hour at 67 degrees, couldn't break 68 degrees. Not bad for an A/C unit that's about 33 years old. Besides, for the five years I've owned this house, I've kept the thermostat between 73 and 77 degrees. I figured that by going easy on the old machine (Amana SRCF24-60), I can make it last another 10 or 15 years.

@GeoffreyB203 Жыл бұрын

You won't get another 15 years

@jeffasmi11 3 ай бұрын

Go for 15 more! The only downside to older units is "maybe" not as energy efficient as newer units.

@carnivalgods4573 Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Great instruction and video. Just cleaned our condenser. The bottom of unit was Mississippi mud cat dirty. If this helps reduce the cycling and duration frequency just a little it's well worth it. I'd be curious to know roughly what percent of homeowners actually do this.

@scottyg3557 5 күн бұрын

Thanks for the great advice. I bought the purafilter coil cleaner from Lowes. It is so easy to do it yourself. The only thing I would recommend is to wear a mask or cover your nose. The spray is rough. Definitely wear gloves & safety goggles. My coils look great and clean. I'm glad I did it. I found a dead wasp nest near the electrical outlet and inside. Got rid of them and sprayed away everything else. Looks brand new. I saved myself about $90 from my HVAC guy. I will do this way from now on. Thanks

@Wirenutby Жыл бұрын

Great video. I looked thru the comments if there was any request or reply for cleaning mini-splits that are now flooding the market. Besides the evaporator coils of those mini-splits, now you have to be concerned with cleaning those condensate tubes that can block up over time.

@justinrichardson3864 Жыл бұрын

We noticed our AC was louder than usual this spring, so I used this approach over the weekend, and now it is quiet and also no longer makes the house lights flicker when it starts up. Luckily, the previous owners installed one of those insulating/sound proofing covers, so I didn't have to worry about that step.

@HowToHomeDIY Жыл бұрын

Awesome! Glad to hear it’s working better. Thanks a lot for the feedback Justin!

@mikeiver Жыл бұрын

I clean ours 2-3 times per season. We have cottonwoods here and they can cover the coils fast at the peak of the season. Due to the construction of our unit, a weatherking, the coils are behind luvors and are harder to clean. I use high energy magnets to hold door screen over them and keep the coils clean and free od debris. This is the second season with the new unit so it is spotless still.

@RyanM-ke2gu Жыл бұрын

Great idea w the screen! Cottonwoods here also and they really make a mess. Thanks!

@watsonmichaelhsfacilities-294 14 күн бұрын

Can’t believe how easy that was. Thank you SOOO MUCH!!!!

@Photog455 2 ай бұрын

Nicely done video. I've never cleaned mine and it shows but will this Spring. Thanks.

@nicktognella3085 Жыл бұрын

Good video. Also recommend replacement of any rusted screws while you do your maintenance.

@JG-ld5pe Жыл бұрын

On a single row , i would agree but on a double row your pushing the dirt from the inner coil back of the outer and visa versa. They need to be spilt and washed between the two.Its a delicate operation however. Doesnt matter how shiny the tubes are, they are designed for air to flow thru and take away the heat. Condensor cleaner is designed to be sprayed between the fins and then foam to push the debris back out of the fins. If it foams before its a waste.

@aidanlamborne Жыл бұрын

I work for a commercial HVAC contractor. This video is absolutely facts.

@ZoomILike2flyAway 10 ай бұрын

I only wished I’d seen this video prior to having to run the ac system in all this heat. Thank you for sharing.

@michaelcinaz Жыл бұрын

Good video! 👍 I thoroughly clean my A/C myself every 2-3 years. Once a year My HVAC people do prop up the fan and hose it from the inside out for five minutes during the AC tuneup. When I do it, I use the exact same method that you use, even the same exact coil cleaner. To make sure the drainage holes are clear, I insert a small screwdriver and push through. After the cleaning is done I like to vacuum up any standing water in or around the unit. I also put a coat of wax on top to prevent paint fading. I’ll be cleaning mine again within the next two weeks. Temperatures are rising again. 🥵

@DGTubbs Жыл бұрын

By far some of the most useful tips and videos I have watched. Please keep this stuff coming!

@HowToHomeDIY Жыл бұрын

Absolutely Will! Really glad to hear you liked it. Thanks a lot for the feedback!