Central A/C Condenser Cleaning

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1

Originally Posted By: jallingham
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I had always thought that it was good practice to spray clean the condensing unit fins once a year with a garden hose. I was recently told by someone that it is not a good idea. He claims you can blow the compressor motor, even if you throw the breaker first and then re-energize it when you’re done with the hose.


Does anyone have any information or experience they can share?


John Allingham


Brampton/Mississauga


Ontario

2

Originally Posted By: tallen
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I have never heard of anything like that.


What happens when it rains ?

3

Originally Posted By: Blaine Wiley
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You have air conditioning in your Igloo’s in Canada? icon_lol.gif


I just watched an HVAC guy clean a condensing unit that way yesterday! I guess at least if it blows the compressor he can fix it.

4

Originally Posted By: jallingham
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Sounds like the guy who told me that might have been full of crap.


Hey Blaine, it's a humid 30C ( that's 86F in Americanese) in the Toronto area today ![icon_exclaim.gif](upload://kW92MliyHA8ygoXI0UsgtBSn4ZO.gif)

5

Originally Posted By: Blaine Wiley
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86 is a bit cool isn’t it? icon_lol.gif It’s almost getting like summer weather here,should be around 90 today with 90% humidity and an afternoon thunderboomer. Hopefully it will last till November or December


I guess the Igloo's melted, eh? ![icon_lol.gif](upload://zEgbBCXRskkCTwEux7Bi20ZySza.gif) ![icon_lol.gif](upload://zEgbBCXRskkCTwEux7Bi20ZySza.gif)

6

Originally Posted By: tallen
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96—15% humidity not a cloud in the entire State. Perfect!!, but in a couple of weeks it will be 105+ too dang hot!!


but it's a dry heat ![icon_rolleyes.gif](upload://iqxt7ABYC2TEBomNkCmZARIrQr6.gif)

7

Originally Posted By: jwilliams4
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Absolutely nothing wrong with cleaning the unit in that manner.


Allow the unit to ‘dry out’ for about 30 minutes afterward.


Then let’er rip!!

–
“not just an inspection, but an education”

8

Originally Posted By: jrupert
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Washing the coils is not the issue, getting water into the controls and fan motor is the real issue, as is already stated allow to dry for 30 min or so.