Frozen Air Conditioner

How I Cleaned My Evaporator Coils
Let me reiterate my statement at the beginning of the video. Cleaning the evaporator coils on an AC system is not for the faint of heart, or for the accident prone. If you ding up some of the metal fins on the coils (as I kinda did) that’s not a big deal - unless you ding ALL of them really bad as too many mangled coil fins will restrict the air flow. However, if you puncture a refrigerant line, you will lose the refrigerant in the system and need and HVAC tech, incurring more expense.
Go slow and pay attention to the refrigerant lines!!!
There are two main reasons why an AC system will freeze over like this.
One is restricted air movement caused by the air filter and/or coils can be so dirty that it is restricting air flow. The other is that the AC system is low on coolant. First try changing the air filter. Once you are confident that the air filter is not the problem, the next probable cause is dirty coils. This could be either or both the coils at the condenser outside the house, or the evaporator coil inside the HVAC unit inside the house. Dirty coils at either or both locations means that warm air is not flowing properly over the refrigerant lines inside the coils. Without warm air giving off heat to the coils, the coils will drop below 32 degree F and condensation will freeze on the lines. Over time, then entire system has ice on it. The AC system will basically freeze itself.
In my particular case, the AC system froze over because of a dirty air filter and a dirty evaporator coil.
So I turned off the AC system and just ran the whole house fan and after about an hour the coil had thawed out completely. While that was thawing out I hosed out the coils on the condenser outside. These were just cleaned a year ago by an HVAC tech using commercial grade coil cleaner, so this time I just hosed down the coils, then sprayed a fair amount of Simple Greene on the coils to help loosen up the dirt before I gave them a final rinse. Using a commercial grade coil cleaner too often will erode the finish on the coils and eventually necessitate replacement sooner than would have been necessary otherwise.
If I had the proper tools and refrigerant on hand, I could have removed the refrigerant lines from the evaporator coil and then removed the coil from the HVAC unit. This would have made cleaning the evaporator a lot easier and more thorough. However, that’s … not me, so I had to remove a triangular metal plate in order to get to the underside of the evaporator coil. This was difficult to do because the refrigerant lines were in the way of removing that metal plate easily. So I tried to cut the sheet metal in half with a pair of right-angle tin snips, so that I could remove it in two pieces. However, I couldn’t reach all the way across and I ended up having to shimmy out the sheet metal. I did this by gently lifting the evaporator coil up an inch or two (it is not bolted down), but not much as I did not want to put too much stress on the refrigerant lines. Then I was able to tip the triangular metal piece into the A frame of the evaporator coil. Then, again while lifting the coil up an inch or two, I was able to remove the sheet metal given the available clearance.
The evaporator coil was so dirty it was like a quarter inch thick layer of really nasty, dryer lint - yuck! Below the A frame on my unit is the heat manifold and I didn’t want to knock all that dirt off and down into the system, so I carefully vacuumed it off by lightly tapping the vacuum duster and allowing the vacuum to do the rest of the work pulling the dirty lint off the coils. I probably could have stopped with that, but to do a thorough job there was still more cleaning to do.
I bought some no rinse evaporator coil cleaner and I sprayed on a heavy layer of that onto the top and bottom side of the evaporator coil. I let that soak in for a while to give it time to eat into the dust inside the coil fins. Even though this is a no rinse cleaner, I used a spray bottle of plain water to expedite the rinsing. I also poured some water into the collection tray to flush the dirt out and down to the drain.
Once the coils were all cleaned up, it was time to put this metal plate back in. I struggled to get that triangular metal sheet back into place and it was only after the job was done and I’m watching myself on video put it back in that I realized - I’m a dummy. Regardless if there was an easier way to remove it, at that point being that it was already removed, I could have finished cutting it in half and made the job of putting it back in a lot easier as two pieces. Duh!
Once the metal plate was screwed back in place I sealed up that cut I made with some aluminum tape.
Then I put everything back together and my house is cool again.
Thanks for watching!
Please take a moment to like, comment, and subscribe!
You have a great day now!

[@wk6927]

Thank you for sharing a great video with the DIY home owners. I would suggest instead of using the original thin foil, consider using clear acrylic sheets that are sold in Home Depot. They are about $5 to 10 per sheet and it does not impact the thermal performance or coil specifications, and next time using a flash light, you can inspect the condition of the lower side of the coil and see if it needs further cleaning. You can easily cut them to any size and shape and they are relatively flexible. One note to your audience. If you have such a dirty coil underside, there has been a significant filter replacement negligence, or you have a major opening that sucks in the air from other places into the coil and the filter functionality is compromised. The only way underside a filter will be so dirty is when no filter was used for several years.

[@dogwoodtales]

Warren Wwk the acrylic is a great idea! I’m surprised I didn’t think of it myself. As to the crud, in my case I had an electrostatic air filter, I do woodworking, had lots of kids in the house, and a dog. My life was too much for the electrostatic filter to keep up even though I cleaned it religiously every month. No issues since I switched to pleated filters and changing them every 1-3 months depending on soil level.

[@juliobaqueiro]

Dogwood Tales bj mmmm

[@tomgreene7942]

Perhaps, but I suspect my coil is clogged because the insulation that was attached to the wall of the inside of the heater, just in front of the fan opening is suspiciously missing. The muck in the coil is similar color as the insulation on the other side of the heater wall.

[@АнастасияБежевая]

Purchased: August 2023 - still works GREAT!I kzbin.infoUgkxxsUnXhGsSJLim_XnMHyQK0u3XVaW-CGn live in a studio and during the summer it gets scorching hot - really old building with no ac units. I can’t express how EASY it was to install. This unit has been a life savior during the summer and some days during other seasons where it can still be a bit warm at night. In this small place is my friend, a husky, poodle mix and myself. We need AC - lolI don’t use the dehumidifier option - I’m not sure if it will leak in my house, since I did not install the small draining hose that came with it. May look into it late but I don’t worry about much humidity in the apartment. I don’t understand why the negative reviews since all things mentioned, I personally did not find issues with. Definitely worth it!

[@Tommy_boy007]

I'm a commercial HVAC technician. You did this perfect. Nice work. I was expecting a hack job.

[@richardwoeckener7936]

Im suprised you say that!! This is a hack vid... it was totally incomplete and could be dangerous to amatuers! Do it the right way or dont do it... if there is no other issue creating this freezing issue.. remove coil completely..take out side and clean then rinse ..clean drain pan on coil.. re install coil,drains ...pressure test..deep vacuum..release refrigerant.. check super heat/ sub cooling and top off if needed.. this should not be done by amatuers..its just a quick band aid !! This is for people that are frugal.. and hope somone doesnt get hurt!!

[@michaelcastillo3231]

Don’t b mad he made a portion of your job look easy. He trouble shot the situation, and saved himself some steps.

[@richardwoeckener7936]

@@michaelcastillo3231 wow!! You dont get it!! Are you ass uming.. i dont do residential hvacr... i dont go in attics or basements.. your comment is narrow and shallow thinking

[@da324]

@@richardwoeckener7936 My attic is 150° here in Fl. What do you suggest for those of us who have their evap in an attic I mean, since you don't go in them and all, what should the DIY guy do?

[@sufc84]

@@richardwoeckener7936 don't talk shit.

[@lcainformatica745]

*Great product **Fastly.Cool** so far*

[@mauriciovalle-torres5674]

Thanks for your time. I have been looking for some insight on why I am freezing over. Man don’t know how this half a century man made it without KZbin and people like you sharing. Thanks again

[@BatmanYZFr1]

I only wish my refrigerator and freezer made ice as resilient as my A/C coils. My drinks would stay cold forever. Great vid, helped bunches and saved me $$$$.

[@curtisbundy4874]

Thanks for getting to the point and not telling you whole history.

[@danielyarosetodd4104]

Have a frozen AC and watched your video. My AC looks exactly like yours and in the same condition yours was in. Now I can see what I need to do!

[@MyWITI]

How did it go?

[@stevee7774]

She ruptured a line jerking the coil around, blowing pressurized refrigerant into her eyes. Now blinded, she cannot see your comment and is unable to reply.

[@xMariaAngelx]

Wow you are the only one who gave simple directions so well even a housewife could do it! Easy as pie did it! Thanks!

[@ML87SC8807]

this is the first video that I think properly shows how to fix a dirty coil I will be doing this tomorrow with mine, thanks!

[@traceybass327]

Thank you God for You tube videos on cleaning evaporator coils! I watched your video and not really wanting to do it, I called a heat and air company to clean it for me. Well he charged me a $75 service call and told me to open my windows bc it was going to be another$150 for labor plus $90 per pound of freon. But he couldn't tell me how many pounds approximately It needed. Im not stupid! It has never been cleaned and I have 3dogs and a cat, so I knew it was dirty. So I bought coil cleaner and took it apart as you described in your video! Within 2 hours it went from 84 degrees down to a comfortable 73! THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!

[@richardwoeckener7936]

I guess your being frugal.. your tech is correct to charge what he needed ...they are pro's like doctor's or lawyer's...the tech was planning on total removal of the coil for a deep down cleaning as it should... what you did was to get it to work (minimum)(band aid) .. also he could detect other under lying issues that you dont know about or understand..And if you break any refrigeration lines you will be going to the hospital!! Not smart.. plus your tech will give you a work warranty!! You have no warranty!! The only thing going through your mind is that you saved a couple of bucks...not realizing how dangerous this could have been by simply making one mistake...

[@nothankyou5524]

You may have gotten the coil cleaner than it was, but odds are, it's not as completely clean as it should be. Will you shorten the life of the compressor somewhat, or cause your electric costs to be somewhat higher than need be? More likely yes than no.

[@dereckc9469]

@@richardwoeckener7936 nice sales pitch!

[@uhavemooface]

Makes our job yesterday look like child's play. We have a window air conditioner that works so much better after two years of having it. We finally cleaned it out and we had to use blankets last night. First time waking up not sweaty.

[@paulthomas7802]

thank you for the video my coil was so dirty I first thought it was a felt cover I peeled it off and cleaned it and no more frezzing up thanks again

[@dogwoodtales]

that's how mine was as well I can't believe I was breathing the air going through that!

[@JUST1CE22]

GREAT video! My AC coils froze over, but it was actually because the fan inside the AC unit was not spinning (bad capacitor), so there was no air movement through the coils, causing them to freeze. Just another thing to check for while troubleshooting. Thanks again!

[@dogwoodtales]

WIL W yup, that’ll do it too

[@deltadawn8029]

I love your honesty. I feel confident enough to clean mine. Thanks.

[@dogwoodtales]

Delta Dawn take your time, go easy, be purposeful with everything you do ... and good luck

[@wf8596]

Thanks for sharing. it is really dirty inside. I may need check mine. when winter it will also affect the heating

[@da324]

Mine is in a hot attic, wish it was this easy to get to. I don't have anywhere near that much work space. Never understood why the put them in an attic. Nice job!

[@nothankyou5524]

Haven't watched the video yet, but I will. That being said, what you did was the easiest and first thing to look at, once you know the blower is running, which you prove by simply trying to turn it on. Nicely done.

[@josuegarcia5753]

I liked your exhaust cover!!!!

[@bradharper9282]

Thank you for this video. I had to cut the shield in half to get it out like you did, but this made it stop freezing. I had about 1/8 inch of dense debris. My home is now cold again!

[@dogwoodtales]

You did put that panel back and tape it shut? (I hope) otherwise you will not get proper air flow through the evaporator coil. Glad to hear it worked out well!

[@bradharper9282]

+Dogwood Tales (Ray) Yeah, I reinstapped what I cut and taped the gap. it used to freeze at 82 but not 68 is doable.

[@andresbarragan8595]

FROM CHICAGO GOOD JOB THANK YOU SO MUCH

[@Rafi-wm1mo]

Thank you for sharing this video I have this problem with leaky evaporative coil , i will try to clean it first.

[@stevebuder8854]

Hey brother you just saved my ass , I bet those HVAC guys really like these videos, thanks partner 😂

[@ozzieordonez3319]

Thanks for showing this easy tune up job

[@ChadUSA]

This is why I love KZbin.

[@renecuevas4128]

I work in AC for a few yrs. and how you did it will be the exact same way i would it perform.Nice job now i lll clean my brothers w the same Self Rinse Spray....can. Tnks 4 ur great video.Ttul

[@michaelbeargames6155]

Woke up to a pool of sweat on my pillow and a gigantic block of ice where our a/c used to be; watched this video [and some others with bad info, like 'must wait overnight to thaw'!] went to work just like Dogwood and now [4 hours later] our house is cooling again. Supposed to hit high 90s today, so this vid saved us from heatstroke AND spending about $600 we didn't need to. Thanks Dogwood!

[@tymr.t3645]

Thank you so much. Very simple explained. 101 lesson learned. 😊🙏👍

[@eal5023]

Thanks, I had a window ac years ago that kept freezing up. I could not understand why. Now I know what it is for the future.

[@warwitem]

Lmao thanks for this video it helped me a lot. Saved me big bucks this is the type of video us diy youtubers are looking for not some bait you in skip scene where they used a specialty tool and forgot to mention it.

[@neitzsche5150]

Dogwood, now you know what HVAC techs have to face every day. It's probably safe to say that their job is not as nasty as a plumber's, but it's close! You saved yourself a lot of money by doing the maintenance yourself. Congratulations for having the guts to confront it. Keep that air filter changed regularly!

[@dogwoodtales]

I used to use an electro static air filter but after some 12 years of use it kept shorting out so now I use the good 4" filters. I think the electro one wasn't filtering as well as the micron filters do and that was a major contributing factor to such build up over time.

[@usmankhanRx]

Dogwood Tales

[@richardwoeckener7936]

This vid is for frugal people..not smart!!

[@krismaly6300]

Awesome video Thanks for educating the community and appreciate your volunteering. Thanks to team for producing this video Please please keep making videos on every small repair and maintenance short videos that would be your Social Service to the world I wish Good Luck and Love

[@toadjoel]

This is exactly the same thing what happened to my home.... Thanks for the video. I'm going to do it this weekend.

[@RudeMcNasty]

This is why I buy the very best 3M filter & change it every three months no matter what.

[@dogwoodtales]

Who Me? Ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure I do this now too with no further issues, but back then I still had an electromagnetic air filter that I cleaned monthly but it just didn’t filter as well as these pleated filters do and I ended up with all that gunk

[@dereckc9469]

they are very hard on fan motor damned if you do damned if you dont

[@wk6927]

Instead of aluminum tape, consider using clear silicon glue used for calking. The Aluminum tape adhesive may come up loose with moisture and drop across the copper pipes causing a galvanic contact that eats up through copper pipes. On the other hand it can also be sucked onto the fan motor causing short circuits or buzzing noise when the blower is operational. Also, it may fall down on the side and reroute the condensation from the coil to the sides of the panels and causing leaks or promoting cabinet mold growth. Hope these are helpful suggestions.

[@dogwoodtales]

Warren Wwk well I found that aluminum tape is about as permanent as it gets and doesn’t come off while duct tape will eventually. At any rate the next time I check the coil I’ll probably replace that panel with acrylic! Thanks

[@kennethwallace4338]

Seeing you put that thing back in the middle looked like something straight out of a horror movie. Great video

[@TalentNetworked]

Did your air in the home smell like dirt or dirty socks before cleaning? Thanks for the video

[@kensharpe5545]

Thanks for sharing your well made informative video!

[@RitchieE24]

Thank you so much. I'm picking up my evaporator coil cleaner today. That stuff is very hard to find around me. I'm going to follow what you did in your video and see if I can bring my AC back to life!

[@dogwoodtales]

Zack Gray Ritchie good luck. Take it slow and easy

[@dairyist]

Wow! I really hope that after my ac unit thaws out that I can figure out how to take mine apart so I can clean it as well as you did! I'm renting and it is disgusting!!!!!!! Only the bare minimum has ever been done. I am VERY good about cleaning the filter that is on my unit. Its some custom filter that I rinse out 1 or sometimes 2 times a month. But MAN, the dust that has collected all over the unit that lives in a closet! It'a gross and very hard to clean.

[@MyWITI]

Saved this video on all my playlist

[@SCWJackE]

Great job, I have a similar style unit but with electric heat. Many AC companies charge crazy fees to do this very simple work which IMHO is THE most critical thing you can do to your AC unit to keep it from failing.

[@3of930]

I’ve watched a LOT of videos prior to having to do this same thing tonight in my own home. But this video shows me exactly what I’ll be up against. Thanks for taking the time to post it. 👍🏻

[@3of930]

I could only take the door off and let the ice melt. I can’t get to the underbelly of the coils in order to clean them with a vacuum cleaner. Is it time to call a pro?

[@renecuevas4128]

The way you speak and the Color of ur voice is wonderfull

[@d3Adm1Ke]

Informative and entertaining. Good video. Now to try and fix this AC!

[@rapturebound197]

Good video. I would only add there are 3 things that can cause a freeze up. You mentioned the two most responsible and they're typically the problem..you need to change the furnace intake filter as well as clean the fins on the evap coil and the condenser coils outside regardless to have any hope of fixing the problem ..but there is a 3rd culprit to consider. What is it? The Refrigerant Filter Dryer. *Replacing a bad one is beyond the scope of DIY. Those filters are typically located outside. The refrigerant dryer filter is about the size of soda pop can (usually black in color) and has a small copper line going into it and one going out of it. That smaller copper line youire looking for goes from the house to the AC Condenser unit. It runs along side a larger copper line that is typically wrapped with insulation. Its rare but those refrigerant dryer filters do get to the point they won't allow the refrigerant to flow thru the copper line and when that happens you get instant freeze ups. Symptoms of the bad filter may be things like the compressor heating up and shuts off due to excessive heat..this process may cycle over and over. Eventually it can burn up the compressor. You may have other related symptoms as well. Replacing mine saved me from having to replace the entire AC system which was quoted to me for $8k. Yikes! This is a link to the part I'm talking about: www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08644H774/ref=sspa_mw_detail_0?ie=UTF8&psc=1&pd_rd_i=B08644H774p13NParams Yours may take a different model or manufacturer but the part itself is cheap. Your repairman will know which dryer filter you eill need.. Just know that replacing this simple and inexpensive part may cost you three hundred extra bucks or so in labor because the system has to be entirely drained of the refrigerant and then replaced after the new dryer filter has been installed..it is a complex set of steps and takes sophisticated meters and guages the repairman has to use and do to replace that little dryer filter...(again this is not a DIY task)..but if it is your problem it sure beats the $8 Grand "fix". I know I will have to replace my 20 year old Rheem AC system some day. All AC units that use R22 refrigerant are being quickly phased out by the Gov't and parts are becoming impossible to find or completely unavailable. Your repairman is probably telling you the truth if he can't get certain replacement parts for your old R22 system.. but for now this helped me out a bunch. Its worth looking into before you spend the big big bucks! Most repairmen don't think about that dryer filter part being a problem because its rare to see one go bad or get clogged but if your refrigerant dryer filter is over 15 years old you oughta at least have him check it! Im glad I did. Your repairman has have some sophisticated temp meters to check it but the quick and simplest way to get a clue if its bad without those temp meters is 1) make sure the AC system is on and has been running for a while. Leave it running for this simple test. 2) feel with your hand if there is a significant temp difference between the copper line going in one side of the filter as opposed to the copper line coming out of the filter. If one side feels DEFINITELY cooler or hotter than the other side..its a good bet that filter is clogged and restricting the flow of refrigerant. So Good luck ..and God bless! 👍 .

[@dogwoodtales]

Good to know! But that part is beyond the ability or capacity of the average homeowner to replace on their own without the additional equipment and knowledge. Even what I did here borders on sketchy as there is the risk of causing a leak in the system, depending on one’s system, thus my warning at the opening. Keeping the different coils clean and changing the filter regularly is something most people can do. Yeah R22 is no longer being manufactured and the related parts are becoming harder to get. What a sham.

[@rapturebound197]

@@dogwoodtales i edited a bit to make it clearer to your readers changing the refrigerant filter is NOT something the homeowner should try. Not to mention these Refrigerants can cause serious frostbite as well. It takes the right equipment and know-how to do this repair. Take Care. Mike

[@johninmilford7719]

Story of my career. (HVAC/R/Appliances) Dirty and /or blocked/ or obstructed coils and vents(registers) Just last week service call for a freeze-up. EVERY single supply register(where the air 'supplies/comes out) was either blocked by furniture, or closed. One has the winter comforter from the bed on top of it. Well duh, right. So, let me make this really simple: 1) when you change your clocks (daylight savings crap) Do the following: a) Check your smoke detectors. b) Clean your refrigerator coils. c) Check and Clean your dryer vent. d) Hose out the condensing unit outdoors. (It costs a LOT more to run it dirty) e) Replace your AirConditioner/ Heating system Air Filters. f) NEVER use the 59 cent fiberglass filters as your only filter. g) Get rid of the blue or green filters that you was and re-use! They are worse than the 59 cent filters! Call after call for "out on limit" frozen" or "poor heat /cool" are systems with those crappy washables and filly obstructed coils and fan blades. H) ALWAYS USE A PLEATED FILTER! 2) Change filters half way through the heating or cooling season. So, a total of 4 changes a year. 4 filters a year at $8 is $32, if you have to call me, gonna be more than $32! Even doing it yourself, that's great. But the time it takes? You could be doing something else, and all the time that it is clogged up-even partially- is costing you more to operate and decreasing your comfort. Better filtering means less junk on your air-conditioning coil, better air flow, and less dust blowing around the house in general. I have customers that have never used a "cheap" filter and never have this problem at all. One recently had an audit from the power company and the customer showed me a picture of the underside of the coil. Her 16+ year old system was as clean as the day I installed it. In short: Use good filters and change them 4 times a year.

[@dogwoodtales]

John In Milford great advise! I have used the nice pleated filters for a few years now and change them at least 4 times a year. However i used to have an electrostatic air filter system and I cleaned those filters religiously monthly - 10-12 months each year. This still happened. I just checked the coils a couple months ago and they're still as clean as when I cleaned them in this video. Thanks for watching

[@johninmilford7719]

Electrostatic filters are great if there's a person with severe allergies. BUT There should be a pleated filter BEFORE it. That way the EAF only deals with microscopic particles that are just too small for the filter to trap, which isn't much! Otherwise, the prefilter is barely able to trap blobs of lint or hair, the rest passes right through to be trapped on the evaporator! Good luck!! What's the phrase of the day? "I gotta go buy some pleated air filters."

[@dogwoodtales]

John In Milford I bought a case of them last time. I'm set till 2019

[@arturofromtucson6262]

nice. u did good, coming from a hvac tech. but imagine doing that in an attic in july.

[@BabyJesus440]

I'm doing that right now. Its still May but i live in palm springs. Its 110 outside and my coil froze :(

[@dogwoodtales]

I love hot weather - but not inside the house

[@cooldude2245]

If you called a tech to look at it then most likely they would've wanted to replace it instead of cleaning it?

[@coleworld06]

I'm doing that now. In July.

[@richardwoeckener7936]

@@cooldude2245 ...if it doesnt have a leak... a real tech would pump system down.. cut the lines and drains ....take it outside spray it down with coil cleaner and rinse thoroughly with a garden hose..plus clean out drain pan ..re install coil..then pressure test.. deep vacuum.. then release refrigerant and do super heat/ sub cooling and top off refrigerant if needed... if the system is r22 ..then yes by all means recommend to replace it... to simply walk in and say to replace it..is done by express hvacr company's...find another company!! If customer doesnt want to pay a real service tech..then thats a customer you dont want!! Tell them to hire a plumber or handy man... do it right or dont do it at all!! THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRU PROS'S AND HACKS...

[@bruceallen-f8q]

thanks this worked and helped us so much got the job done.easy fix.

[@jimharbin9441]

The people that replaced my A coil said there wasn't an aluminum coil to replace my unit. My unit is a 4 ton Coleman unit. I researched it but my education is pharmacy so all I know about a/c is if it's hot turn it on. 😋

[@randyperin1356]

Ditto on the thanks for making this video.

[@yueibm]

Great instructions and commentary! Thank you!

[@dannyramirez9389]

great video. I will definitely try this out. my a.c. has been freezing over and I couldn't understand why. thanks again.

[@chinorivera6444]

Fun video to watch. Thank you for the help

[@lklpalka]

Thanks for making this video, it's really useful. I need to do the same thing to mine. Next time, would you cover the heat manifold opening and give it a really good spraying? What could get harmed if a little dirt, water or cleaning agent went down the hole while you were cleaning? I notice you said 'do NOT' get water down there. Great video and your honesty is refreshing :)

[@dogwoodtales]

I don't know that anything would get harmed by cleaning the heat manifold, but it's not a point of air restriction like the coil is and honestly I simply didn't want to bother with it. But letting a bunch of that junk fall down there from the evaporator coil, if left there, would mean it could just blow back up into the coil and/or would stink pretty bad for a while when first using the heat in the fall/winter. When I first use the heat every fall the heat manifold burns off the dust and it stinks for a few hours (smells like burning hair - ick). I open my windows and crank up the heat once every late Sept./early October to cook that off and then it's fine the rest of the winter.

[@shortyduwop9172]

Maybe slip in a piece of cardboard underneath to catch whatever falls?

[@remulosj9514]

nothing to worry about if water gets down there if you have a 90%+ furnace with a secondary heat exchanger, it'll just go out the furnace drain. Also to be noted that its really isnt all that difficult to just pull the furnace out from underneath and clean the coil.

[@shaanbrown2456]

Beautiful I’m going to school for Hvac now lol 8 months more to go thanks for the video.

[@richardwoeckener7936]

Somewhere down the road ..when your a seasoned hvac tech ..you will realize this vid is not a smart thing to do for amateurs... good luck on your new career!!

[@livetodaydietomorrowltdt2405]

@@richardwoeckener7936 he is doing it that way because he doesn't want to pay a professional. Beside that a professional is going to tell him: It's time to buy a new system 😂😎

[@cm1133]

Somewhere down the line you will check your conscience at the door and start ripping off people who will pay just about anything to be comfortable. See you in hell.

[@dereckc9469]

@@livetodaydietomorrowltdt2405 is it ever not time to buy a new system for these "professionals"

[@bradgeary3467]

pretty impressive you figured out why your unit iced up. you seem like a do it all kinda guy. but your units condition degraded to this point because of lack of maintenance

[@dogwoodtales]

That is somewhat true. I had not had a pro service for too many years prior. However It had an electrostatic filter that I cleaned religiously on a monthly basis, but that wasn’t enough. After this cleaning I replaced that with the 4” pleated filter and checked the A frame once a year and it hasn’t needed cleaning since. I changed the filter once about every 2-3 months.

[@waitforit6524]

Excellent video.

[@dogwoodtales]

Thanks!

[@joerambo4977]

That unit looks just like mine thanks for sharing I feel a lot more confident cleaning it my self now just wish there was a solution I could make at home top clean it instead of a aerosol spray

[@dogwoodtales]

Joe Rambo maybe you can use something like simple green but these evaporator cleaners will do a better cleaning and don’t even really need to be rinsed.

[@onemanband2247]

Thank goodness for your new job

[@LubaLuba1]

But how did it get so dirty if you use a filter or was the filter not completely sealed

[@dogwoodtales]

A few things contributed to that. First was that the system had an electrostatic filtration system, which apparently did not filter as well as purported. Then - I had a woodshop in the basement garage, a household full of children, and a major shedding dog. Soon after this I replaced the electrostatic filters with 4" pleated filters and I never had another issue like this.

[@attilahooper]

This is very helpful. I know this is my problem as the primary filter on the return register is missing. The coils definitely freeze, because half an hour after shutdown water appears out the drain line. I hope I can get at the evap coils for cleaning, fingers crossed.

[@dogwoodtales]

take your time and go easy good luck

[@foomark]

Great tips. I'm on step one right now, de-freezing the coil.

[@jimdavidson5208]

You can use Scrubbing Bubbles bathroom cleaner too. Saves a ton of cash. Then disinfect the evaporator coils with hydrogen peroxide. It's also cheap like $0.88 a quart. Put it in your garden pump up sprayer and spray away.

[@hsn3333]

Thank you for sharing your experience and your advice. It is very helpful.

[@jon3193]

Helped me a alot.. lets see if it works.

[@stevencrutchfield6375]

Just saved so much money. Thanks

[@kyledupont8147]

im glad you were able to get it cleaned up on your own, however im very suprised you didnt create a leak by moving the coil around like that. i doesnt take much on those capillary lines to stress them enough to start leaking.

[@dogwoodtales]

you're absolutely correct on that one. I work in the back office of a commercial HVAC company and so had discussed this process with techs prior to trying it. I was a lot more cautious and gentile than it seems in the video. That is why I give a very clear forewarning at the beginning of the video. One unfortunate slip and it's toast.

[@playhooky]

Aha - I thought you were very knowledgeable for not being an HVAC tech!

[@intelin123]

Is this a vertical or horizontal evap coil?? Am trying to find a replacement for mine but dont know if its vertical or horizontal.

[@MyWITI]

Thank God I looked in here. and you too thank you

[@clarkgwozdecki6782]

Good job. Most ac techs would not have don that good of a job at all. You need to use better filters and make sure your return air is sealed up properly that is not normal at all.

[@dogwoodtales]

clark hall I think that the electrostatic filter I used to use didn't filter as well as purported even though I cleaned it religiously every 4-6 weeks. that and the fact that I do woodworking and have 5 daughters. I'm using good pleated filters now.

[@clarkgwozdecki6782]

Woodworking. Enough said lol.

[@donniemoyer9261]

thanks, my problem is that my A/C unit is on my roof(and I'm in Arizona)and yer wondering why I didn't attempt this before it got so dang hot) but this was very helpful, thanks...

[@dogwoodtales]

Donnie Moyer going forward change the air filters regularly and check the coil in the cooler months 😎

[@donniemoyer9261]

ya got that right fer sure, getting ready to go take a look at it in a few minutes...yesterday it just didn't want to cool down at all...at this point, any tips would be helpful. thought about callin somebody but man, I just don't have the doh...thanks

[@LubaLuba1]

great video can you tell me which side should I remove to see if its icing up. I will greatly appreciate it.

[@dogwoodtales]

Luba Luba I really can't say without seeing your unit. But if either side is accessible, then it will work. In fact, if you can work from the side opposite to what I had to do you might not have to deal with all of the hoses I had to. Good luck!

[@LubaLuba1]

can you look at a few pics I can upload here

[@LubaLuba1]

click on my profile pic and background you can see both pics where the evaporator is located

[@dogwoodtales]

First, thank you very much for watching my video. I do hope that you find it informative for your situation. However, I think it does both of us a favor for me to refer you back to my statement in the first 5 seconds of this video. I think you would be better served by hiring a professional HVAC to resolve your issue. I know that will cost some money, but a wrong move on your part and it will cost you a lot more money. Best wishes.

[@marcelausategui7006]

Fantástico tutorial..! Muchas gracias!!

[@5822huron]

hilarious- you make me realize why I paid for my hvac education but good job

[@mariavlogs29]

I need to replace my filters on here do you know I can could use a filter from like walmart or do you know where I can find a filter I can't find any

[@dogwoodtales]

You should be able to find what you need at Home Depot. Lowe’s, Menards and such Bring the old filter with you and someone there can help you get a replacement If you don’t have a filter then measure the space where the filter goes into the furnace and buy one that fits

[@cuteygirl1020]

Was so easy to do this and check out the coils. However, my fan motor relay was bad, so that ended up not being the problem. The fan wouldn’t turn on to blow out the air and so the coils froze up. At least that’s what a friend says is happening. What say you?

[@dogwoodtales]

I had a similar issue some time after this video. I thought the motor was going bad, so I had it recoiled and after some $200 later I found out it wasn't the motor 🙄 but at least I essentially had a new motor as a result. So then I replaced the control board and that fixed the issue. I believe my relay was integral to the control board, so it might have been that or another issue with the board. I would start with the control board. It's easier to replace and cheaper than the motor. Just take lots of pictures first with good notes on what wires go back where - very very important! It's not as simple as replacing a light bulb. If you're in any doubt or lack confidence and competence (not an insult!) I'd say get a tech. It's worth paying one a couple hundred rather than mucking up the system and ending up having to replace a lot more at a lot more $$$ not to mention risk of personal injury. Good luck.

[@harryjohnson3617]

@@dogwoodtales hey can i clean coils with stuff i already have at the house instead of buyin a cleaner? If not where do i buy the cleaner

[@remulosj9514]

@@dogwoodtales You can check all the board by verifying you're getting voltages to the wires associated with whatever component on the system. If you're getting a voltage call and its just not tranfering to its respected component its the board, if it is transfering and you're still not getting the component to operate than its the component thats the issue.

[@izzycamaro]

Thanks for the nice video.

[@jaimelynne3514]

Thanks for sharing! I'm going to try. :)

[@dogwoodtales]

Jaime Sargent take it slow and be attentive. good luck

[@Jesus_Saves_Its_A_Free_Gift]

I want to add a picture but it won't let me. I'm new to this and don't want to call an AC person because I live on limited funds. The coils are turning white and they didn't do this last year when I bought this place. Not all the coils. Starting at the bottom they are white. Like three rows then it goes to the copper looking like they normally look. Am I too late....do I need an expert to fix this? Any suggestions will be much appreciated. Thank you!

[@dogwoodtales]

Wendy Longmeyer honestly I am not sure. If the coils and filters are clean and the system is still having issues it’s best to call in an expert to look at it. Your system could be low on refrigerant, have a leak, or any number of other issues that are far less diy for the average homeowner.

[@Jesus_Saves_Its_A_Free_Gift]

@@dogwoodtales thank you so much for this information. I will call in an expert. I have my areas of expertise but this is definitely not one of them. Lol

[@dogwoodtales]

Wendy Longmeyer sounds like that’s the best option. I began this video with that caution statement for a reason. Hope it doesn’t cost too much.

[@luisLopez-uz3mv]

wow!!!! what a great job man u said u weren't a professional tec but u really did better than one.

[@Tarbabyification]

I have been in the sheet metal business for 35 years everyone puts the filter right at the furnace or unit this leads to less filter changes because out of sight out of mind. But if you install filter grills inside the house two things will happen you will notice dirty filters thus changing them more often, and you will keep cleaner the return air duct system which people tend to forget. Having to replace dirty ducts that have layers thick of dead skin cells and hair believe me you don't want your air dragged over that filth.

[@dogwoodtales]

Tarbaby I actually do put filters inside the cold air returns but started that practice after the point of this video.

[@shernaj255]

I just cleaned this last year, have been replacing the filters and cleaning the outside system. So expensive to add refrigerant, might be my problem

[@dogwoodtales]

javier hernandez could be, but low refrigerant wouldn't make it dirty

[@shernaj255]

correct, I was just mentioning what I have done so far, implying that low refrigerant is most likely my root problem for a frozen evaporator coil. had the same issue last year and I thought it was the dirty coils and filters I found in a house I recently bought.

[@j.j.vargas3626]

Great video. Putting that triangular metal sheet back into place took up exactly 27% of this video. Tinsnips!

[@dogwoodtales]

J.J. Vargas lol not being an experienced pro I was being very slow and cautious so as to not damage any of the lines Took a lot less time when I checked it this past spring, and I remembered to cut that triangle all the way before putting it back in. As someone else mentioned that's not necessary, but it will sure make it easier to take off next time. Thanks for watching

[@ignacionambo7338]

Tank you

[@5280Comics]

I’m going to have to give this a try. Our HVAC guy wants to charge us $1,100 to clean the coils, or $8k to replace the whole thing.

[@dereckc9469]

2 1/2 ton unit 1500 at supply house, shit industry

[@gjuelz7672]

Pause the video at 1:36. See the triangle on the OTHER side of the coil frame? Why not just remove THAT triangle instead? You'd just need to cut an access panel on the other side to get to it, but you'd have so much more room to work with

[@dogwoodtales]

I would have if that side of the furnace wasn’t like a foot away from the wall.

[@ellencausey9811]

Omgg I need yout help wow!! Ty for these tips

[@alessandrolacroce8000]

Did it help with air flow through your vents

[@dogwoodtales]

I didn't measure the air flow, but I'm sure it had to improve as the dirty coils slow down the air flow and thus result in the freezing shown here.

[@kevinc8026]

Nice video ty

[@mandot702]

Hi! My ac condensator is dripping water only the half bottom of it. Ac still working perfectly, the problem is that if I leave it running for a long time the coil freezes up and builds up ice and then blocks the air from coming out of the vents... My ac is on a Condominium where cooling towers are used. What can I do to stop the leaking? Thanks in advance!

[@dogwoodtales]

IMHO if your system is clean and is still freezing up then it’s time to hire a hvac tech. Your system might be low in coolant or something else is wrong that’s probably beyond typical diy Good luck!

[@dixieductcleaning3277]

Excellent Job, I did exactly the same in one of my jobs. I wish you good luck. thanks it was great information.

[@salsan8896]

Thanks for your video I think I have same problem, but the technician said I need change whole system for around 5.500 DLLs,I will do the job. God bless you for sharing your acknowledgment .

[@dogwoodtales]

thanks for watching!

[@salsan8896]

somebody tell me about other technician, I call him,he came to my house, he clean the hvac,check the freon, check the blower speed,the box of the A coil, has the door in wrong side,missing a piece of sheet in one side of the A coil,the pan for drain was in angle leaking water,he cut the sheet of the box in front of the A coil, the A coil was black, VERY DIRTY,he clean the coil,install the piece of sheet beside bottom of coil,cut a sheet for new door and install it.right now the air is working perfect,he charge to my only$150.00 very cheap,I give to him &200.00 very honest technician.one more time, TANKS FOR YOUR VIDEO.

[@playhooky]

+salsan88 Whereabouts do you live?! That was a good price; my local tech in central IL charged me $125 just to charge my a/c with 1lb of coolant & didn't even clean anything. I had it charged 2 mos ago, & it seemed to cool my house better for a couple days - - but maybe the weather cooled for a couple days because I soon noticed it was still not keeping up with the heat & still freezing up - so I'm betting my A coil/evaporator coil is filthy. Should I get it cleaned now for any reason seeing as how it's almost Sept or just wait till next spring?

[@dogwoodtales]

If it were my HVAC unit with the way the air flows around the heat manifold and then through the evaporator coil, I would go ahead and clean it now. The reason is that the air passes through the evaporator coil regardless if I am heating or cooling. So a clean evaporator coil means better air flow and the unit needs that regardless if it's heating, cooling, or just recirculating the household air.

[@playhooky]

Dogwood Tales Thanks! I believe it is, but will find out for certain & now feel better equipped to make the decision on when to prioritize this service!

[@dreamceline2093]

Super helpful. Thank you!

[@ellaeliezer5552]

Someone suggested to do it on the back side of the evaporator coil. I can cut a window in the back of the evaporator housing and access the evaporator coil from the back. Before doing it, does anyone know if the back of the evaporator has triangular metal plate that can be removed like the one in the front? This will take longer to do, but I will avoid damaging the cooper wire

[@gabrielzackery5704]

Thanks bro. This helped!

[@joshuaryanferguson3702]

Mine did that once in the summer time and the out side unit would turn into a solid block of ice in the winter time

[@dogwoodtales]

Joshua Ferguson you’v got to be kidding. Why would you run it in the winter?

[@stevee7774]

Because he has a heat pump.

[@ricknowak4582]

I have an AC problem and I wish you could help me out here. My air conditioner works fine for about 3 or 4 hours but once I get It colder to say 72 or 71 it starts slowing down. And temperature increases! The blower works and cold air comes out of the ducks but very lightly. I can't figure it out. Couple AC guys said that the coils are freezing up. If the coils are dirty how could I get cold air in the beginning? I don't believe it is the coil/condenser problem.

[@dogwoodtales]

site unseen I would agree with your ac guys. sounds like as the evaporator coils build up ice then the air flow slows down. i suggest that you have the coils cleaned by a pro and make sure you change the air filters monthly if you have 1" filters, or every two months if you have 2" or larger filtes.

[@ricknowak4582]

@@dogwoodtales Dogwood. Thanks for your reply. What about the drain line could it be plugged? And between the drip Pan and the blowers it looks like a thermal couple up there. Could that be some sensor that is bad?? Cause right there it's dripping a little bit of water I noticed , when ... temp starts going UP! Also, he took the blower off within a minute and stuck his phone up there and took a video of the condenser. It was dirty but not filthy dirty and it was no ice build up. And I was running the ac VERY LOW for around 6 HOURS. Had it set at 68.

[@ricknowak4582]

Also, the AC man says just change the whole air handler and all. Instead of cleaning the coil. Which I kind of agree. Cost. $2350. I want everything to be NEW! It's probably over 15 years old.

[@randall9791313]

Did you notice a big difference in the air flow through out the house? Was it blowing at all before (not while it was frozen)?

[@dogwoodtales]

most definitely but not in air flow as much as in just having a cooler house.

[@dogwoodtales]

obviously a cooler house was the result of better air flow

[@richardwoeckener7936]

Cannot truly tell without manometer...you can only go by what you feel ...which is not everything!!

[@mjane8275]

Great video, thanks.

[@dgordon7767]

Great! Thanks for sharing. Now I know what to do. You should add some mineral tablets to prevent hard liquid build up.

[@stevee7774]

???

[@rm6738]

awesome .. mine is frozen now.. going to try this!