Secrets To Cleaning Your AC And Coils BETTER Than The Pros! Air Will Be Colder

In this video, I show you important steps and things to consider when cleaning your AC unit's coils. In many cases, it will come out cleaner than hiring someone to do it for you and for WAY less. Once all the steps are done, the AC will be running more efficiently which oftentimes means colder air, shorter run times, and some energy savings on the electric bill.
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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.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

I am curious. How long has it been since your AC unit was cleaned? And what have you used to clean yours?

[@rosemarie20]

About 9 months. I think the a/c guy just used the water hose and nothing else. He certainly didn't lift the lid or vacuum.

[@jamess.putman1779]

Love it cool

[@rogergtca2525]

Never in 10 years, shame I know now ! And thank you 🙏 sir .

[@UssaWashington]

Ive lived in our home for 22 years and haven't done this once. Actually, never had anyone touch it. The system was 20 years old when I moved in. I just jinxed myself and will be replacing it this year followed by your yearly recommended maintenance.

[@rosemarie20]

@@UssaWashington Mine was installed in 2002 and wasn't cleaned, even with just water until 9 months ago and the a/c guy wasn't really cleaning, just pretended to be doing something.

[@johnnyortiz606]

I literally just did that this morning! Thank you for confirming the fact to do both internal fins, as well as the external ones. Keep up these great videos. 👍🏼

[@stevennora]

My old 90's Ruud condenser looked like it was wrapped with insulation from decades of neglect. I couldn't believe how quiet it ran after a thorough cleaning. I also use my leaf blower on the condenser each time I do yard work which also helps to keep dirt and pollen from building up.

[@fuzz1500]

I do the very same thing !

[@kevinzemanek4178]

Great video. One of the best tips for me was at the beginning - using the broomstick to prop open the fan. Simple and effective. I recently bought a home and the AC unit's coils didn't look like they had been cleaned in years. I bought a couple of cans of the Web Coil Cleaner, turned off the power, propped open the fan, vacuumed the inside, GENTLY vacuumed the outside of the coils with my shop vac using the brush attachment to get off the biggest chunks (spider webs, leaves, etc.), sprayed the coil cleaner inside and out, waited a bit, and then hosed the coils off - aiming from the inside->out. As someone previously noted, the unit pulls air outside->in through the coils, so if possible you want to push any dirt/debris the opposite direction vs. pushing it in deeper. Thanks for all of your great videos!

[@thomasskrabala8044]

Well done, my friend. You have an exceptional delivery. Makes us unskilled folks really appreciate your tips and suggestions. Keep up the great work!

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Really glad to hear you like it. I really appreciate the kind words. Thanks for the feedback and hope to see you around the channel again!

[@GentlemanMcmike]

Just ordered my Frost King. Thanks for the info. I’ve also liked your other AC maintenance video. I appreciate the update.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

You are very welcome! Really glad to hear you liked it. The frost king coil cleaner works great! Thanks a lot for the feedback!

[@scotts4125]

I just did one of my two units a couple weeks ago while I was changing out the fan motor. I use Viper Venom Pack with their coil gun. They say to do it from the bottom up. Seems counterintuitive but they make the stuff so I follow the directions. I am planning on doing the second unit today. If you can't see through the condenser coil it needs a cleaning.

[@LeoGarcia-zb8xt]

Thank you for putting out a great video. I did this after watching the video ane my a/c runs about 6 to 7 degrees cooler. It hadn't benn cleaned in a while so I will be doing this every spring. I am also thinking about a soft start install. Thank you for the information.

[@edwardmissouri2216]

When spraying the cleaner keep the spray as perpendicular to the coils as possible. It will tend to go into the crevices better than spraying on an angle. Thanks for the video

[@MarkM-rx2mc]

Another outstanding video. Thank you!

[@HowToHomeDIY]

You are very welcome! Really glad to hear you liked it. Thanks a lot for the feedback Mark!

[@josephppopp7493]

Thank you and God Bless😊🙏

[@David-fb8fn]

Great advice and tutorial. I clean my condenser coils each fall and get it all ready for spring. By removing a few wires I lift the entire top and motor free of the unit for easier access to the inside of the coils. After using coil cleaner, I direct the water from a hose washing the coils from inside the unit outward (opposite the units airflow.) This loosens and blows out all sort of dust and debris that the unit draws into the unit when it runs throughout the season. Cleaning the A/C condenser coils keeps the unit running at peak efficiency while all the while removing much of the strain on the compressor.

[@CornholeSteve]

i need to look at doing this. my power cables for the fan are waaay to short to even just raise it up a little bit.

[@ssiiggyy1980]

Sweet!! Thanks for the info.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

You are very welcome! Really glad to hear you liked it. Thanks a lot for the feedback!

[@demontekdigital1704]

This, and the previous one, are great videos, and gave me the confidence to do this myself. One minor thing I'd like to add is always make sure to turn the system off at the thermostat before disconnecting the outside power plug. I have a Lenox system, and I had to replace the thermostat because it got damaged from the minor surge that occurs when you unplug the outside plug. Even at the lowest it would have cost $500 to replace, but since the HVAC repair company won't install customer-purchased parts it cost $1600. Always be prepared for a substantial parts upcharge, and companies not working with pre-purchased parts. Apparently it has something to do with warrantees for both the work, and the parts.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Appreciate the input!

[@loosenut1969]

I watched your previous video about cleaning coils and I ordered some coil cleaner from Amazon. Day after it arrived here my AC was not cooling properly mind you I had not cleaned the coils yet. I called my AC guy and my condenser dryer was rusting and slowly leaking which they showed me the oil. So they cut out the dryer, plumbed in a piece of copper and put the dryer outside the condenser with valves because I ended up losing all my gas because the way it was installed originally. I asked him about my coils and he said they did not look too bad and he hosed them down with water. One week later I used coil cleaner and then hosed it down and there was a lot of black stuff that came off. Moral of the story is use coil cleaner versus just using water. Thanks again.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

🤣 yup. Almost all of them will just use water. It does not get them clean enough. Appreciate the feedback!

[@clkgroup6367]

I actually use a bit of dishwasher liquid with water in a lawn sprayer and spray from the inside and outside. I follow up with a good rinse. First wash was two years ago when the unit was five years old. It actually looked pretty clean but decided to do it after watching several videos.

[@johnu730]

I used to cleaned my AC unit by hosing off without using a coil cleaner. Then the AC company cleaned it with a coil cleaner. What a difference this made in the sound. I now clean the coil per your instructions, saving $$$.

[@nothankyou5524]

Or, use Google to find instructions. All children cleaners are not the same, inspite of all of them having the words "Coil Cleaner" in the title. BTW, how many other things do wash down with only water? Your car, perhaps?

[@TheKingOfInappropriateComments]

Past couple of years I've been using the frost king. I like it better than the other stuff you used to use although that stuff is widely available here. The Frost King is not. Last year I got the Frost King at Walmart and they no longer carry it. This year I had to special order it from Ace Hardware and it look a week to get it in.

[@raulm9543]

Just in time for summer, I am thinking of doing a rewire on a drill press that has been handed down from my dad and it has dated wiring and has a switch at the base of the bottom then continues uo to the motor, do you have a vid of this type of project? Thank you in advance.

[@Akadohds]

I have a Trane 4 ton 16 seer installed last year, it has a prickly stuff on the coils, kinda looks like small Christmas tree garland. How / what to use cleaning it? I had a Amana for 26 years and always cleaned it the way you described. Just wondering about this new stuff. Thanks.

[@josephreisinger33]

Thank you Sir for all the cool AC and Electric stuff also. The funny part is my family thinking I'm crazy for wanting to service our AC/Heatpump myself. Just trying to save money.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

I am the same way haha. I have saved a lot doing it myself. I can't do everything but most things on it. Appreciate the feedback Joseph!

[@munozinni]

Gracias 🙏 that was a great video 😊

[@HowToHomeDIY]

De nada! Really glad to hear you liked it. Thanks a lot for the feedback!

[@munozinni]

@@HowToHomeDIY Thank you for taking some of your busy time to respond to my comment…Saludos!!!👋😃👋keep up the great work!!!

[@pjtill1]

I've been using Nu-Brite with good results.

[@dontderockmerizz3211]

Ok, one of my houses has 2 microchannel fins. So besides only water what cleaner can I use?

[@joeshmoe9978]

Thanks for not using a clickbait title like "What HVAC pros DON'T want you to know!" or "INSANE HVAC secret that is putting the pros OUT of business!" 😌

[@HowToHomeDIY]

You are very welcome!

[@techieg33k]

I never gave growth here in the dry area and water is plenty good from what i see here at home

[@jimh1937]

Great info - what's your thoughts for a soft start add-on for A/C systems??

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Really like them. I have one on my unit and have for the past 4-5 years. I think it makes it easier on the compressor which should help it last longer and it cut my in rush amperage by about 70% making it even easier to run it with my generator during a power outage. Have a video on the channel showing the install and results if you’re interested.

[@on3kill762]

You actually see it set up on his A/C in this video

[@HowToHomeDIY]

@on3kill762 yup! Very observant.

[@JimAlderson-cn6ek]

On double coils trying to spread them apart can b risky can break one or more of those u tubes if unit has mutch age on it I have before if unit extremely plugged but a nervous time doing it this is why PM is so inportant

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Yeah, definitely do not recommend trying to split the coils.

[@VisionStance]

Good Video

[@HowToHomeDIY]

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

[@tesswagner895]

Question: Do you recommend straightening the flattened fins?

[@VisionStance]

Don't Touch the Fins. They always show some misalignment but it's not Critical.You will have to use a Fin Comb and most of the time you will end up bending as much as you attempt to correct.

[@Leonardokite]

Did you wait for the coils to dry before you took your decibel measurement? Wet coils will definitely be more efficient due to the evaporation. The coils must be dry to get a valid comparison.

[@nothankyou5524]

No, they must be essentially "the same" to get a valid comparison. Hence, the use of the word "comparison."

[@garywood9119]

Also, you have to make the db measurement at the exact same distance/location to make a fair comparison.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

All of the above was done.

[@Leonardokite]

@@HowToHomeDIY Thank you!

[@HowToHomeDIY]

@Leonardokite yes sir! Very welcome 🤗

[@len9518]

Reversing the breaker in the box, would make me nervous, as it's too easy to mix up the off and on settings.

[@mlBeachboy]

Do you have to spray the coils with the cleaner from the inside? Also, and then wash it out. Are.

[@diytwoincollege7079]

Has anyone used Super Clean for their condenser? I have a gallon of it for cleaning my car engine, etc and it works great. Just not sure if it’s ok for a condenser too.

[@rogerbrandt6678]

I believe doing it from the inside out, without cleaner is the best.

[@JettaTDI2005]

wow.. I was about to call the service provider to to a cleaning and as i was watching him do that for the next door neighbor and they just rinse it with water from the outside. Hmm Great timing on this video and now I am planning to take care of it over a weekend and safe a ton of $$$ Thank you so much

[@HowToHomeDIY]

You are very welcome! Yup, that is very common for techs to just water it down. Does not actually get it clean. Glad the timing was good. Thanks for the feedback!

[@rogerbrandt6678]

Sir I just did mine, it’s one wire to un lip, then the motor can be taken fully out.

[@keithsac2542]

Was the coil dry as it was in the first decibel reading.

[@HR-rt9nh]

yeah the sound test was iffy... lol i will say though.... on an older system I had years back, i had it cleaned and the there was a notable drop in noise but that was years of neglect vs being cleaned.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Yes the coils were completely try by then.

[@happyyardservice2914]

Buy one of the thermal cameras for your phone and do a before and after, you will be surprised how much cooler the temp on the coils are after cleaning.

[@JCWren]

What's the PVC vent pipe next to the compressor pad for?

[@HowToHomeDIY]

That's the condensate drain.

[@kirkkelly2663]

Compare before and after current readings its much better proof of any cost savings

[@JuanSanchez-ik7wx]

Why dont you have insulation on the cold lines under the fan?

[@3313age]

Any different process for a heat pump?

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Nope. Mine is a heat pump.

[@rrandypt8933]

Will the cleaner harm or kill the grass after rinsing off?

[@Winter840]

How do you know if you have the type of coils that the cleaner can’t be used on?

[@jeffreybajek2677]

I’d like to know the answer to this as well. I don’t want to order a cleaner if it can harm my unit.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

They are called micro channel coils. You will know if you have them just by looking at them as they look almost nothing like standard coils like you see in the video. They will look a lot like the pattern you see on a vehicle radiator. If you google search micro channel coils you’ll see exactly what I mean. Also, in the video where I point out the 2 rows of coils at the end of the fins you can see a u shape copper coil connecting the two rows. Micro channel coils won’t be copper, they will be aluminum. Most people won’t have micro channel coils on their standard residential condenser units but I had to mention it as something to look for because there are some out there. I hope this helps!

[@VisionStance]

There are 2 type of coils. Condenser Coils and Evaporator Coils. Each Coil should use a different Coil Cleaner. Check with the supplier or read the Intended Purpose to make the Decision

[@CornholeSteve]

my fan power cables are too short to even raise a little bit :( I tried.

[@biffhenderson1144]

Sprayed mine with a firehose nozzle on my garden hose. Quickly flattened many of the aluminum fins! Placed a label on the unit to DO NOT CLEAN WITH..."

[@ElDell]

Should I use a pressure washer? I do have one.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

No. Not advised.

[@berniemadoff7837]

Too much pressure will damage the fins.

[@Seanmmvi]

Is this a re-upload? I swear I have watched this before a long time ago

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Same subject, completely different video with some updated practices.

[@mikedavis2969]

How to clean a window ac ?

[@verbalizerone]

Somebody is a fan of Chris Fixx.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

I’ve heard of him but what makes you say that?

[@juannoval69]

​@@HowToHomeDIY if you watch Chris Fixx he narrates his videos as he works and you only see his hands like in this video. You show your face in your videos but this video definitely has a Chris Fixx vibe to it. Probably meant as a compliment. 😊

[@verbalizerone]

@@HowToHomeDIY Very clear, concise how to videos with hand gestures that help move the story along and is nicer to see (for me, anyway) than just static footage. I am a subscriber!

[@corydaggett6126]

Why not just use dawn dish soap?

[@HowToHomeDIY]

You can. Just doesn’t work quite as well.

[@mikeschmid5133]

What's micro channels never heard of that

[@mikeschmid5133]

Like an a coil?

[@leealtmansr.3811]

Really? I was taught that checking amp draw was a good measure of energy efficiency. So, now we need to do a sound check 😅.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Oh, not arguing at all against that, it absolutely is a good measure if not the best to get specific numbers. Some folks just have noisy units and by cleaning them it can really quiet it down. So I chose that demonstration. Another could be checking the temperature of the air coming out of the registers before and after. Should be a little colder afterwards.

[@JCWren]

@@HowToHomeDIY With your EasyStart, measuring current draw is trivial :) But you already knew that.

[@leealtmansr.3811]

@@JCWren really? Please take a class on motors or HVAC/R

[@JCWren]

@@leealtmansr.3811 Why the heck are you tagging me in this comment?

[@coldjello8436]

Algorithm boost.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Much appreciated!

[@coloroutofspace_322]

Why the clickbait thumbnails and stupid faces if the information in the video is good?

[@HowToHomeDIY]

What the heck makes it clickbait? I don’t think you know what actual clickbait is. Not even making a face 😂

[@vibor123]

I love to watch Your videos, but one thing is unclear for me. You always say "my" for things, like spray can, garden hose , and other stuff. Why is that ? I don't see purpose in saying "I don't have slack in my wiring", Please don't get me wrong , i am not judging just interested because engslh is not my spoken language, as You can see from my writing ;-)

[@wallyky]

I think he is saying that when you do this yourself, things might not look exactly as he is demonstrating. Generally, the differences are minor and can be adjusted for. And your English is better than my [any other language] 😉

[@vibor123]

​@@wallyky good explanation, thanks

[@ma-fi1nu]

Not something a homeowner should ever do. This can lead to death if not done correctly. This can also lead to damage to your equipment..

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Omg 😂. And getting behind the wheel of a car can be fatal too. I mean where do you draw the line? It’s not rocket science. Let me guess, AC tech?

[@lunchbeast9899]

Way too yappy. Should have been a good two or three minute video...

[@HowToHomeDIY]

😂 I think KZbin shorts might be more your speed then. I wasn’t talking about the weather.