Cleaning aluminum fins

[entropic decay]

All--

Read somewhere-I think *here*!- about power washing the fins on condensers/cooling coils.
I promptly FLATTENED a bunch w/ my Home Depot/Husky high pressure jobby! Spent the next few hours straightening them out! :(

Even the "full jet" from a garden hose nozzle will bend them. goodgawd....
Hadda use the "flat spray" setting.

Didn't see a lot of dirt come out. Didn't use solvent, but still, it's been some time, and I expected to see more.

The "A" coil inside the furnace has a removable panel to access the front half of the A, but you can't get to the back half!
So I just cut out the sheet metal on the back. :)
(It was a botched install anyway-but at least the miserable contractor knew the right direction for the line filters! :) )

Anyway, the condensate tray couldn't quite handle the washing load, and flooded the the unit, just missing the electronics.

How would a contractor have cleaned this A coil, if the back half is unaccessible?

Inyway, I'm sure pro's love home-moaners like me... there's bound to be a windfall for some nice contractor somewhere down the line! :)

ED

[re2ell]

self-rinsing evaporator coil cleaning solution

[Steve Wiggins]

Your post is hard to figure out but I think the removeable panel you are talking about accesses the coil box, not the coils dirty surface. You must have cut out the back of the coil box to expose the end plates of the coil and thought you actually cleaned the coil.

You better quit screwing around with your system before you hurt yourself. A refrigerant blast to the eyeballs will be your next blunder.

[coordinatesales]

First, I applaud a home owner who recognized the need for maintenance on a system. Far too many don't. Second, after what you've just been through, the $$ spent on a maintenance contract with a reputable contractor probably would seem cheap. Not sure about whoever you choose but some contractors include a discount of some kind in a maintenance contract. For example, we don't charge after hours rates, we discount parts, and we guarantee heating/cooling within 24 hours if parts are available to all of our contracts. It's a good way to keep the system maintained and some benefits for when/if it does break down. If you choose a reputable contractor, not just the cheapest in the phone book, you'll know it's done properly. There's a lot more to good maintenance than just cleaning coils.

[Gunnery Sergeant Hartman]

I've only read advice AGAINST using a power washer to clean coils.