How to clean through the wall condenser unit?

[jmiles]

I have a customer in a third floor condo with a 25 year old through the wall condensing unit. I was looking for some tips and advice on how you guys go about cleaning the condensing coil on one of these units. I don't think running a hose through the condo is the best idea. These units are proably often neglected because of where they are located and I doubt if this one has ever been cleaned.

[m kilgore]

We used to take care of a few buildings with these. Had a cart that we pulled the units outside on and cleaned there. Hopefully you can pull the guts and move but there are some that you can't. Then it gets to be a real challange.

[ACworks]

If you clean it in place you don't just have to worry about the hose/water inside, also watch out for the dirty water that runs down the outside wall.

Learned about that after I had to rent a pressure washer and clean the outside of the building. Unit was on the fifth floor :eek::mad::eek:

[BaldLoonie]

I think the OP is talking about a split system outdoor unit mounted in the wall. Can't exactly take that outside on a cart like a PTAC. Blow it out from inside to outside with nitro?

[ktechnical]

Don't know if this will help or not, but I have used a good sprayer and cleaned up the water with the shop vac to prevent a flood. You may have to make a trip or two to dump the vac so don't let it fill or it gets very heavy. It takes time, but for those coils that just can't come out or have to be cleaned in place- somewhat affective.

[eppy]

We have dealt with this also, most are caulked into place from the outside.

Had some decent luck with spraying the coil from balconies but some cases had to go from the inside out.
Make sure to plug as many of the drain holes that are close to the inside of the unit and have a shop vac. on hand.

With all the construction in DC the past couple years we found some coils that were BAD.