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Of course, I've found an even better way of cleaning coils, and that's to send an apprentice with a pressure washer to clean 'em whilst I'm on a service call where I can make the company a bit more profit than having a journeyman on a labor-only call washing coils.

I wouldn't use NuBrite on the condenser coils, either. Unless your business plan is to wash the condenser this year and replace the condenser coil next year. If I walk up to a unit that I can knock the aluminum off the condenser coils just by brushing my finger along it, I know that it will foam up with NuBrite if I hit it with a water hose. Pisses me off when I see someone's destroyed the condenser on a perfectly good chiller with that stuff.

The best method I've found for cleaning condenser coils on commercial units is to use a pressure washer. As long as you're not a dumbass about it, you won't flatten the coil or cause any damage to the unit, and you'll get a condenser as clean as it was when it left the factory.

I did a little experiment one day to test this out. I had two identical Trane RTUs on a mall; condensers were filthy because of a nearby construction site. Anyway, I had city water pressure, two gallons of NuBrite, and a pressure washer. I also had way too many hours to do this thanks to a generous quote. Both these RTUs were R22 machines running around 390 head pressure even in the early morning. I washed one with water only -- head pressure settled out at 350. Washed the other one with NuBrite, rinsed it forever, and the head pressure settled out about 330 PSI. I hit both units with the pressure washer and got the head pressure down to 240 where it was supposed to be, and I had the same results with the pressure washer on another identical Trane RTU at the store next to it a few days later. So I was sold on using the pressure washer after that.

Originally Posted by qwerty hvac

You are using nubrite on the evap coils?

I hope you rinse well

You are using nubrite on the evap coils?

Originally Posted by mldp68

average time is 25 mins each.. ill walk you through it. the owner had to show me this routine three days in a row because honestly i couldn't believe it.. i wonder if he thought i was stupid.. oh well...

1 on the way to the site call customer (sched. maint)

2 arrive and place ladder.

3 pull out hose attach to water source... alot of times this is pretty tricky finding water...

4 take hose and new bright up on roof spray condinser with cleaner

5 open filter panel pull filters out and hit evap with cleaner

6 back-flush condensation drain pan

rinse both coils check belts and get off roof.

25-30 mins regardless of size that's time from leaving last job to finishing current.

now that ive been there for a while its gone up to 26 a day...

we do most accounts 2-5 times a year..

avg cost for a 10 ton carrier weather maker... 150 each cleaning

i make $13.hr

so ya

average time is 25 mins each.. ill walk you through it. the owner had to show me this routine three days in a row because honestly i couldn't believe it.. i wonder if he thought i was stupid.. oh well...

1 on the way to the site call customer (sched. maint)

2 arrive and place ladder.

3 pull out hose attach to water source... alot of times this is pretty tricky finding water...

4 take hose and new bright up on roof spray condinser with cleaner

5 open filter panel pull filters out and hit evap with cleaner

6 back-flush condensation drain pan

rinse both coils check belts and get off roof.

25-30 mins regardless of size that's time from leaving last job to finishing current.

now that ive been there for a while its gone up to 26 a day...

we do most accounts 2-5 times a year..

avg cost for a 10 ton carrier weather maker... 150 each cleaning

i make $13.hr

so ya

Tonnage??

If it's a 2 ton it can't be done in 35-40, Properly. Off the bat u need at least 15 just 4 customer care , explaining the savings/weartear. So they do it again in 2 years even if unit is operating well.

How long do you guys take to wash indoor & outdoor coils on a typical package unit?
I can't seem to do them in less than 30-45 minutes.

For that I do he following:
Setup wet/dry vacuum
Pop lid off package unit
Hit both coils with co2
Hit both coils with green clean (company policy)
Split coil if needed
Hose down with selectable nozzle.
Keep going until the runoff becomes clear.
Slurp up any run off that's headig towards storm drains.
Put everything back together, run quick test if I have time.

I'm currently saving for a coil jet cleaner to make life a little easier.

18-25, that owner is doing something right,, I would not only stay find out how he's getting that many. Im sure the customer knows he's cutting corners. And im sure u will be back next year to do again. If he split all of them depending on area u wouldn't have to be back for a few years. He's probably charging low bid, But at the same time the customers like to deplete there budget,, so they will not be given a lesser budget the next Year.
It's a viscous circle,,
I would play a long in this economy

Really 18-25 ????? thats good one team

Every place you work over the length of your career you will find things you disagree with. Be it owners, co-workers or bosses, there will always be disagreements. I'd say don't drag up and leave because somebody dose it different. Years ago dad told me something that stuck. Stay honest, so long as it depends on you do it well, And never work for anyone with less money or sense than you. If you must move on, make a place to go before you leave where you are currently working. Good luck!

Oh yes !! I forgot to mention that I have a hundred gallon water tank on my truck for sites without water. All coils cleaned with foam and water quarterly.

Originally Posted by kaptnkirk

Different scenario here. My boss alloted me time to split coils on several units that techs before me said they had to split. I get to the jobsite and pull the lids and find that the coils could not be split. My boss wanted to argue with me over this and I did win the battle. Also someone mentioned compressed air earlier. My boss wanted to argue with me over the purchase of CO2 cylinders as I told him that compressed air on a dirty coil is like peeing in the wind. I got my CO2.

Hate to bust your bubble, congrats on the victory, but CO2 not gonna get r done either. If its impacted you gonna have to put the water to it to get it clean.

Different scenario here. My boss alloted me time to split coils on several units that techs before me said they had to split. I get to the jobsite and pull the lids and find that the coils could not be split. My boss wanted to argue with me over this and I did win the battle. Also someone mentioned compressed air earlier. My boss wanted to argue with me over the purchase of CO2 cylinders as I told him that compressed air on a dirty coil is like peeing in the wind. I got my CO2.

Keep looking for another job. Carpet bomb every HVAC contractor in your area with resumes. Yes you are doing it wrong. Coils must be split to clean properly but that's not what you were hired to do. You were hired to splash and dash. But it's a job and you took it so do it till you get something better. At least you know it's not proper and you don't like it. That tells me you WILL be able to get on with a reputable company. Hang in there you'll make it. Welcome to the trade. Good luck.

Wow 25 RTUs a day. Thats a lot. I would stay with that company until I found a better one.

A job is better than no job and since you are now in the industry you will rub shoulders with others in the industry and may find it easier to get on with another company. Cleaning them like you are is probably better than what they were before you cleaned them so its not like you are wasting your time. There is no way you would meet that quota of 18-25 a day if you cleaned them properly. Just do what your boss says as long it doesn't compromise your morals and keep looking for a better job with a better company.

Go to work for someone who will let you do things right!

Water and dirt makes mud. You have to separate the split coils on the condensers.You will be surprised.What looks clean on the outside is most likely hiding enough cottonwood to knit grandma a sweater on the inside.Use compressed air.

coil cleaning

hey everyone!!
I am long time reader first time poster. I recently got my first job in the industry after graduating from school. albeit 2 years late. Anyway, I took a job with a local filter/pm company that deals only with commercial. I am the only EPA licensed employee they have. My main job is to clean rtu coils. I have asked my boss many times why we don't split the coil like i was taught. Instead we hit it with liquid foaming cleaner on the outside only and quickly hose it off. I am expected to clean between 18 and 25 rtu's a day. Am I wasting my time working for a company that doesn't do things right.

thanks alot!!