Yes please clean your ACs…. Just NOT with a pressure washer. I’ve replaced way too many units and coils because someone read on the interwebz that was the way to do it. Simple Green and a garden hose will do an excellent job. Really check the side closest to the house… that’s the side most forget to look at and they are usually the worst.Its going to be hot this week... You don't want to have your better half hot and bothered when your AC takes a crap...
Take a few minutes to hose out your AC unit with some dish soap or use a power washer.
Stop! Simple green is corrosive to aluminum!My little bro does heat/AC work.
He had me pump about a whole spray bottle of Simple Green onto mine and then hose it off.
Crazy how much dirt and grime those fins collect.
Wow. Never knew that....Stop! Simple green is corrosive to aluminum!
Dont get me wrong, I swear by that stuff. Its damn effective, smells great, and is non toxic.
In theory its only corrosive at full strength, and only if left on the metal. But still. Could be an expensive mistake. It would really suck to miss a spot and the corrosion starts and then continues.
Is it safe to use Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner on aluminum?
When used with caution and according to the instructions, Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner has been safely and successfully used to clean aluminum. Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner, Crystal Simple Green Industrial Cleaner & Degreaser, and Simple Green Pressure Washer Concentrates have been used on aircraft, automotive, industrial and consumer aluminum items for over 20 years. However, caution and common sense must be used: aluminum is a soft metal that easily corrodes with unprotected exposure to water. The aqueous-base and alkalinity of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner can accelerate the corrosion process.
Therefore, contact times for unprotected or unpainted aluminum surfaces should be kept as brief as the job will allow - never for more than 10 minutes. Large cleaning jobs should be conducted in smaller-area stages to achieve lower contact time. Rinsing after cleaning should always be extremely thorough - paying special attention to flush out cracks and crevices to remove all Simple Green product residues. Unfinished, uncoated or unpainted aluminum cleaned with Simple Green products should receive some sort of protectant after cleaning to prevent oxidation.
Simple Green has also developed break-through water based cleaners that are safe for use on metals, plastics, rubber and high tech alloys. Extreme Simple Green Aircraft & Precision Cleaner and Simple Green Pro HD are available on both the industrial and retail markets, respectively. These products were initially developed for the aircraft industry and extensive testing shows that they are safe and effective on a variety of metals and other sensitive surfaces even in the most extreme circumstances.
My only concern is how expensive (and important) those things are. I agree with them on the "it SHOULD be fine if you rinse well" But personally I'll use a purpose built cleaner for something that expensive with nooks and crannies.Wow. Never knew that.
Mine is the diluted/spray bottle kind so I'll be sure to rinse, a lot.
I guess they have an aircraft safe grade out now that should be GTG for AC cleaning.
So I had an HVAC guy at mom's house the other day for the usual spring maintenance/check.My only concern is how expensive (and important) those things are. I agree with them on the "it SHOULD be fine if you rinse well" But personally I'll use a purpose built cleaner for something that expensive with nooks and crannies.
I use this when I need more than just water.
Amazon product ASIN B0C2MLY6N1
You can get it for $8 at lowes and other big box hardware stores. But in their infinite wisdom they prevent direct access to product pages on their website. So you cant share product links with others. Morons. One can is enough for 2 units typically.
I should have clarified I only use it every couple years myself. Normally just hosing it down is just fine. Or if I want extra cleaning on the inside when I cant hose it down.So I had an HVAC guy at mom's house the other day for the usual spring maintenance/check.
I asked him about using that foamy cleaner and he was against it. Very helpful and competent guy, so I don't think he was just trying to get business. I had never heard that and have seen alot of YouTube HVAC guys advocate for it.
What's the real deal with these foamy cleaners?