I dropped my AC temperature 5 degrees, using soap & water.

Here are my facts:

1. 1. My residential hvac system is 4 years old.

   2. This system is a 3 ton, 98% high efficiency furnace, with a 17 seer, dual speed AC. Very nice.

   3. It is located in my encapsulated crawlspace.

   4. It’s always operated at peak efficiency & performance.

   5. As for my house…

      1. It is 1800 ft2, ranch.

      2. We have R-50 cellulose in our attic,

      3. We have dual-pane replacement windows.

      4. Exterior color is a light shade of gray, freshly painted 7 months ago.

      5. Roof shingle is ENERGY STAR certified light-colored gray.

We had no AC!

My wife and I returned home from a 9 day trip to discover that we had no AC operating and the interior temperature was 88 degrees.

The outdoor temperature was in the mid nineties.

My reaction:

• Cycled the thermostat on/off a couple of times.

• Turned the power on/off at the outside compressor unit.

• Went under the house, and checked the condensate lines & pump for blockage.

It all looked normal, and in fact the AC unit came on for about twenty minutes, but shut off again.

By now it’s evening and outside temperatures are beginning to drop.

At around 7PM, my AC system came back on again, and operated all through the night, and eventually cooled the house to my thermostat setting of 72 degrees.

Our home held that temperature until mid morning, when it cycled on at 74 degrees, and pulled the house temperature down to 72 again. It continued to work on/off throughout the day.

The “Secret” my HVAC Tech Taught Me

 

At 6:30pm the second day, my HVAC tech Keith arrived. I shared my action steps with him, and he evaluated my unit outside and under the house.

 

“Mr Bob, I believe the immediate problem with your system is that the condenser coils are dirty.”

 

He showed me all the dust and dirt in those coils, and I felt so dumb.

 

I KNEW I was supposed to be rinsing those coils each year! I had always done that with my previous systems.

 

But for some reason, I had ignored this vital annual cleaning on this new setup… for 4 years.

How Keith Washed & Cleaned My Condenser Coils

 

As I watched, he returned from his truck with a 5 gallon bucket. Here’s what he did after turning off the power to the outside unit.

 

1. Using a soap cannon, he thoroughly soaped the coils on all four sides on my Goodman unit.

2. The soap he used was Nu Brite brand, designed for this task.

3. After soaking for several minutes, he rinsed the unit, careful to avoid direct water on the electrical system.

4. His hose was of the shrinking variety, and he used his thumb to create a little pressure.

5. The entire process took about 20 minutes.

 

While he worked, Keith explained that dirt in those coils drives temperatures higher, and causes the system to be less efficient at dumping the heat to the atmosphere.

 

And then he said this: “I wouldn’t be surprised if you start feeling colder air from your vents now”.

 

Well blow me down!

 

What he may not have known is that I have a “stick thermometer” in the supply-air vent in my office. I had just recorded the air flow temperature at 61 degrees that same day he was here.

 

BTW, a stick thermometer is simply a kitchen thermometer used for cooking.

The Obvious Benefit From Cleaning My Condenser Coils

It took about 30 minutes before I got back to the office to look at my thermometer. And sure enough, it was measuring 56 degree air coming from that same supply vent that earlier in the day delivered 61 degree air!

Keith was right!! Did my airflow temperature drop 5 degrees simply from cleaning my condenser coils with soap and water?

Follow My Example

If it’s been over a year since you cleaned your outside condenser coils, do it this week! Learn from my mistake!

Keith even told me that if you don’t have the right kind of soap, just use water. But remember – be careful not to bend those aluminum fins with a high-pressure stream of water. And never do this without first disconnecting the power to your outside unit.

It’s been a week now, and my system is running flawlessly. And you know what? As I sit at my desk typing this article, I’m chilly – even though it’s going to reach 90 today.

We’ll Do It For You!

Would you rather have someone help with this task? Here at Bird Family Insulation we will gladly clean your outside condenser coils, as a part of our premium Air Duct Cleaning service.  Simply tell Nicole in the office (404-538-9168) or mention it in our website contact form or your text message to the same number.

We’ll take it from there. Easy-Peasy.

God Bless You! Thanks for reading

– Bob Bird