'How to' Clean Air-conditioner Fins

Tue, 07/08/2008 - 16:27 — Jerlin

How to Clean Air-conditioner Fins

You should clean the fins on your air-conditioner when needed. Usually for me, this is once or twice a year. Dirty Fins

One time is usually in the spring after the Cottonwood has completed its flight. And then again, maybe in the fall.

To do this job is not hard at all and it really does not take that much time. The first thing I do is turn off the heat pump, to make sure that the fans are not running outside.

Back Saver Then I get my little stool, which I got a camping world. And oh yes, my wife's double duty, now I guess triple duty, toothbrush and go to work.

I start on the top and brush the fins up and down up to remove or lose the dirt and any Cottonwood. I ONLY MOVE THE BRUSH UP AND DOWN on the fins. BECAREFUL NOT TO BEND THE FINS! Every so often I will take the Brushing fins toothbrush out and clean the Cottonwood off to the brush. I continue from left to right, and top to bottom, and then I go back and I'd make sure that I get behind the guard. Again, going from left to right and top to bottom.

This normally takes maybe 15 minutes. You need to be careful not to bend any of the fins. This is why I use a toothbrush and an up-and-down motion to clean between the fins.

When I am satisfied that I've gotten most of the dirt off of the fins, I spray on Krud Kutter, which I purchased at Lowe's. I spray the fins left to right top to bottom. I let it soak for approximately 5 minutes. You could use a dilute solution of simple Green. Then I take my hose and spray again left to right and top to bottom, making sure not to spray in the right hand side control panel. I rinse thoroughly to make sure that all the dirt and cleaning solution has been rinsed off of Rinse off the fins. You will be amazed at the amount of dirt that you can get off of these fins. Oh yes, I did not really use my wife's toothbrush. I have another toothbrush that is dedicated to this job and it's stored underneath in the plumbing supply area.