How to Clean an Outside Air Conditioner Coil
- 1). Turn off power to the air conditioning unit at the breaker box or outdoor power junction that the unit connects to. This will prevent accidental damage to the unit that might occur during cleaning, as well as the possibility of injury.
- 2). Remove any obvious debris from the outside of the air conditioning unit's condenser fins with a shop vac that has a soft-bristle attachment. Vacuum the entire outside surface of the condenser fins to remove any dirt, dust or grass clippings that may be present.
- 3). Mix a high-foaming coil cleaner according to package directions and pour it into a hand-pump sprayer. Apply the cleaning solution to the condenser fins from the outside, saturating them. Allow the solution to soak for 10 to 15 minutes.
- 4). Remove the screws holding the grill on top of the air conditioning unit in place. Carefully lift the grill off of the unit, removing the fan in the process. Set the grill and fan aside, making sure that no wires are overstretched or damaged in the process. Wipe the fan blades clean if dust or other dirt is evident.
- 5). Cover any electrical components inside the air conditioning unit with plastic bags or other waterproof materials. Spray the condenser fins with cleaning solution again, making sure that you spray from the outside of the air conditioner and not the inside.
- 6). Place the nozzle of a water hose or a hand-pump sprayer filled only with water inside the open air conditioner and begin spraying water through the coils to remove the cleaner and dirt that might be trapped within the coil or the fins. Make sure that you spray the water so that it goes out of the fins and not down onto the air conditioner's components. Continue spraying the coil and fins until the water coming through appears clean.
- 7). Remove the plastic bags and allow the air conditioner components time to air dry. Reassemble the air conditioning unit by placing the fan and grill back in place and securing them with screws. Turn the power back on after the air conditioner is fully assembled.
