Get the information you need to choose the right coil cleaning system.
When it comes to HVAC systems, those with the cleanest coils perform best. Maintaining them properly helps sustain maximum operating efficiency and keeps high performance equipment running smoothly. In fact, this is exactly why most manufacturers recommend routine maintenance and inspection of the complete system and its coils, to be done annually, at minimum.
It’s a fact! The cleaner the coils and other heat transfer surfaces the more effective the system, but don’t break your back to see professional results. A combination of the best equipment and the right technique can make improving the efficiency of coils easier than you expected. Here are a few methods that have been commonly used to maintain HVAC coils in commercial facilities.
- Garden hoses – Good flow, but limited pressure and can’t effectively clean hard-to-reach coils
- Aerosols – little pressure and contains harsh chemicals that are hard on coils and can cause corrosion and damage
- Pump sprays – low pressure and flow and not very effective in penetrating most coils beds
- Pressure washers – uses pressure that's too high and damages fins
- Coil cleaners/washing systems – specialized system with balanced pressure and water volume that’s safe on coils
While all of these methods have their own benefit, only coil cleaner systems are specifically designed to clean coils in a variety of places, indoors and out. Goodway invented the coil cleaning system and the CoilPro line of coil cleaner systems are an industry standard that offers safe and efficient coil cleaning. These machines use just the right amount of water pressure to effectively clean coils without damaging fins, improve heat exchange properties and are specifically designed to easily clean evaporator and condenser coils fast. All coil cleaners aren’t created equal, so consider the following factors when selecting the right equipment for the task.
The Importance of Condenser Coil Cleaners
Air conditioners "coils" like evaporator coils and condenser coils are the primary method for heat exchange, whether that be removing heat from the air (cooling) or pushing heat back into the air (heating).
Generally, an air conditioning system has two sets of coils, condenser coils, and evaporator coils. These coils are usually made of copper tubes with aluminum fins, which aids in the heat exchange process. The evaporator coil, or indoor coil, is often described as the "cold" coil and works by absorbing heat from the indoor air blown over by the air handler's fan. The condenser coil or outdoor coil is the "warm" coil as it rejects the heat as a fan blows outside air over the surface. Keeping these coils clean is an essential part of your HVAC system running at top efficiency and increasing its life. Goodway has a variety of coil cleaning solutions to clean both the condenser coils and evaporator coils quickly and easily.
Did You Know?
AC systems operating with dirty coils can consume up to 37 percent more power and still perform less effectively than clean coils.
How do you clean an industrial condenser coil?
Cleaning industrial condenser coils is vital to maintaining system efficiency of your HVACR system. The best method for cleaning condenser coils is to back flush them with water, using medium (no more than 400 PSI) water pressure and plenty of water flow (above 2.5 GPM). Specialty coil cleaning systems have been designed to help speed this process. Using chemicals to aid in cleaning can help, especially if there are residues like oils ro grease.
Can you use degreaser on condenser coils?
You can use degreasers on condenser coils, however be sure to choose degreasing cleaners specially made for cleaning HVACR coils. Products like CoilShine offer terrific degreasing of HVAC coils, and are designed with no acids, and are biodegradable.
How do professionals clean evaporator coils?
Professional HVACR contractors and facility engineers use specialty coil cleaning systems to clean condenser coils. These systems offer unique features that minimize the amount of water pressure used to clean thick coils, while maximizing the water volume used to clean coils. The combination of medium pressure and large water volumes allow professionals to quickly clean condenser coils.
What chemicals are used for condenser descaling?
A general rule of thumb is that if you don’t need to use chemicals, then don’t! However, many condenser coils require some minimal level of chemical to help dislodge and flush away built up materials, or if heavy oils or grease are present. Make sure to use chemicals that are specially designed for HVACR use, and avoid using products that include harsh alkalis or acids. These include chemicals such as potassium hydroxide. These will cause coil damage and are dangerous to skin and lugs if breathed in.
Location, Location, Location
Take a look around you - coils can be found everywhere in commercial and industrial spaces. They are located in units outside, on rooftops above the facility, inside narrow ceilings and even tucked away inside of mechanical rooms.
Coils are found in HVAC and refrigeration equipment, including those used in supermarkets and restaurants. It is not uncommon to find hundreds of "through-the-wall" PTAC fan coil units in a hotel, dormitory, or apartment building. As the air moving over the coils contains dust, dirt, pollen, moisture, and other contaminants, the coils get dirty and become less efficient. In addition, the evaporator coil and its condensate pan can become fouled with pollen, mold spores, and other biological contaminants that can have adverse effects on indoor air quality. If not maintained, the moisture around the evaporator coil can become a breeding ground for bacteria and mold.
The needs of those maintaining indoor coils differ greatly from those maintaining outdoor coils, so caring for them best means considering the unique challenges that come along with their location.
Indoor Coils
In some cases, indoor coils are difficult to clean because they are stationed in hard-to-reach areas and are barely visible. On other occasions, you may be required to clean them in a space being occupied by others. However, in most cases, a portable unit with controlled flow and perfect pressure is required and Goodway’s CoilPro line has several unique coil cleaner systems that were specifically designed for the job.
- CC-JR CoilPro – portable, shoulder strapped unit that carries water, chemical and power with it, for cleaning of coils in hard-to-reach places
- CC-600 – delivers 600 PSI at 1.6 GPM to thoroughly penetrate thick coil beds
- CC-140 – a self-contained, coil cleaning system that can also connect to a ¾” water line for continuous operation
- CC-200 – powerful coil cleaner that includes wet/dry vacuum capabilities for cleaning spills, also uses tablet-based coil cleaner for added convenience
CoilPro systems can be used in a variety of inside areas to clean coils – from the mechanical room to the board room, but beware. Coil thickness and drainage are very important to take into consideration when selecting the right equipment.
Outdoor Coils
Outdoor coils in units stationed on high rooftops are exposed to a broader range of debris from the environment, so lack of proper maintenance could cause them to lose efficiency faster. Outside coils are also generally thicker than inside coils, so they’ll need a broader range of solutions with greater power. Whether the task requires easy-to-carry equipment, or continuous water operation, Goodway offers several unique machines specially designed to make hard-to-reach condenser coils easier to access, for more thorough cleaning.
- CC-JR - offers more portability and battery-operated power for smaller rooftop units up to 5 tons
- CC-100 – is an easy-to-carry backpack coil cleaner that offers siphon chemical injection and includes a portable water tank for up to 5 tons
- CC-400HF – is a hi flow, medium pressure cleaner designed to clean thick HVAC coils up to 6” deep and includes a 40’ sectional wand for reaching in and around tough-to-clean coils
Did You Know?
Dirty condenser coils reduce energy efficiency about 60 percent.
Is There Water Available?
Depending on where the coils are located, you may have to bring your own water to the job, so finding this out beforehand is very important. When it comes to cleaning in remote locations, on-board water tanks, like those offered in our CoilPro CC-JR and CC-100 models, help get cleaning done quickly. Our CC-100 HVAC Coil Cleaner is designed for this kind of flexibility. With its very own integrated rechargeable battery 5, gallon tank and chemical injection control, this portable machine is perfect for cleaning outdoor units when no water source is near. For best results, use with CoilShine.
If water is available, especially if coils are located outside, having more water volume for coil cleaning could help cut cleaning time. Models like the CC-600 and CC-400 from Goodway, offer increased pressure and flow, to power through coil cleaning tasks quickly.
Did You Know?
Goodway offers several effective chemical solutions for cleaning coils. CoilShine-T, is a revolutionary new tablet-based system featured in our CC-200 equipment. It is a non-acidic, alkaline-based, expanding, self advancing solution designed to penetrate coil beds. CoilShine-BC is an EPA registered and ready-to-use solution that controls and inhibits future growth of odor-causing bacteria. CoilShine and CoilShine-BC are safe to use in occupied spaces.
Size Really Does Matter
Another very important factor to consider when cleaning coils is their thickness. Thick coils are usually pretty challenging to clean efficiently. Cleaning them right requires a perfect combination of higher volumes of water and pump pressure to penetrate far enough into thick coil beds to flush out dirt and debris. Goodway’s CoilPro line offers a variety of powerful machines that specialize in cleaning thick coils effectively.
- CC-400HF provides a powerful cleaning experience that combines the perfect amount of pressure and water flow to clean coils up to 6” thick
- CC-200 – features a new and powerful tablet-based coil cleaner system and siphon chemical integration that eliminates waste and fully targets dirty coils
Did You Know?
Our CC-400HF blasts dirt and debris from thick coils with 400 PSI of cleaning power at 3.0 gallons per minute flow rate.
Power Up!
Knowing if there will be electrical power in an area you will be cleaning coils is equally as important as knowing if there will be water available. Have you thought about how you’re going to clean coils in remote areas with no outlets, yet? We have. Goodway’s CoilPro line of unique coil cleaner systems offers several portable, battery-powered models for when plugging into an outlet is simply not an option.
- CC-JR – has a long lasting deep cycle battery and ergonomic design
- CC-100 – uses a 12 V rechargeable battery with a smart charger
- CC-140 – contains a rechargeable battery that powers up to 90 gallons of spray
Did You Know?
CC-100 Coil Cleaner can be used for just about any coil cleaning application.
Goodway's Coil Cleaners Overview:
Backpack CoilPro Coil Cleaner
The Goodway CC-100 Backpack CoilPro makes your job easier. The unique battery-powered coil cleaner is the solution for all your mobile and hard-to-reach coil cleaning applications. Spray bottles and pump sprayers are not effective in penetrating most coil beds. In addition, many “coil cleaner” chemicals can actually damage the coils or create noxious fumes. After much customer input, our engineers have redesigned our unique coil cleaning system, containing all of the features needed in a truly mobile package!
Features:
- Deep cycle 12 V rechargeable battery
- Integrated 5-gallon water tank
- Integrated 3-quart chemical tank
Backpack CoilPro with Dolly
The Goodway CC-100-D Dolly mounted CoilPro makes your job easier. This unique battery-powered coil cleaner is the solution for all your mobile and hard-to-reach coil cleaning applications. Spray bottles and pump sprayers are not effective in penetrating most coil beds. In addition, many “coil cleaner” chemicals can actually damage the coils or create noxious fumes.
Features:
- Wheel and Dolly Assembly
- Deep cycle 12 V rechargeable battery
- Integrated 5-gallon water tank
- Integrated 3-quart chemical tank
CoilPro Self Contained Coil Cleaning System
The Goodway CC-140 CoilPro Battery Powered Coil Cleaner is the solution for your coil cleaning applications. Spray bottles and pump sprayers are not effective in penetrating most coil beds. In addition, many “coil cleaner” chemicals can actually damage the coils or create noxious fumes. This unique coil cleaning system is most efficient with our non-fuming CoilShine, environmentally friendly expanding foam detergent.
Features:
- Integrated water tank
- Integrated soap container
- 12 V rechargeable battery
CoilPro CC-140 with CoilVac
The total coil cleaning system! Sames as CC-140 but with CoilVac Dry HEPA Vacuum mounted on a dolly, including filters, stainless steel tank, 6' vinyl crush-proof hose, two-piece 36" wand, 19" flexible extension wand, 3" dual bristle dusting brush, 3" long bristle dusting brush, 5" blower/bulk pickup nozzle, four-piece 29" flat wand with crevice tool tip and 6" flat brush, CoilVac mounting bracket, and tool bin. The CC-140 is designed to be flexible. The unit can be used for just about any coil cleaning application. It can operate on AC power or its integrated rechargeable battery.
Features:
- Integrated water tank
- Integrated soap container
- 12 V rechargeable battery
CoilPro CC-400 Hi-Flow.
The CC-400 hi-flow coil cleaner is purpose-built to clean thick, dirty condenser coils up to 8" thick. This unit provides the best of both worlds for cleaning coils. There is plenty of water (3 GPM) and plenty of power (400 SPI), all without damaging sensitive fins.
Features:
- Convenient 120V power connection
- Lightweight and portable
- Chemical injection
- Optional wands
CoilPro Coil Cleaner
For washing those thick, hard-to-reach coils, turn to the CC-600 High Flow CoilPro Coil Cleaner. With an output water pressure of 300 or 600 PSI at 1.6 GPM, this unit delivers the cleaning force necessary to penetrate thick coil beds. When used with CoilShine, our environmentally friendly, non-fuming, expanding foam detergent, it will give you the cleanest coils possible. The CC-600 is designed to be used on large multiple-pass coil beds. It operates on AC power. The unit can connect to a 3/4" water line for continuous operation or draw from its own 5-gallon tanks. The operator applies a thick layer of CoilShine, Goodway's expanding foam detergent, using the custom foaming nozzle.
Features:
- Integrated 5-gallon water tank
- Integrated 5-gallon chemical tank
- Chemical control valve
CoilPro Cleaner with CoilVac
The CC-600-KIT is the same as CC-600 CoilPro. It includes a CoilVac Dry HEPA Vacuum so the operator can first vacuum heavy debris from the coil before applying chemicals and spraying it down with the CoilPro. Both the CoilPro CC-600 and CoilVac operate on AC power. The CC-600 can connect to a 3/4" water line for continuous operation or draw from its own 5-gallon tanks. The operator applies a thick layer of CoilShine, Goodway’s expanding foam detergent, using the custom foaming nozzle.
Features:
- Integrated 5-gallon water tank
- Integrated 5-gallon chemical tank
- Chemical control valve
Cleaning Pays Off, Big Time
It pays to have clean coils running in your equipment. Just ask Al Frabotta of Westwood One, a major office park in Westchester County, NY. Frabotta uses Goodway’s CC-400HF and as a result, one month of his energy bill came in $20,000 under budget. “My manager was tickled. He thought there was a mistake on the electric bill.”
So what are you waiting for? Speak with a Goodway salesman right away to find the best coil cleaner to satisfy your cleaning needs.
