Air Conditioning Evaporator Coil cleaning
 

Hi, We were just told by our cooling system service person that we should have our Evaporator Coil cleaned. They want $300 to do it. Does this sound like something we should do? Does the price sound reasonable. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks!

Sorry to say but $300 is excessive. It is a true do it yourself job.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/AC-Safe-...-921/206740351

Here's a video, there might be an ad at the beginning

Cleaning the Evaporator Coils

What are you paying the cooling system person to do? Cleaning the evaporator coil and the condenser coil (outside unit) should be part of a regular maintenance service which should cost less than $100 to check out the entire system. But, if you have been replacing your filter regularly, the evaporator coil shouldn't need to be cleaned. Personally, I never hire an HVAC company unless the system fails. I change the filters and pour vinegar down the condensate drain line to prevent it from clogging. Those are very easy things to do yourself. An HVAC company really cannot do anything on a regular basis that will prevent your system from failing. But, $300 is way too high to clean the coil.

I have done both, the interior and exterior coils on a six year old unit.

The interior uses a soap like a degreaser something like totally awesome, purple
Power, or simple green. It was for coil cleaning so it was overpriced. The exterior uses an acidic cleaner which foams and gets rid of what little oxidation there was. You hose it off to stop the foaming. Also a purpose specific cleaner.

Looking at the end state neither needed it.

Edit to add: it did not make one bit of energy savings, judging by my energy monitor which takes 10,000 samples a second.

$300 is a great price if they were doing the entire neighborhood. I think I paid about $65 or $75 with a tune-up. Chuck Farrell 352-633-9364.

Usually the scams are condemning the compressor when it only needs a capacitor. Overcharging for an evaporator cleaning is a new one. Perhaps there is more to it. For that price he should have given you a much more detailed explanation. Obviously you should get a second opinion, even if it is over the phone.

Also there are different schools of thought about chemicals on coils, especially acid. A seriously neglected evaporator coil may need an acid cleaning but that is unusual for a residence. If they do an acid wash then it would be time consuming as it would require much time flushing with water afterwards.

You can get a spray foam cleaner at Home Depot that does a great job. Just spray it on the coil and it’s done. Depending on how bad the coil is it may take several applications.

Have my unit serviced 2 times a year..Included with the service

My hubby pipe fitter, installed commercial heating, air, Chicago for 40 years said that is the reason you have a $50 filter in your unit. Not necessary

This is basically a scam I do this every year very easy thakes about 30minutes. Be aware the next issue they will try and sell you is A/C capacitor $100+ labor service person claims when they start to buldge its time to replace available Amazon less than $18. Filter large $75 can be purchased filters are us 2 for $30. Water sensor in overflow line $50 Amazon $12

I would immediately look for a new A/C company.

We buy merv 13 filters for approx $20, replace once a year--the filter is in front of the evap coil, if it does its job, no cleaning necessary

The pipe fitter is correct--you don't have to clean the evap coil

It should be a part of the normal annual service. I checked my last receipt.
You've got to ask yourself, what is the $300 cleaning going to do that should have been done already by the original servicer? If there were something that dirty, (can't imagine what), it should have been shown to you and taken care of on the spot.
They might be in the "Pandemic Make-up for Lost Business" mode.

I would run away from this company and do nothing until the next service with a different company next year.

I have no experience (yet) with the Chuck Farrell mentioned in an earlier post, but I have read countless good things on this forum about him.

Sounds like a lot for something not likely necessary. You can do that and the filter etc. yourself for a fraction of the cost, see other posts for info. I use Muns & Munns for biannual maintenance (ac in spring, heat in fall). They do my ac with new filter for $129. More than DIY, but well worth the peace of mind.

You can do it yourself. Get a cheap submersible pump,Amazon for $45. 4 gallons of vinegar, a bucket, and 2 rubber hoses about 3 feet each. You run the vinegar through for an hour then 5 minutes of water and your done.

:confused: Are you talking "tankless hotwater heater"? Thread is about EVAPORATOR COILS on an A/C :)

Change your HVAC provider
 

That service should be included in your maintenance service. Change your HVAC provider, a lot of big companies have purchased the old family owned ones and they pay bonuses to the technicians that upsell unnecessary services, my unit was installed by a company, I purchased the home in 2018 unit was 2 years old, called the company since their labels were all in the inside unit for maintenance, once here they tried to sell me a condenser for $275.00, I asked “if the condenser is bad wouldn’t the unit quit working” after a long silence the tech said well is about to go bad. I threw them out of my house called a smaller company he look at it cleaned the inside condensate line and he is doing my work
:boom::boom::boom::bigbow::bigbow::bigbow:

you may wanna consider changing the folks that service your A/C

just saying

Agree 100% item that they should change out before it fails and causes damage..Problem is 15 30 bucks now preventive, few 100 when it fails

Do you remember where it’s located at HD?

Thanks

https://www.homedepot.com/p/AC-Safe-...-921/206740351
Aisle FW, Bay 013

.

You are paying for unneeded service. Once a year service is more than necessary. I know a certain company pushes the twice a year with an overpriced 10 year maintenance contract and tell you it is needed for warranty. Their replacement ac is also about 25% higher than anyone else.

:ho: Link was in post #2

Share the name of the company that gave you a $300 price as a PUBLIC SERVICE

We’re absentee owners and joined Sun Kools Kool club.

We’re here in the spring and fall. They’re local and for the past 3 years have provided excellent service.

Kool club gets you preferential appointment times a discount on parts and labor, two very thorough tune ups one in spring and they clean the coils as needed.

You get a new unit filter which the correct one is $30.00 at Home Depot but in reality is a half inch small allowing dirt to get buy it causing dirty coil premature on indoor unit.

The correct filter for our unit is $50.00 and one per year is included.

You earn kool bucks which can be used for service and repairs. The guy was here Wednesday and spent a hour checking every operational item cleaned both coils and pressure cleaned the drain line with a machine.

Kool club is $199.00 per year and includes emergency service should your unit fail unexpectedly.

Sun kool they are on US 301 N in Oxford.

If you use good filters and replace them regularly, the evaporator coil should rarely, if ever, need to be cleaned. I have never needed to clean an evaporator coil. But, I have seen HVAC units where the unit was operated for a long time without a filter at all, and the coil will accumulate dust, hair, and dirt. Then, it definitely needs to be cleaned. But, I don't think most maintenance "tune-ups" will include cleaning the evaporator coil. They may inspect it, but not clean it. If you think your HVAC company is cleaning the coil every year, I would ask to see the chemical he used.

We use Munn’s as well. 14 years and going strong.

$300 is very reasonable if they are going to pump out the refrigerant aka freon , remove they evaporator coil, chemically clean the coil, flush with water, reinstall the evaporator coil, solder the refrigeration lines and then add your freon back. this is only necessary if the evap. coil has imbedded dirt which is quite common if the unit was run for several months without a filter or even if run with a filter during floor installation or replacement or if the system is very old and has been subjected to neglect. A coil cleaned"in place" should be under $30 plus service call.

Glad to see Chuck Farrell's number listed. We have ours serviced every year. $65.00 for great service. I order the filters from Amazon.

Thanks everyone for your replies.
 

Thank you for all the responses. I'm going to try to do it myself with the spray cleaner. I watched a few videos so hopefully, if I can get at it, spraying it is a simple job. I'll let you know. :pray:

Thanks for asking that question , it prompted me to google how to clean your air conditioning cooling coil , even I can do it , what outfit was going to charge you 300.00

Ridiculous charge. You can buy coil cleaner spray at Lowes. Spray it through the vents on the outside unit. Also do not use a garden hose to clean the outside coils as you can bend the fins and degrade performance.

:popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:

Generally-speaking I'm not in favor of publicly bashing a company; however, $300 to clean evaporator coils is outrageous and totally scammy, so in your situation I agree w/ the above poster--as a public service to other area residents you should provide the name of this company so we can avoid them.

...

If you would like an honest opinion, call Malynn Percy of Jim Percy's Air Conditioning and Heating. They are very honest and will not steer you wrong. It always pays to get a second opinion. They can probably give you a price on the phone. 352-286-6064

Cleaning the coils is easy- i take a small shopvac and soft brush attachment to clean ours no cost

Inquiring seniors are demanding to know what is the name of this offending A/C company. We will storm their shop carrying pitchforks and sickles!