Anyone here ever clean A/C coils to fix that dirty sock smell? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2016, 09:04:46 pm
content: Have an air conditioner that I got for free due to a leak problem, fixed it up (and later some of the wiring that was melting inside), but now it's got that dirty sock smell whenever the compressor isn't running but the fan is.I got some of this foaming cleaner:http://www.amazon.com/DIVERSITECH-358-20-Foaming-Aerosol-Oz-880504/dp/B00821A73Oto clean the evap coil but it only mentions dirt, dust and hard water deposits. Not sure if I need one that states it has anti microbial/bacterial properties as well or not.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2016, 10:13:44 am
content: If it is a window wall unit take it outside and wash the coils with a hose, and leave to drain dry. For a split unit you will have to remove the filter cover, undo the cover retaining screws ( they are typically hidden under some plastic covers on the air outlet) after removing the direction louvers, which do clip out and slip out of the bushes. Cover off, power disconnected then you remove the black drain tray from the unit, disconnect the drain line and the louver stepper motor, and wash the junk from inside the tray, then put it back. Then take a garden sprayer ( the pump kind you use to spray weeds and such) and wash the coil inside, both front and back, letting it drain into the pan and drain out, taking most of the grunge with it. Then use some of that coil cleaner, and spray the whole coil ( again front and back) and leave to soak for around 5 minutes, then wash it off again. Make sure the back side is rinsed well, and then take the tray out again and rinse it again. Then put the lot back together and it will not smell any more.Typically takes me around an hour for this, including washing the filters and wiping down the whole inside unit with some cloth, and then going to the outdoor unit and washing it as well.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 21, 2016, 02:01:28 pm
content: I don't get that dirty sock smell but I do clean the window AC in my office once a year. Take cover off, hose it all out, clean the coils front and back and scrub out any gunk I find. I leave it on its side to drain for a couple of hours and then lay it flat again for 24 hours before putting the cover in and putting it back in the window. I do this in the cooler months here in Florida as I run it 24/7 and don't want my office to be a sauna in the summer without it.

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2016, 05:28:25 pm
content: It's a stand up ac unit, I cleaned the coils with that foaming cleaner, however the smell is there a little, someone on an hvac forum mentioned that it's usually the plastic in the trays offgassing that causes it, which sucks. It's much better than it was though.

author: Tomorokoshi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2016, 12:26:58 am
content: Similar to what SeanB said, I've cleaned up dehumidifiers by getting everything taken apart, spraying it down, etc. I tend to use Pine-Sol as the cleaner. Don't use any ammonia. Get a couple different brushes made for that work or a kitchen brush and a sponge. You may need to do it a couple times. Make sure to also clean all the plastic venting. Spray everything down with a hose. Cover up any sensitive parts like the controls. Let it dry out in the sun for a while. Test it before putting it all together again if possible.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2016, 01:20:39 am
content: Back in 2012 when I stayed in a cheap hotel in Manila, the wall air-con unit stank. Rather than try to get the hotel to fix it (not going to happen) I pulled it out myself. Turned out the installer hadn't removed the bottom tray drain plug. So it had years of accumulated condensation plus dust, making a giant petri-dish mold and algae growth experiment.I washed it out in the shower cubicle. The result was a great improvement though I didn't use any detergent and there was still a faint smell.Looking up and down the wall outside from my window, it was obvious *none* of the air-con units had condensation runoff plumbing.

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2016, 01:40:49 am
content: Click and Clack always mentioned this product:https://www.bgprod.com/catalog/climate-control/bg-frigi-fresh/Pulling the A/C like TerraHertz described above, is usually the right approach, but it is much harder to do in a car. So the quick fix is to just blast it with biocides. These types of products are usually quaternary ammonium based.

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2016, 02:13:39 am
content: Quote from: helius on May 22, 2016, 01:40:49 amThankfully it wasn't in my car that would be a nightmare.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2016, 05:27:05 pm
content: Quote from: TerraHertz on May 22, 2016, 01:20:39 amThe design is such that the condenser fan picks up the condensate water and flings it into the condenser fins, where it then evaporates off and provides extra cooling on the coil. Works well, and allows then to use a smaller coil than the design figures would say, thus cutting the cost by not using the extra row of fins and piping otherwise, at the cost of causing increased corrosion on the aluminium fins.What brand was thay Guy, not a Samsung or LG, probably Daytek or Haier, though the compressor and fan motor are common enough for most Korean and Chinese made units. I would guess that it was a heat pump unit running R22, just from the big white cover over the reversing valve.I have cleaned a few that were looking like that, but that one likely never was cleaned since installation, not even a filter wash. Only one that I cleaned that was that bad was a small Daiken split I got for free, where I wanted the indoor unit to repair a Panasonic one that is around 30 years old and has a dead indoor unit, broken plastic case, dead fan motor and drum fan out of balance badly.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2016, 11:27:58 am
content: Quote from: SeanB on May 22, 2016, 05:27:05 pmPic of the unit's front below. Not a brand you or I have heard of I think.I didn't care how it worked, just wanted to remove the primeval soup. Without causing problems with the management as I was there about a month. Paying about Au$110.00 PER WEEK, with breakfast for two included. Ha ha, they just assumed of course any guest would have company in the morning, given the area of Manila. But that wasn't my reason for being there. It was within walking distance of the hospital.