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Choosing the right Coil Cleaner and Cleaning Practices

Why does coil cleaning matter?

Efficiency (condenser)

When is a system at peak performance?

New or like new state

Proper coil cleaning is an attempt to return a system to a like new state

Day and age where energy use and policy gets talked about constantly

Is climate change real?

Does it matter?

We can argue both sides but in the end reducing energy consumption is never a bad thing.

Do your customers understand inefficient HVAC systems and what it means?

We’ve gotten better but still have room to grow

Mostly our industry is taken for granted until something breaks

We haven’t done a great job explaining how important we are

The first world would be a mess if we didn’t have HVACR

Dirty coils cause:

Increased head pressure

Decreased capacity

Leads to less efficiency

When debris accumulates on the coil it can’t release heat and cause higher pressure. More pressure increases amp draw which means more energy is used. Longer run times mean more energy = more $$

Boils down to longer run times for systems, reduced capacity to cool or refrigerate. Then components and parts get taxed for working too hard and stuff starts breaking.$$$$

A simple maintenance contract can save thousands of $$ in energy, problems and not to mention uncomfortable family/employees/patrons.

Health (Evaporator Coils)

Dirty evaporators lead to poor IAQ

Indoor Air Quality

Health problems associated with poor IAQ

Contaminants on evap coils trap moisture - perfect breeding ground for:

Mold

Mildew

Bacteria

Smells (dirty sock syndrome)

Also decreases heat transfer and increase run times and energy costs

Choosing the Right Cleaner

Asking the right questions can narrow down your choices

Type of Coil?

Evaporator

Condenser

Micro Channel / Mini split

Electronic Air Cleaners

What am I cleaning off?

Oils / Nicotine

Cooking Grease

Fin corrosion / oxidation (rust)

Mold / mildew

Dust / lint

Grass / cottonwood / heavy debris

Concrete dust

Additional factors to consider:

Surrounding environment

Kids, pets, other humans

Food, water, plants

Anyone in the area sensitive to odors or breathing issues

Foaming VS Non-Foaming

Foaming can be acid or alkaline

Foam due to reaction with aluminum and other metals

Rinse VS No Rinse VS Self Rinse

acids and alkaline require rinsing

solvents do not require rinsing (blowout)

Self rinse (evaporators)

Acid / Alkaline / Detergent / Solvent

Added benefit for Vapco, our new labels show you what type of coil the product is recommended for

Two main lines, our Premium brand as well as an Economic line. Lots of situation specific coil cleaners

Foaminator

Best coil cleaner on the market

Flagship Cleaner, Completely Unique

Proprietary blend of surfactants

Time Delay – allows better penetration, pushes from the middle of the coil

Won’t atomize

Most Versatile Cleaner on the Market

Aerosol, Gallon, 5-55 gallon, Super Concentrate, Powder, Pressurized cylinder

Super Concentrate and Powder ship non-hazmat (no water)

Heavy Foaming – Alkaline Cleaner

Amazing on grease, oils, dirt, grass, cottonwood, nicotine, rust

Can be mixed at low concentrations 8:1 even 10:1 and still effective

USDA approved, Biodegradable

Premium Line

Foamtastic and Plus (condenser)

Foaming Alkaline Coil Cleaners

Foamtastic does not meet USDA standards Plus does

Plus is great at brightening coils

Ideal for oil, grease, dirt, nicotine, general contaminants

Brite Alum (condenser)

Foaming Acid Coil Cleaner

Amazing at shining up coils (really increases efficiency)

Dangerous ** must wear protective gear

HP Cleaner (evaporator or condenser)

Nonfoaming Detergent

Versatile cleaning agent (motocross bikes)

Self rinsing on evaporators

Meets USDA standards

Economy line

Same principles as Premium line just more cost effective materials

High Tech Series

High Tech Alka = Plus / Foamtastic

High Tech Acid = Brite Alum

High Tech Evap = HP cleaner

Marketing wanted green coil cleaner

Does a better job with a few contaminants than HP cleaner (shhh)

Specialty Cleaners

BD Cleaner

USDA and 100% biodegradable cleaner

Perfect for nicotine

Self rinsing, detergent

Eco Clean

Environmentally friendly

EPA-DFE compliant

Quad Power

4 Times the power

Strong detergent-based Cleaner

Aerosol and Gallon

Blowout

Solvent

Non-rinsing (high evap rate)

Aerosol, 15 & 30 lb pressurized cylinders

Grass, cottonwood, grease, dirt, dust

X-Factor

Best / Safest Cleaner on the market

Oxy-Clean on steroids

Mold, mildew, oils, grease, nicotine

Carpet Cleaner and more

Microchannel/minisplit safe

Prevention

Coat It Pro

Aerosol & Cylinder Liquid – corrosion preventer

Coats coils to prevent water blow off from fins

Reduces growth of mold and bacteria in ducts and evaporator

Sani-Pan Strips

1 ton, 3 ton, 5 ton, 10 ton, 20 ton, 50 ton

6 month coverage

No possibility of clogging drain pan

EPA registered to kill mold, mildew etc

Disinfect Pro

EPA registered, hospital grade disinfectant

20 oz aerosol & 1 Gallon

Practices

Always water first then Coil Cleaners (including Powders)

Spray the bottom of coil first let it foam then work your way up the coil (condenser)

For evaporators start at the top of the coil and work down

Beware of your surroundings (roof type, flowers and grassy areas)