How to Clean Your Mini Split AC Condenser - Make it Cold Again
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- Опубликовано: 22 июн 2023
- Save hundreds of dollars with this easy Air Conditioner maintenance takes minutes & will help extend your Split Ductless system life, blow colder air & save money! This prevents the #1 Reason for AC Failure especially for Split Ductless systems like Mr Cool, Mitsubishi & Fujitsu.
Tools used:
Spray foam coil cleaner: amzn.to/3NoMzqZ
Wiha multiscrewdriver: amzn.to/3JuV17c
Gloves: amzn.to/3JoBG7l
This video, description and comments contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for the support!Disclaimer:Due to factors beyond the control of Silver Cymbal, I cannot guarantee against improper use or unauthorized modifications of this information. Silver Cymbal assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use this information at your own risk. Silver Cymbal recommends safe practices when working on machines and or with tools seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of Silver Cymbal, no information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not Silver Cymbal. 
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Thanks for watching! *Tools used* Coil cleaner: amzn.to/3NoMzqZ Wiha multiscrewdriver: amzn.to/3JuV17c Gloves: amzn.to/3JoBG7l
@SilverCymbal that looks to me like a Flymo lawn mower. It’s the most popular lawn mover you can get in the UK. I was always surprised why they never made it over the pond.a great design and stores away very compactly
35-year vet of the NYC HVAC wars here, I would recommend starting at the bottom, so you do not miss shooting the cleaner into the coil. it's too easy to miss getting the cleaner into the coil when it's covered with foam from above. very similar to washing your car I suspect, too easy to miss a spot due to soap running down over dirt. you can also use a mixed solution and a coil gun hose sprayer. they are useful for more than just cleaning HVAC units. maybe look into the "coil gun" sprayers we use on the job and some mix it yourself cleaners for your next video on the topic? thanks for another great DIY video.
I often hear those thing referred to as a 'Foam Cannon' or 'Foam Gun' in the car cleaning world, just in case anyone is looking for such a thing. Over here in Aus they don't seem to call them 'coil guns' all that often.
I would start in determining if the unit needs to be cleaned at all. How does one determine that? If everything is working when you stand in front of the fan the air should be blowing directly towards you, if you feel a low flow put your hand right next to the edge outside not sticking your hand into the fan but if the air is blowing sideways then you likely have a dirty coil. If it’s blowing straight and with force, what’s called “ throw” in the industry then it’s clean. One last thing, those units normally incorporate what’s called a Venturi . Look it up it’s used in other industries like fuel systems in cars and jet engine flow control but on an HVAC if the fans not latched at the right distance it retards the flow and gives the impression of a clogged coil. So recap. If the dam thing isn’t clogged don’t clean it. You might break it not knowing what you’re doing.
@@carlospenalver8721as far as the outside part just go out there and look at it and if it looks like mine it will have trash on it and lint. I'm doing mine this weekend for the first time. I watched the HVAC guy do it and he didn't even remove the cover.
4:07 No.
@braniganirby3586 Very helpful comment there. I love the detail and the context you included 😂
Thank you so much for sharing this!! I’ve been struggling for months in the heat. Finally found your video and tried and IT FIXED THE ISSUE!! My AC is now cooling. Thank you again.
I love your videos. We don't have a midsplit system but these best practices are easy to utilize during other household jobs
Moved into a home & had the pros come out & do a maintenance for the inside & outside units of my mini split...yep $700. Later that the fall a tiny mouse got into my outside unit & got killed by the fan trying to escape. THIS TIME I decided to get the mouse out & clean the entire outside unit myself. I disabled the power, took the top & front grill off, vacuumed & hand wiped the inside down ( took photos in case I forgot the order of putting it back together). This summer I will TRY and do the COILS ...Thanks LOVE your videos !
when you replace a screw into anything you have opened, place the screw into the hole and with the oppropriate screwdriver, first turn it anti-clockwise ( lefty-loosy ) slowly and you should either hear and/ or feel the screw click into the original starting position. this procedure is most important for plastic objects, so as to stop cross-threading. P.S. you may need to repeat this a few times, but you will get the the idea.
Yesss! The hidden screwww!!! Ive just been hangin' outside sprayin it gently for half an hour, looking like I have my reasons for peeking under the lid.
Thank you, ductless split wizard.
This guy is always very helpful, helping people all over the world!
You always have the most top notch DIY content.
I really appreciate that, thank you
The detail you gave in how to do this makes it so easy to follow! Big thanks from down here in New Zealand! 🇳🇿
Much appreciated, thank you, Beautiful country you have there.
Wow, very timely! Was just thinking I need to look in to maintenance on our mini splits and it can't possibly be complex enough to hire out. Can't wait to do this!
Glad it was helpful!
@@SilverCymbaldo you have a video on how to clean the inside unit? Also once you do all this cleaning to the outside should you wait for it to try before putting cover back on/ running the unit? I don’t want any mold growth to happen from cleaning moisture - thanks!
Thank you! After your mini-split video a few years back I installed one myself. After this video, I realized that my HVAC company only cleans the main AC unit that they installed, so this was exactly what I needed to do it myself. The foam works great and it’s super easy to do.
Very helpful going to do this at the start of each season.
Great as always! Thank you. On the topic of airflow, the coiled up line-set behind the condenser are restricting some of that airflow. Many DIY folks that have installed this or similar units have the same issue. It would be a great video to see a DIY custom line set length, evacuation, etc… Obviously this wouldn’t work if the line set comes pre-charged vs the outdoor unit being pre-charged.
Fantastic! This is exactly what i was looking for. Thank you 😊
Good video, I will my clean split unit today..Video was of good quality,short and to the point..Thank you..😊
Thanks for another great video and reminding me that I need to do the same.
That was a great demo... very clear instructions and easy to follow. 😁
Great video, thank you. It always amazes me when people know they should do maintenance stuff like this, but don't, and then get big repair bills. The whole thing probably took you 30 minutes or less. Well worth the time!
Thank you very much, this is really a good one since it totally affects electric use and longevity.
1/2 hour to service plus 1 hour ( depending on conditions) drying time.
Thankyou so much. Good to know to turn the power off first.
Thank you for sharing this video i install four air cooling in a day ...I do services for every 4 to 5 month's
great advise/demo thank you👍👍
Awesome tutorial! Thank you!
Great vid, would definitely recommend using air to help with the drying process! And avoid any damage to electrical connections!
Air as in from an air compressor? Like one to fill tires? I don't have anything larger.
Very good explanation! Regards from Brazil! 👍👏👏
Superb video mate, thank you very much. 👍
@SilverCymbal best method for ACs installed in desert areas. Sandstorms and heat makes it very dusty😅
Can you do a video on how to clean the inside unit? From what I heard you'd have to clean it as well. Thank you.
Holy Dooley, thank you, very helpful 👍🏾🤎
Thanks for sharing looks very simple
Appreciate your videos.
Definitely do not spray cleaner or hose water on or near that box tray very top middle under the cover.
(It’s the computer, and H20 don’t mix and voids the warranty)
Been doing air conditioning for a few years now and approve this message. I think the cleaner isn’t really needed. Just wash it with water from the inside out and you should be good.
That's exactly what I do and if you spray it off often enough you don't need any kind of spray
Should you wait for it to dry before running it tho? If so how long
yes, this product is probably unnecessary. at least in warmer climates where you run it in Cold mode most of the time, the outside coil never condenses and therefore never gets mud or mold. The indoor coil is always nasty and maybe this product will help. But the thing is, to clean the indoor coil you need to take apart the entire indoor unit. need to save all the gas, uninstall the indoor unit, disassembly EVERY SINGLE PART OF IT and wash anything that's not electric with a pressure washer. at this point this product isn't really saving you anything. pressure washing will do everything for you.
Thanks for the great instructions for the outside portion the mini-split. It would be most appreciated if you'd show how to clean the interior portion - especially the blower wheel and how often is that recommended?
Agreed! We need to clean our blower wheels too, on our inside units.
That’s a good cleaner. I use it on my trucks radiator and intercooler
$400! Wow! My local company does it for $125.
Of course, they know that establishing that relationship will lead them to get the repair call when something finally breaks
That is an amazing deal. Northeast AC work is very tough to get people that care.
Brilliant well done indeed
Thank you. Is difficult to find video teaching us how to wash the condenser.
Thanks, mate.
Peak content! How do you clean the indoor unit though?
Thanks!
Thanks bud, your videos are great, especially for useless DIY people like me who are computer nerds 😅
Iits a good to cover the electronics with plastic to ensure no water gets in there. The electronics are at the top at the power entry end and often not that well sealed. Some brands encase the circuit board in resin but others dont! So go easy with the water around the black plastic or alloy box to avoid issues.
@silvercymbal that looks to me like a Flymo lawn mower. It’s the most popular lawn mover you can get in the UK. I was always surprised why they never made it over the pond.a great design and stores away very compactly
I absolutely love this thing. There are some legal issues that are pretty dumb but that happens in all countries I guess. We are really missing out I couldn't believe what a nice job it did.
Thank you
Good Thanks
Was wondering this. Any tips on cleaning the head(s) inside the house?
You have become the crazy mower guy!
I love power equipment of all types for sure
@@SilverCymbal when is the EGO video? LOL
@@markkempton4579 :) Still a couple of weeks on that one. At least thats one you can buy, this Flymo at the end of this video is illegal in the US. Such a cool little machine too.
Very satisfying video 😅😅😅
Much better if you remove the fan blade and spray from inside. Pressure washer without the nozzle installed is the best way to clean it without bending a fin.
Great video, but I'm wondering how to get a condensor that's elevated off the floor. Do I do all this while on a ladder, or get it disconnected and get 2 people to lower it down to clean?
Nice work but better to have the unit on a stand and not so close to the floor, Thanks
I have a request for a video how to change transmission fluid on a pickup truck
Say anyone that has a mini split with heater did you notice anything different on your electrical bill? Winter cold months is it cheaper and perform better with the mini split heater than you whole house heater or space heaters? Looking to get 18,000 btu in our one big area the family room, dinning room and kitchen which is a rectangular room about 550-600 ft. Then for the master and two other bedrooms I’d need at least 9000 btu units in each bedroom and maybe a bit more but’s in the master which is about 20x25 plus bathroom. It’s a small house with hot flat room that I need to decide what to put on its black tar and paper roof to reflect the sun from heating it up so much. I rolled on some white sun coating stuff a few years ago over the r over the main Pat of the house were in during the days and evening which really cut down on the heat soaking down from the roof into the house, but it’s wore off and like it was never done. So need suggestions anyone would be greatly appreciated. Well if you read all this that is very cool. With thanks
How do you like the Mr Cool unit? Am thinking of getting one.
Good video, quality content.
I'm curious, however, about the placement of your system: on the ground, on a concrete pad.
I recall last winter you had an issue where you got something like three (or more) feet of snow over a couple of days. That would totally bury this unit.
In an area where you get so much snow, shouldn't the exterior unit be placed off the ground by a couple of feet?
These units are not supposed to be ran below 32 degrees.
@@brockbrawn1524 that's not entirely true. there are many of these rated to be used below 0C
The huge coil at one of my local fast food joints looks like a brillo pad 😅
How long do you let it dry before using the system again?
I'm impressed with how easy it is to clean a mini split condenser. Which the central compressor we had from the 80s, you pretty much had to completely dismantle the thing to get to those coils. If I got a mini split, I think I'd like to put it on top of cinder blocks. Our window until never got as filthy as the central compressor, and I think it's because it sits at ground level. Even setting it six inches higher might help a great deal in keeping the coils clean. In some cases, they're just mounted on supports on the side of the house like a few feet above the ground. I never saw any point to waiting until it was completely dry to use it. It's made to get wet, and it's self-drying. When I'm just giving the window units a quick spray, I'll actually just leave them running. If you hear the motor spin down, just lay off the water to let it spin back up. Don't set them stall out. Window units are designed to retain water, and the fan blade slings the water onto the condenser coil extra cooling. The fan has to be powerful enough to sling that water. The water also helps cool the fan motor and compressor.
well, to wash a mini split evaporator (or more correctly "indoor unit" since most are hot/cold units) you really need to uninstall it and disassemble it completely. i bought all the tools to do it myself. in just one summer i paid off for all of them.
It's unbelievable it costs so much to have a professional clean a split a/c. Here in the Philippines it costs about $15 though they only use a pressure washer and a shroud with drain hose. Most Westerners also don't know your car A/C also needs washing occasionally.
here in Argentina it costs $50, but we don't use the shroud. ac techs will completely disassemble the indoor unit, meaning storing the gas in the compressor, disconnecting it, taking it apart, disassemble and wash every single part separately, and put it back together, reconnect, and vacuum it down... which tbf is the proper way to clean these. The shroud isn't really that effective because of the shape of the indoor coil. you're only hitting the front coil ( it's an inverted V shape). i live in a dusty area and I really need to wash my ACs every year.
5:45 those edges 🤤
Would a dirty outside unit cause that “wind wooshing” sound inside?
Using a hose can damage fins, use a hand sprayer
::: Using a leaf blower before & after cleaning helps!
That's a great idea! I like that
@@SilverCymbal ::: You’re welcome! As Grandad used to tell me, “If you want to make a hard job easier, give it to a lazy person!”
::: Present company excluded, certainment!
We had this funny guy from Sears who would clean our mini splits by mixing bleach and degreaser instead of coil cleaners. By the time we found out about it, the metal had already started rusting from the inside.
What about mice getting inside and potentially chewing wires. I had one go thru a small hole in back of a desktop computer and electrocuted himself on power unit. The smell made me find source.
Thank you for the great video.. I’m shopping for a mini split for my 1500 sq ft home here in Wa. Where as everyone knows it rains a lot so my concerns are I’d think for it to last longer would be to keep it from sun beating down on it and same for rain. Is there any concerns about building a large cover with good size vents so it gets plenty fresh air and to keep dry and from sun exposure?
I bought two of the Mitsubishi units for the addition on my house, a very large living room, and very large bedroom about four years ago. I have a full sized unit for the front of the house. I couldn't be happier. They work perfect and the best part is being able to cool just the part of the house I'm using leaving it off everywhere else and it saves so much money. Highly recommended.
@@Joker-ig8im thank you and will checkout the Mitsubishi
@@Ron_Masterjohn ideally you just put them under some sort of roof to prevent sunlight hitting it directly. sun won't really harm them but it'll reduce the efficiency in summer (it will increase the efficiency in winter though). a little roof will also prevent the paint from being damaged by sunlight. as for rain... well, rain will increase efficiency in summer haha
400 dollars I just got them cleaned with foam today
Costed me approx 6 dollars
Quick comment. I noticed your excess line set is sitting upright. In my Mr. Cool manual it says that the excess line set should be placed in a horizontal position, parallel to the ground. Did you manual/instructions say otherwise?
No, you are 100% correct. If you saw my previous videos I talked about this, I had intended to raise the stand below and slip it under, but that hasn't happened yet. But you are right that it should be horizontal. Not sure what happens the other way as a lot of folks put it vertical but Mr C say horizontal is the way
Hey there Mr.@@SilverCymbal and @samrobinson9802
Not sure if anyone said anything on the topic... but the coils placed vertically have a tendency of collecting the compressor oil as it inevitably escapes the compressor and travels through the system. In an ideal world, it would make its way back to the compressor eventually, but the loops usually interrupt this process and it begins to pool at the bottom of the loops. Its a slow process but it does take its toll over time and it will cause your compressor to be starved of lubricant. Always better to have the loops placed horizontally, or, if at all possible, cut the extra pipe and remove them all together. Hope this helps.
I had mine serviced the service person didn’t clean it he turned it on let it run for about 20 mins checked the temperature & he was done!
Sadly that's what happens with many service calls now. Worst part is, say he does that for the next 10 times and it burns out from dirt. Doesn't affect him one bit. I am OK to hire people when they do a fair job, this is the stuff I hate to hear about.
Have you caulked or taped the white insulation where it meets the copper? Lots of failures with that insulation from pinhole leaks where moisture corrodes the copper.
Copper corrosion due to moisture is not a real life thing.
@@lesg9604 Got any sources? I'd love to believe it but the general consensus seems to be that the white insulation when exposed to water on the inside reacts with the water and is acidic, and that is what destroys the copper
so let me get this straight. The manufacturer of ductless mini splits are intentionally using an insulation product that when exposed to water negatively reacts and causes leaks in copper? Nonsense. Ductless mini splits leak because of improper torque or tightening practices on the flared connections or due to improper installation.
lol what a non-issue. copper "corrosion" due to water is not a thing. if it was, we couldn't use copper pipes for water. the green stain in copper is just patina. it'll take thousands of years to wear away. pinholes in refrigeration systems appear either in solder joints, or in copper bends, in both cases due to vibration.
On top of doing shoddy maintenance, most technicians will claim that your unit is "low on coolant gas" and needs to be serviced.
So many scammy people in the HVAC business.
"never attribute to malice to what can be attributed to stupidity". plenty of techs will just jump at the AC and plug the gauges and say "yup yup yup there's your problem, it's low on gas" but anyone that actually knows their shit will FIRST look at everything around the unit. AC pressures will vary wildly due to lots of factors (current temperature and humidity, how much the machine has been running, actual problems such as obstructions inside, etc) but THE number one thing that needs to be addressed is making sure the units are clean and free of obstructions. the longer they're in business, the simplest the things they look for first. for example, before doing ANYTHING (even visual inspection of any units). LOOK AT THE FILTERS. so many people don't know the AC has filters that need washing or replacing.
@@drgenio2006 Just a good example of a trade that takes advantage of a poorly informed customer.
The real thing affecting your cooling there is how the air is piped up the outside and will be warmed before it gets into your rooms. Should have it go straight into the house and be routed from there. Mind you I’m going on our Australian summers of 40c+ so maybe you don’t have it so bad.
Neverending shortage of critics 😂. Nothing wrong with any of this video.
the unit has the transport protection grid still in place
My wife and I are interested in a mini split. Does anyone know if a system is made without the large interior portion? Something that can be built in the ceiling that looks more like a traditional vent?
Thanks
Yes, you aren't alone. A lot of people want that hookup provided they have attic access and many do. Several of them are out their amzn.to/3CKObqs this is just one, and they are usually called ceiling cassettes
@SilverCymbal thank you, really appreciate you and your work. I'll check it out.
Are you going to clean your inside unit? That is important to clean as well.
Agreed, you won't need to clean the inside quite as often but I wouldn't go beyond 2-3 years in a residential setting. I am planning that video, its more involved but I would like to work out the best and simplest way to do a good job and will definitely share that video.
@@SilverCymbaleagerly waiting for this video! I am scared mine may have mold inside and want to clean it
I can see mold on our blower wheels. Definitely wondering how to get in there to clean the inside.
Think this will help if the unit not blowing cold air? Had mines for around 3 to 4 years with minimum use since it's in the garage area with it never being cleaned.
If you are not getting cold air, definitely look at the outside unit closely. You might be surprised to see the fins are caked with dust/dirt etc. If that is the case I would definitely clean it. There can be other causes but this is most often the issue.
@@SilverCymbal Thank you
You also may have a refrigerant leak which is the fluid/gas in your system but having a refrigerant leak is rare
@@laundrybreadsticks That is what I was thinking and Google suggested but I'm gonna try this method first. Thanks
Get rid of mulch around unit and put marble chips down
Just wondering...if that foam (and other brands like it) say "No Rinse" why do you choose to rinse? Thanks. Tim
The thought is that the consideration will move the foam off, which is true but it moves it very slowly and if done regularly might be ok. The hose ensures its all pushed out very quickly with with some gentle force for a better cleaning
A very helpful tip to extend the life of the compressor is to add 50ml of sulphuric acid to the compressor before regassing
dont forget to flush with pure oxygen as well
What is that at the end lol. I thought you started vacuuming the lawn
I'm also in NH and I have a 36k DIY MrCool in each my house and my woodshop. Both of them are marvelous air conditioners but neither of them, since day one, have been able to bring heat inside during the winter. One kind of barely works and the other throws a fault code and disables itself. My hvac guy (a young guy getting into the industry, who is willing to take a risky client like me with a DIY system) told me that these units just dont have enough pressure in them to do heat. I am curious if anyone else has anything that corroborates this.
That is very surprising, I don't know all their models numbers. But since you live in NH you will really appreciate the fact that I stopped using the hot water heater (driven by propane) and ran this 18,000 BTU unit for heat even when it hit -19f this winter! The unit never shut off nad the heat did very very well. This is not a super heat model either, just the DIY version. The only things I can share is without exception the outside unit has to be free of snow front and back, and I did that many times as I knew it would have an issue. Also try to keep it on a setting and leave it, you can lower it but it is not good if you are running in sub zero temps and leavr it off say in a shop for a week and then just turn it on, it can have a hard time. Above 10 degrees with never an issue at al for this one for me, but again models might vary. Hope this is helpful.
3:56 _ for 400USD you get a new AC in India. For Full servicing its 10USD
👍👍
Yeah, you’d wanna wear some long pants and long sleeve shirt as well as eye protection. That cleaner stuff can be fairly nasty stuff if it gets on your skin or in your eyes.
This unit is put right on the ground, this the first thing you want to fix!
2nd- I noticed those long-long pipes behind the unit-those are the main problem- too much energy waste, too much load on the system. Just remove all unnecessary length of those pipes youll see the difference.
So i just got my interior unit replaced and its definitely outdoor unit thats giving me the headache.
My unit is on the balcony...no hose.. available
Had split system installed few years ago and i live up the mountain area and extremely cold 🥶 during winter season
Last year for the first time my unit stopped working during an extremely cold night running on heat.
The inside unit displayed DF
I quickly did a search online and turns out these units can’t handle extreme cold temperatures and goes to sleep defrost mode kicks in. Usually takes about 10 minutes then kicks back on.
Thankfully got wood heating.
The cool thing is with these units after there done doing there cooling or heating the fan will go the opposite way so light debris on the coil will blow away so you don’t have to do maintenance often.
That lawnmower sounds like an airplane
Window rattlers are not only much cheaper to buy/replace and run but don't need a technician to install and can be moved whenever needed and also brings fresh chemsprayed toxic air into your room as opposed to recirculating the more toxic air in your room. WTF
this is true but most people prefer the absolute silence of a minisplit unit. also the assortment of window ACs is tiny in comparison to minisplits. especially in north america. finally, the thing with window rattlers is that they're fairly small. a 2 or 3 ton unit needs 2 people to move it and most windows won't be able to hold it. i had a (permanently installed in the wall) window unit for 20 years and replaced it with a minisplit a couple years ago, when it finally died.
Why didn't you cover the electronics?
Your blocking proper airflow with the linesets in the way.
Why is your condenser located in a mulch bed? Seems like a bad location.
$400 to have an AC unit cleaned? I pay $20 per inside/outside unit for a complete strip down and pressure wash.
You’ll probably find that massive chunk that’s missing from your fan blade is probably affecting air flow too.
What's missing?
@@SilverCymbalat the 5.00 mark. Big chunk missing from one of the fan blades.
@@rideoffintothesunset Wow you got some eagle eyes there! I will have to look at it again, I see what you are talking about but it might be camera distortion, but thanks for leting me know I will check for sure.
@@SilverCymbal good luck!
@@rideoffintothesunset that's just how those blades are. google "minisplit fan blade replacement" and look at all the funky shapes they have.
Yes, take the top cover off.
Love the Vids, thanks for making them.
I've done this before and its good but not a great method. I saw a video that eric the car guy made were he used a concentrate that you put in a pump sprayer. That stuff sprayed on in a liquid form and then foamed up so it pushed the dirt out. I wanted to buy the stuff but it was expensive. I would love to see a video on that some time.
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