HVAC Preventative Maintenance

From Open Source Ecology
Revision as of 12:57, 23 September 2025 by Eric (talk | contribs) (Saved Progress Mid-Long Edit)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Basics

List

Coil Cleaning

  • Every so often both the Condenser Coil and the Evaporator Coil should be cleaned
  • This is best done by:
    • 1.) LOTO on the Machine
      • If a Soft Starter is not installed, it is also best practice to turn down/off the Thermostat so that the system doesn’t go “from zero to 60” when you reconnect it
    • 2.) Remove Debris as best you can while it is still dry
    • Check Warranry / Manufacturer Warnings First + Proceed with Caution, BUT:
    • 3.) Gently Rinse with Water
      • If sufficient one can stop here, if it looks like further cleaning is needed:
    • 4.) Spray Down with a Gentle Cleaning Solution / Gentle Soap such as “Simple Green” or A Diluted Minimum Viable Soap
    • 5.) Rinse + Inspect
      • If sufficient, one can stop here, if it looks like it still needs further cleaning:
    • 6.) Get HVAC Coil Cleaner either in Aerosol Can form, or as a Liquid Concentrate which can be diluted + put into a Foam Cannon Nozzle
    • 7.) Final Rinse with Water
    • 8.) Gently Dry Off / Wait for it to Air Dry
    • 9.) Reassemble Device
    • 10.) Undo the LOTO then Turn it back on and check that everything is operating as expected

Condensate Drain Preventative Maintenance

  • Due to being a wet+damp environment, the Condensate Drain Lines on HVAC Evaporator Coils (As well as Dehumidifiers and to a lesser extent Refrigerators / Freezers etc ) are at risk of Bio-Fouling
  • Thus every so often one should dump some Dilute Bleach Solution or a similar substance down the drain, and check that enough was added that it flows to the drain location
    • Having another person with a Radioactive or Cellphone can help with this
  • If need be, a Shop Vac can also be used to clear/drain the line
    • A High Volume Inflator or similar device can also be used, although using positive pressure to clear a blockage runs the risks of leaks