HVAC Coil Cleaning and replacing flex duct on the return

[150MilesPerGallon]

Outstanding video, and great work :-) I really appreciate a detailed video, explaining in great detail- everything you're doing- and everything you're working with. I enjoy learning :-) Thank you again :-)

[hectorf45]

This is the type of work I hate sometimes( itchy hands & getting wet -:( ) there's nothing like fixing a popped cap and leaving 30 minutes later. Lol

But work is work -(o_o-)

[DrZarkloff]

@hectorf45 Thanks. Work is always a good thing these days.

[reznorected]

id like a vid of how to clean indoor coils, please!!!

[DrZarkloff]

@reznorected I do have a few videos that show how to clean indoor coils. Just look through my videos for cleaning coils.

[Sciz85]

Hello Dr. Z, I've been check out your video for the past 2 days. And I have learned quite a bit so far. I was wondering if you have employees that work under you. If so, I would like to work under you.

[DrZarkloff]

@Sciz85 I don't have an air conditioning company. I just work for the school board. Thanks for asking though.

[arnoldcustom]

looks like you need to take a part some of them badly rusted terminals, but them number 10 bolts will most likely snap off as soon as you put a wrench on them, then you’re in a pickle, even if you socked them in penetrating oil..

[hvac01453]

First, why didn't you take the time to separate the two coils to properly clean them? All the junk is trapped in between them. I worked on one of those units. I hated the design, I think it was a heil Quaker. Also wouldn't it have been wiser to do the duct first before getting all that sodium hydroxide all over you? Which is not acid but rather Alkalyne (spelling is off)... We in the trade commonly call it acid though. Your viewers may not know that.

[hvac01453]

First, why didn't you take the time to separate the two coils to properly clean them? All the junk is trapped in between them. I worked on one of those units. I hated the design, I think it was a heil Quaker.

[workingthrash]

What a great video!

[cuttlefsh]

I really like the coil gun that you just hook up to the garden hose. you don't have to worry about mixing it right.

[lswf123456]

My Trane 2 ton split air handler keeps on freezing over and when it's not frozen, the air coming out is barely cold. I placed both of my hands on the liquid line to check how fast the freon is moving when it started, and it was just crawling through the line. Do you know what the problem is?

[DrZarkloff]

@lswf123456 You might have a refrigerant leak.

[lswf123456]

@DrZarkloff That could be a possibility because the suction line isn't cold and the coil freezes after about two hours, but do you think the TXV could be going bad? Because this problem has taken two years to get really bad?

[workingthrash]

@DrZarkloff so in that case, it would be a low refrigerant charge?

[DrZarkloff]

@workingthrash Are you commenting on an other comment?

[workingthrash]

@DrZarkloff yes sir, I was refering to this comment.

My Trane 2 ton split air handler keeps on freezing over and when it's not frozen, the air coming out is barely cold. I placed both of my hands on the liquid line to check how fast the freon is moving when it started, and it was just crawling through the line. Do you know what the problem is?

[DrZarkloff]

@lswf123456 Sounds like you may have a refrigerant leak.

[frankie2234]

when cleaning coils inside, above the furnace, should i wear a mask? Are some cleaners not as bad on the lungs? thanks

[DrZarkloff]

@frankie2234 It sounds like a good idea to wear a mask.

[GnarBoots18]

Word of advice don't use a water hose with extremely high water pressure. Had a friend that pressure washed are house and ended up pressure washing are condensing coil and bent the coils to heck. Also a great video as an example of how a knife is a handy tool :P

[GnarBoots18]

Word of advice don't use a water hose with extremely high water pressure. Had a friend that pressure washed are house and ended up pressure washing are condensing coil and bent the coils to heck.

[mikerochesterny]

Yea thats true! Well I installed a new primary/secondary heat exchanger in a Trane XE today which worked out good the customer was real happy I had to replace it because I found a crack in the primary exchanger duing a maintenance visit. I also did one A/C visit today so all in all it was a good day :-)

[mikerochesterny]

Nope not a Z-coil just the basic U-coil, not many heat pumps or air handlers on the residental side mostly 3 ton and under or sometimes I have to service the ductless split systems had one today where I had to climb the roof to get to the condesate drain line because it was draining into the gutter and got plugged with leaves LOL

[DrZarkloff]

@mikerochesterny At least you were able to find the end of the condensate drain in all the leaves. lol

[mikerochesterny]

Nice Job! I had to clean 3 Rheem units today but not much in the way of A/C calls yet its only been in the 60's up here in NY LOL

[DrZarkloff]

@mikerochesterny LOL. Rheem air handlers can be loads of fun to clean. Was it a Z coil?

[acechoice45]

I Love This Trade and I Can Tel Dr Z takes Pride in His Work !!!! Great Video !!!!!!!

[DrZarkloff]

@acechoice45 Thanks for watching.

[DrZarkloff]

@HVACKID94 That's really great of your dad.

[Area51XP]

I just love fixing things.. especially HVAC DrZarkloff! I save so much money.. sometimes I put too much love into my appliances small/large that sometimes.. they like to be loved all the time, you know what I mean. Well, they all belong to the same sort of union.. so you fix one.. they all want to be fixed up too. Gotta spread the love man. which reminds me, I need parts for my Maytag washer lol, Peace. BTW did you ever win that Nissan Leaf, if not.. no sweat man, it was pretty much a useless

[DrZarkloff]

@Area51XP LOL. The Nissan Leaf contest ends on April 30, 2011.

[spelunkerd]

No sound 5:57-6:30

[ThePohto]

great job Dr Z you cleaned the hell out of that unit.

[DrZarkloff]

@ThePohto Thanks. I like to do a good job.

[jewvenile77]

I see, in that case I guess that you already lost $ on the job so if it weren't for your YouTube revenue you'd really be in the hole

[DrZarkloff]

@jewvenile77 I like to help out friends in need.

[More350Power]

I gotta tell you Dr. Z, with some of the technicians ive seen and their work...... I wish they were as thorough and took pride in doing it correctly! BTW, does that unit have auxilary/backup heat, is that what the last electrical items you showed us were?

[DrZarkloff]

@More350Power Thanks for the great compliment. I did show the outside of the electrical heat kit.

[More350Power]

@DrZarkloff Your certainly welcome. Most people would have never cleaned off the top or done a thorough job on the inside. I keep the coils and fans on my refrigerator clean, seems to run less.

[grawey77]

I have found a good pair of common household scissors can cut that kind of duct work very quickly. I love your videos of your work in the field.

[DrZarkloff]

@grawey77 Thanks. I didn't have any scissors that day. Oh well, I do have a sharp knife.

[marcinklimecki]

who install this unit in that way and who pay for it?

martin from poland



[DrZarkloff]

@marcinklimecki I don't know who the installer was. I did the job for free for a really poor church.

[ranjit3o]

u were wetting the Motor so woudnt that be problem when u turn it on?

[DrZarkloff]

@ranjit3o If you mean the condensing fan motor, it wasn't a problem because it was a sealed motor.

[ranjit3o]

@DrZarkloff okkk i got it thanx...

[fart1fart1]

can coil cleaner damage coils?

[DrZarkloff]

@fart1fart1 Yes. That's why it's important to rinse well.

[jewvenile77]

Is it normal not to shroud the ducts from a package unit where you live?! Not only does it Look hideous but its not rated to be exposed to UV rays from the sun. I'll put together a collage of photos of a duct shroud i built that would protect those ducts much better even if it still isn't "pretty"

[DrZarkloff]

@jewvenile77 It is normal to shroud the ducts on a package unit. The church is so poor that they couldn't afford it.

[compdude957]

That unit sure does look good now! Especially the return duct! Good job Dr.Z!

[DrZarkloff]

@compdude957 Thanks

[mazzmari]

Why no coil gun, Dr. Z?

[DrZarkloff]

@mazzmari It was a small system.

[tstatech]

Thanks Dr-Z. As you may already know, I have been at this for 21 years. I didn't know you supposed to wet the coil first. I do read instructions but must have missed that. I'll read my coil cleaner bottle the next time I use it.

I admit that I don't use it except when I can not see through the fins on a coil. ie.. when a dryer vent is near by, etc. Clean evaporator is more critical.

Your panduit strap seems to be loose? The tape and mastic was a nice touch.

Looks like new! Good job Dr.

[DrZarkloff]

@tstatech Thanks. We had a Nu-Calgon rep visit us at my work place a little while back. That's why I knew some of the little things about the coil cleaners. The outside strap was a little loose. Thanks for spotting that.

[cyberlight22]

xctome's 1999 tempstar wow and in a 5 ton!

[Tyrone7994]

very well done.



[DrZarkloff]

@Tyrone7994 Thanks.

[schnauzerwoman2]

Interesting, very interesting!

[DrZarkloff]

@schnauzerwoman2 Thanks

[Aussie50]

lmao, good vid. the condenser cleaner I use is potassium hydroxide based and it burns skin immediately, and can cause blindness after very little eye contact.

[DrZarkloff]

@Aussie50 Yeoch!

[erd675]

yeah that stuff is really potent it burns the crap out of your hands but works great.

[DrZarkloff]

@erd675 I like using the alkaline based coil cleaners whenever I really gotta nuke the coil.

[THEtechknight]

bout time for a new camera.

[DrZarkloff]

@THEtechknight It was operator error.

[THEtechknight]

@DrZarkloff oh. haha. Ive had a few of those in my day, and happily making them still.

[Aussie50]

@josemexicano damn shame the eco nazi's hate good cleaners. I use Potassium Hydroxide based stuff on bad coils and it will literally remove paint!

[DrZarkloff]

@josemexicano biodegradable. 

[Scrat335]

Hey doc I hope all is well with you. Anyway I just wanted to add you need to watch where you use some kinds of coil cleaners. Especially if the customer has their heatpump in the middle of their Japanese garden filled with rare plants. I once got my butt chewed because of that. I have used dish soap before. That machine will probably run for less now  Good job.

[DrZarkloff]

@Scrat335 Thanks. I guess that I'd have used something much less corrosive if I were working in the middle of a Japanese garden.

[Alxscode]

Good job Dr. Z.

[DrZarkloff]

@Alxscode Thanks

[dav1099]

Nice video DrZ, thankfully the time is getting here to do some outdoor AC work. geeez I'd say that return duct has been bad quite awhile. Those damn double coils are the worst idea ever IMHO.

thanks for posting, always enjoy your efforts.

[DrZarkloff]

@dav1099 It hadn't worked for some time until I fixed it.