HVAC Trane Spine Fin Cleaning 1 of 3

How to clean a Trane or American Standard "Spine Fin" aluminum condenser coil that is clogged with cottonwood seed, using an acetylene torch. This is a procedure that is taught in class by Trane Manufacturing. GO HERE: http://www.nlbheating.com Number One HVAC Contractor in the Aurora, Joilet, Naperville, Plainfield & Shorewood area of Illinois. Independent Trane equipment Dealer, EPA Certified, Fully Licensed & Insured, Over 24-years experience in Commercial & Residential air conditioning, forced-air furnaces, hot-water boilers, electric heat, water heaters, plumbing, piping, electrical. We also have a Licensed Plumber & Licensed Electrician available to meet all of your heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical needs. 24-HOUR SERVICE 7-DAYS A WEEK.

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[RestrictedAccessCIP]

At 13:19, what are the yellow plastic-looking things in the condenser coil?

[NLBheating]

@RestrictedAccessCIP That yellowish stuff that you see connecting the coil fins from one row to the next is like a hot-melt glue or epoxy that the factory uses in the coil assembly process after the spine-fin tubing is wound around on the jig that they use to make the finished condenser coil. I guess it aides in keeping the coil tubing in place, neatly stacked. These coils are wound on a type of spool/jig, so that it becomes one continuous tube before separating.

[RestrictedAccessCIP]

What year is your American Standard? My cousin's old house had a 1993 American Standard Heritage II heat pump that looked a lot like this, but it was bigger.

[NLBheating]

@RestrictedAccessCIP This is an American Standard 1992 ATR model, which is only an 8.0 SEER.

[RestrictedAccessCIP]

@NLBheating I care more about reliabilty and durability than efficiency. So what if it's only 8 SEER, still like a tank. What will you replace it with when it dies? A Trane XL20i 2-ton air-condtioner and a Trane XC95m gas furnace?

[NLBheating]

@RestrictedAccessCIP I concur. And sure you be right! But I would probably keep the condenser replacement down to a 16.00 SEER. My place is pretty cheap to cool as it is.

[Mooseguy15]

@NLBheating lol yeah just saying cause my grandparents have a split mini ductless system and on the condensor they have screening around the coils and the fan and they really dont clean it and it really does not look dirty cause it is wall mounted bout 3 feet high >got a window under it lol they had the unit for 5 years and the condensor looks new only thing they really clean is the evaporator and you can see all the pollen and other crap on the screening on the condensor yeah just vacuum it ha

[NLBheating]

@Mooseguy15 I totally agree with you. They would cover them up during the winter months too. But a homeowner's lack of maintenance and cleanings is what keeps many of us contractors busy with needless breakdowns during the heat of the season. This is why I always promote annual Clean & Checks, monthly filter changes, etc. You know how the saying goes...... 'you can pay me Now, or you can pay me Later." Lol

[Mooseguy15]

if people were smart they would put screening ontop of the fan so you do not pull in all that crap.

[NLBheating]

@Vinylrecordsneverdie Yes, a power washer that is putting out 1000psi, will definitely destroy a spine fin coil, and any other type of aluminum finned coil for that matter. In most of these service and repairs scenarios, using "common sense" is the most important thing. But then, there are certainly some people in the world who are lacking in that department. Thanks for watching. Please subscribe to my channel and "rate" my videos.