Re: Cleaning Air Conditioner Coils: Your Green Footprint!!!

[Guest guest]

Air conditioning, especially central, requires a huge output of energy

and increases your carbon footprint and thus global warming. Does

anybody *really* need central air conditioning? Use a few room air

conditioners, you can get new air conditioners for about $100-125

these days if you're concerned about mold in an older one (my

boyfriend and I drill a few holes in the bottom anyway, because they

don't seem to build a/c's so the water will drip out effectively and

they often pool water which is what creates the mold imo).

Use ceiling fans and window fans. Window fans (the kind with double

fans) in every room in the house, used at night, will create an

incredibly nice cool air circulation throughout the house, even in the

northeast and on hot days, it gets down into the 60's most nights

through the summer. Properly using opaque shades and overhangs on your

house will continue to keep that cool air circulating through much of

the day. You should not need to use air conditioners except on the

worst, hottest, most humid days.

Being concerned for our health and mold and chemical issues is

important but we are part of a bigger picture and should get back to a

more natural, earth-centric lifestyle anyway. Make your own garden, or

windowsill herb garden, and air dry your clothes instead of dryers. So

you wait an extra day for your dry clothes. Drying racks are very

efficient, you don't needlessly waste energy, and the clothes smell

better.

>

> ,

>

> The surface of the coils that are exposed are usually the dirtiest as

> this is where the dust that bypasses the (useless) filter collects.

> (Always use a Web supplemental filter either inside (if it fits

> without touching the coils) or at the exterior if it does not fit.

>

> You can HEPA vacuum the coils (do not bend the fins)then blast them

> with steam from a good steam vapor machine. (I usually use bleach

> spray and water from a hose outside but pressure steam can be

> successful.)

>

> Don't forget to clean the blower as it also can get full of mold.

>

> Basically, the entire interior of the A/C should look new when done.

> It there are bits of black gunk floating around in the rinse water,

> give up and get a new one. And don't allow the coil to get dirty.

>

> We moved this year to a new house but we had to wait 4 months in a

> rental which had a through-wall A/C. It was packed with mold, I

> cleaned it first with bleach (in place, careful to make sure that the

> drips didn't rain on anyone below), then steamed it for over an hour.

> After 4 hours, I gave up because I could not get all the mold out,

> called the management and within an hour they replaced it!!!

>

> Our new house has central A/C. I did not allow the contractors to run

> it at all. Most of the ducts and actual indoor units weren't even

> installed until shortly before we closed. The ducts that were in place

> in the attic were all sealed from the day they were installed. We have

> Aprilaire media filters (MERV-11) and Filtrex pre-filters on every

> return. After one season of operation, there is barely a speck of dust

> in the system.

>

> A nearly-completed, $4+ million house we recently investigated for a

> buyer had pounds of sawdust and drywall dust from construction in the

> ducts, in the liners and on the coils .

>

> The buyer (who had bad mold allergies) walked away from the house even

> after it had been (inadequately) cleaned, because ultimately, the

> sawdust throughout the system would have turned to mold from the high

> humidity of the cold air.

>

> Central coil cleaning has to be done professionsally and carefully

> inspected afterwards. Usually, some type of chlorine-containing

> disinfectant is used.

>

> Keep in mind that if there is fibrous lining laterial, this is also

> full of mold and must be replaced. Work should be done under

> containment. Do not allow the use of unlined insulation. Foil-coated

> fiberglass is fine.

>

> It sometimes makes sense to replace a contaminated fan coil rather

> than to clean it since proper cleaning is so expensive and may not be

> successful if all the mold is not removed. Clean at the start of the

> new season. I am not familiar with Acti-Klean but according the the

> MSDS, it contains ETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOBUTYL ETHER (which smells but is

> water dispersable and can therefore be rinsed away)and DODECYLBENZENE

> SULFONIC ACID (which is just a detergent).

>

> Good luck.

>

> C. May

>

>

>

> > 16. Cleaning Air Conditioner Coils

> > Posted by: " " smarshwar@... smarshwar

> > Date: Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:45 am ((PDT))

> >

> > I have taken to heart the posts regarding the necessity to clean a/c

> > coils--I believe it was said each season. So, I've tried to learn a

> > bit about the process and have a few questions.

> >

> > Here goes:

> > When should this be done?

> > Should it be done for central a/c?

> > Is it safe to use a chemical cleaner called Acti-Klean (used by my

> > HVAC co.) which is rinsed off with water after application?

> >

> > Any help will be greatly appreciated. I have become extremely

> > sensitive to everything inhaled & ingested so each decision has become

> > a " project. "

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I respect each person's right to their opinion. Each of us has to

choose how we live and our impact on the environment. For me, my

ability to breathe depends upon the highest possible air quality. I do

not keep my thermostat high in the winter or low in the summer--I do

everything I can to conserve energy. I use fans but cannot breathe if

pollen enters my environment. So, open windows just don't work for me.

I must take allergy shots every 2-4 days. Sadly, with the extreme mold

exposure most of us have experienced and our pathetic air quality it

seems like a no-win situation for many of us.

> >

> > ,

> >

> > The surface of the coils that are exposed are usually the dirtiest as

> > this is where the dust that bypasses the (useless) filter collects.

> > (Always use a Web supplemental filter either inside (if it fits

> > without touching the coils) or at the exterior if it does not fit.

> >

> > You can HEPA vacuum the coils (do not bend the fins)then blast them

> > with steam from a good steam vapor machine. (I usually use bleach

> > spray and water from a hose outside but pressure steam can be

> > successful.)

> >

> > Don't forget to clean the blower as it also can get full of mold.

> >

> > Basically, the entire interior of the A/C should look new when done.

> > It there are bits of black gunk floating around in the rinse water,

> > give up and get a new one. And don't allow the coil to get dirty.

> >

> > We moved this year to a new house but we had to wait 4 months in a

> > rental which had a through-wall A/C. It was packed with mold, I

> > cleaned it first with bleach (in place, careful to make sure that the

> > drips didn't rain on anyone below), then steamed it for over an hour.

> > After 4 hours, I gave up because I could not get all the mold out,

> > called the management and within an hour they replaced it!!!

> >

> > Our new house has central A/C. I did not allow the contractors to run

> > it at all. Most of the ducts and actual indoor units weren't even

> > installed until shortly before we closed. The ducts that were in place

> > in the attic were all sealed from the day they were installed. We have

> > Aprilaire media filters (MERV-11) and Filtrex pre-filters on every

> > return. After one season of operation, there is barely a speck of dust

> > in the system.

> >

> > A nearly-completed, $4+ million house we recently investigated for a

> > buyer had pounds of sawdust and drywall dust from construction in the

> > ducts, in the liners and on the coils .

> >

> > The buyer (who had bad mold allergies) walked away from the house even

> > after it had been (inadequately) cleaned, because ultimately, the

> > sawdust throughout the system would have turned to mold from the high

> > humidity of the cold air.

> >

> > Central coil cleaning has to be done professionsally and carefully

> > inspected afterwards. Usually, some type of chlorine-containing

> > disinfectant is used.

> >

> > Keep in mind that if there is fibrous lining laterial, this is also

> > full of mold and must be replaced. Work should be done under

> > containment. Do not allow the use of unlined insulation. Foil-coated

> > fiberglass is fine.

> >

> > It sometimes makes sense to replace a contaminated fan coil rather

> > than to clean it since proper cleaning is so expensive and may not be

> > successful if all the mold is not removed. Clean at the start of the

> > new season. I am not familiar with Acti-Klean but according the the

> > MSDS, it contains ETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOBUTYL ETHER (which smells but is

> > water dispersable and can therefore be rinsed away)and DODECYLBENZENE

> > SULFONIC ACID (which is just a detergent).

> >

> > Good luck.

> >

> > C. May

> >

> >

> >

> > > 16. Cleaning Air Conditioner Coils

> > > Posted by: " " smarshwar@ smarshwar

> > > Date: Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:45 am ((PDT))

> > >

> > > I have taken to heart the posts regarding the necessity to clean a/c

> > > coils--I believe it was said each season. So, I've tried to learn a

> > > bit about the process and have a few questions.

> > >

> > > Here goes:

> > > When should this be done?

> > > Should it be done for central a/c?

> > > Is it safe to use a chemical cleaner called Acti-Klean (used by my

> > > HVAC co.) which is rinsed off with water after application?

> > >

> > > Any help will be greatly appreciated. I have become extremely

> > > sensitive to everything inhaled & ingested so each decision has

become

> > > a " project. "

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Yes, Re: open windows: I used to be a fresh air fan but spring and fall

allergies and mold illness (I don't test allergic to mold but feel sick

if mold count outside is high)...means I can only be a fresh air person

now in WINTER, and I may move north because of it, the warm season is

getting too long here in the midwest for me, pollen count and other

allergens and mold counts are getting higher, except for last year when

we had a drought here. Also, FANS seem to make everything worse since

it stirs up whatever is in room and keeps it airbourne too much.

Pretty soon I may need to be in bubble.

>

> So, open windows just don't work for me.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi , do you know that there are barriers that can be placed in

your windows and let air through, without letting pollen through? I

investigated it at one time for my boyfriend who has pollen allergies.

I googled around the web and found them, but that was a year or two

ago and I can't remember the website. That and ceiling fans and hepa

air filters might be healthier than a/c air. In any case, I think it

is rare that people need central air conditioning, tho maybe in a few

cases they do. Generally it is not healthy imo and it is a huge

expense and does the environment no favors.

> > >

> > > ,

> > >

> > > The surface of the coils that are exposed are usually the

dirtiest as

> > > this is where the dust that bypasses the (useless) filter collects.

> > > (Always use a Web supplemental filter either inside (if it fits

> > > without touching the coils) or at the exterior if it does not fit.

> > >

> > > You can HEPA vacuum the coils (do not bend the fins)then blast them

> > > with steam from a good steam vapor machine. (I usually use bleach

> > > spray and water from a hose outside but pressure steam can be

> > > successful.)

> > >

> > > Don't forget to clean the blower as it also can get full of mold.

> > >

> > > Basically, the entire interior of the A/C should look new when done.

> > > It there are bits of black gunk floating around in the rinse water,

> > > give up and get a new one. And don't allow the coil to get dirty.

> > >

> > > We moved this year to a new house but we had to wait 4 months in a

> > > rental which had a through-wall A/C. It was packed with mold, I

> > > cleaned it first with bleach (in place, careful to make sure

that the

> > > drips didn't rain on anyone below), then steamed it for over an

hour.

> > > After 4 hours, I gave up because I could not get all the mold out,

> > > called the management and within an hour they replaced it!!!

> > >

> > > Our new house has central A/C. I did not allow the contractors

to run

> > > it at all. Most of the ducts and actual indoor units weren't even

> > > installed until shortly before we closed. The ducts that were in

place

> > > in the attic were all sealed from the day they were installed.

We have

> > > Aprilaire media filters (MERV-11) and Filtrex pre-filters on every

> > > return. After one season of operation, there is barely a speck

of dust

> > > in the system.

> > >

> > > A nearly-completed, $4+ million house we recently investigated for a

> > > buyer had pounds of sawdust and drywall dust from construction

in the

> > > ducts, in the liners and on the coils .

> > >

> > > The buyer (who had bad mold allergies) walked away from the

house even

> > > after it had been (inadequately) cleaned, because ultimately, the

> > > sawdust throughout the system would have turned to mold from the

high

> > > humidity of the cold air.

> > >

> > > Central coil cleaning has to be done professionsally and carefully

> > > inspected afterwards. Usually, some type of chlorine-containing

> > > disinfectant is used.

> > >

> > > Keep in mind that if there is fibrous lining laterial, this is also

> > > full of mold and must be replaced. Work should be done under

> > > containment. Do not allow the use of unlined insulation. Foil-coated

> > > fiberglass is fine.

> > >

> > > It sometimes makes sense to replace a contaminated fan coil rather

> > > than to clean it since proper cleaning is so expensive and may

not be

> > > successful if all the mold is not removed. Clean at the start of the

> > > new season. I am not familiar with Acti-Klean but according the the

> > > MSDS, it contains ETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOBUTYL ETHER (which smells

but is

> > > water dispersable and can therefore be rinsed away)and

DODECYLBENZENE

> > > SULFONIC ACID (which is just a detergent).

> > >

> > > Good luck.

> > >

> > > C. May

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > > 16. Cleaning Air Conditioner Coils

> > > > Posted by: " " smarshwar@ smarshwar

> > > > Date: Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:45 am ((PDT))

> > > >

> > > > I have taken to heart the posts regarding the necessity to

clean a/c

> > > > coils--I believe it was said each season. So, I've tried to

learn a

> > > > bit about the process and have a few questions.

> > > >

> > > > Here goes:

> > > > When should this be done?

> > > > Should it be done for central a/c?

> > > > Is it safe to use a chemical cleaner called Acti-Klean (used by my

> > > > HVAC co.) which is rinsed off with water after application?

> > > >

> > > > Any help will be greatly appreciated. I have become extremely

> > > > sensitive to everything inhaled & ingested so each decision has

> become

> > > > a " project. "

> > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>