HVAC Coil Cleaner Buying Guide and Cleaning Tips | Goodway

Air conditioners "coils" like evaporator coils and condenser coils are the primary method for heat exchange, whether that be removing heat from the air (cooling) or pushing heat back into the air (heating).

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Generally, an air conditioning system has two sets of coils, condenser coils, and evaporator coils. These coils are usually made of copper tubes with aluminum fins, which aids in the heat exchange process. The evaporator coil, or indoor coil, is often described as the "cold" coil and works by absorbing heat from the indoor air blown over by the air handler's fan. The condenser coil or outdoor coil is the "warm" coil as it rejects the heat as a fan blows outside air over the surface. Keeping these coils clean is an essential part of your HVAC system running at top efficiency and increasing its life. Goodway has a variety of coil cleaning solutions to clean both the condenser coils and evaporator coils quickly and easily.

Take a look around you - coils can be found everywhere in commercial and industrial spaces. They are located in units outside, on rooftops above the facility, inside narrow ceilings and even tucked away inside of mechanical rooms. 

Coils are found in HVAC and refrigeration equipment, including those used in supermarkets and restaurants. It is not uncommon to find hundreds of "through-the-wall" PTAC fan coil units in a hotel, dormitory, or apartment building. As the air moving over the coils contains dust, dirt, pollen, moisture, and other contaminants, the coils get dirty and become less efficient. In addition, the evaporator coil and its condensate pan can become fouled with pollen, mold spores, and other biological contaminants that can have adverse effects on indoor air quality. If not maintained, the moisture around the evaporator coil can become a breeding ground for bacteria and mold.

The needs of those maintaining indoor coils differ greatly from those maintaining outdoor coils, so caring for them best means considering the unique challenges that come along with their location.

Indoor Coils

In some cases, indoor coils are difficult to clean because they are stationed in hard-to-reach areas and are barely visible. On other occasions, you may be required to clean them in a space being occupied by others. However, in most cases, a portable unit with controlled flow and perfect pressure is required and Goodway’s CoilPro line has several unique coil cleaner systems that were specifically designed for the job.

• CC-JR CoilPro – portable, shoulder strapped unit that carries water, chemical and power with it, for cleaning of coils in hard-to-reach places
• CC-600 – delivers 600 PSI at 1.6 GPM to thoroughly penetrate thick coil beds
• CC-140 – a self-contained, coil cleaning system that can also connect to a ¾” water line for continuous operation
• CC-200 – powerful coil cleaner that includes wet/dry vacuum capabilities for cleaning spills, also uses tablet-based coil cleaner for added convenience

CoilPro systems can be used in a variety of inside areas to clean coils – from the mechanical room to the board room, but beware. Coil thickness and drainage are very important to take into consideration when selecting the right equipment.

Depending on where the coils are located, you may have to bring your own water to the job, so finding this out beforehand is very important. When it comes to cleaning in remote locations, on-board water tanks, like those offered in our CoilPro CC-JR and CC-100 models, help get cleaning done quickly. Our CC-100 HVAC Coil Cleaner is designed for this kind of flexibility. With its very own integrated rechargeable battery 5, gallon tank and chemical injection control, this portable machine is perfect for cleaning outdoor units when no water source is near. For best results, use with CoilShine.

If water is available, especially if coils are located outside, having more water volume for coil cleaning could help cut cleaning time. Models like the CC-600 and CC-400 from Goodway, offer increased pressure and flow, to power through coil cleaning tasks quickly.

Backpack CoilPro Coil Cleaner

The Goodway CC-100 Backpack CoilPro makes your job easier. The unique battery-powered coil cleaner is the solution for all your mobile and hard-to-reach coil cleaning applications. Spray bottles and pump sprayers are not effective in penetrating most coil beds. In addition, many “coil cleaner” chemicals can actually damage the coils or create noxious fumes. After much customer input, our engineers have redesigned our unique coil cleaning system, containing all of the features needed in a truly mobile package!

Features:

• Deep cycle 12 V rechargeable battery
• Integrated 5-gallon water tank
• Integrated 3-quart chemical tank

Backpack CoilPro with Dolly

The Goodway CC-100-D Dolly mounted CoilPro makes your job easier. This unique battery-powered coil cleaner is the solution for all your mobile and hard-to-reach coil cleaning applications. Spray bottles and pump sprayers are not effective in penetrating most coil beds. In addition, many “coil cleaner” chemicals can actually damage the coils or create noxious fumes.

Features:

• Wheel and Dolly Assembly
• Deep cycle 12 V rechargeable battery
• Integrated 5-gallon water tank
• Integrated 3-quart chemical tank

CoilPro Self Contained Coil Cleaning System

The Goodway CC-140 CoilPro Battery Powered Coil Cleaner is the solution for your coil cleaning applications. Spray bottles and pump sprayers are not effective in penetrating most coil beds. In addition, many “coil cleaner” chemicals can actually damage the coils or create noxious fumes. This unique coil cleaning system is most efficient with our non-fuming CoilShine, environmentally friendly expanding foam detergent.

Features:

• Integrated water tank
• Integrated soap container
• 12 V rechargeable battery

CoilPro CC-140 with CoilVac

The total coil cleaning system! Sames as CC-140 but with CoilVac Dry HEPA Vacuum mounted on a dolly, including filters, stainless steel tank, 6' vinyl crush-proof hose, two-piece 36" wand, 19" flexible extension wand, 3" dual bristle dusting brush, 3" long bristle dusting brush, 5" blower/bulk pickup nozzle, four-piece 29" flat wand with crevice tool tip and 6" flat brush, CoilVac mounting bracket, and tool bin. The CC-140 is designed to be flexible. The unit can be used for just about any coil cleaning application. It can operate on AC power or its integrated rechargeable battery.

Features:

• Integrated water tank
• Integrated soap container
• 12 V rechargeable battery

CoilPro CC-400 Hi-Flow.

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The CC-400 hi-flow coil cleaner is purpose-built to clean thick, dirty condenser coils up to 8" thick. This unit provides the best of both worlds for cleaning coils. There is plenty of water (3 GPM) and plenty of power (400 SPI), all without damaging sensitive fins. 

Features:

• Convenient 120V power connection
• Lightweight and portable
• Chemical injection
• Optional wands

CoilPro Coil Cleaner

For washing those thick, hard-to-reach coils, turn to the CC-600 High Flow CoilPro Coil Cleaner. With an output water pressure of 300 or 600 PSI at 1.6 GPM, this unit delivers the cleaning force necessary to penetrate thick coil beds. When used with CoilShine, our environmentally friendly, non-fuming, expanding foam detergent, it will give you the cleanest coils possible. The CC-600 is designed to be used on large multiple-pass coil beds. It operates on AC power. The unit can connect to a 3/4" water line for continuous operation or draw from its own 5-gallon tanks. The operator applies a thick layer of CoilShine, Goodway's expanding foam detergent, using the custom foaming nozzle.

Features:

• Integrated 5-gallon water tank
• Integrated 5-gallon chemical tank
• Chemical control valve

CoilPro Cleaner with CoilVac

The CC-600-KIT is the same as CC-600 CoilPro. It includes a CoilVac Dry HEPA Vacuum so the operator can first vacuum heavy debris from the coil before applying chemicals and spraying it down with the CoilPro. Both the CoilPro CC-600 and CoilVac operate on AC power. The CC-600 can connect to a 3/4" water line for continuous operation or draw from its own 5-gallon tanks. The operator applies a thick layer of CoilShine, Goodway’s expanding foam detergent, using the custom foaming nozzle.

Features:

• Integrated 5-gallon water tank
• Integrated 5-gallon chemical tank
• Chemical control valve

Evaporator coils and the refrigerant that flows through them are the veins and lifeblood of your air conditioning system. They come in a couple of different configurations which you should know about.

What is An Evaporator Coil

In an air conditioning system, an evaporator coil is a series of tubes containing cold refrigerant that absorbs and transfers heat out of your home. It is installed in one of two ways:

• If you have an existing furnace that heats your home in the winter, the evaporator coil is a separate component that uses the blower inside your furnace to distribute cool air. 
• If you don't have an existing furnace, you need to purchase an indoor air handler, which contains a blower and evaporator coil in one unit.

In both cases, the indoor evaporator coil works with an outdoor unit that releases the heat.

Coils can also be used in heat pump systems, where the process is reversed. In that case, an evaporator coil in the outdoor unit absorbs heat from the outside and transfers it inside, releasing it via the blower.

Coil Capacity

Coils and air handlers are often advertised as being for a specific size unit. This is often represented in terms of Tons or BTU per hour.

Both are common measures of cooling capacity and are used interchangeably (1 Ton cooling = 12,000 BTU/hr). These capacity ratings may be accurate for basic installations, but higher-efficiency systems often require a coil with a listed capacity higher than the desired output.

Manufacturers specify the appropriate coils for these applications, and we will be happy to help you select the correct components for your system.

Coil Width

Furnaces typically come in four standard widths, and evaporator coils are sold in corresponding widths to simplify installation. Width should be selected to match the furnace as closely as possible, and it has little to no effect on operating performance or efficiency.

Coil Types: Slab Coil vs A Coil Vs N Coil

Coils are available in three main types: Slab coils,  A-coils, and N-coils.

Slab coils

As their name implies, slab coils consist of a simple slab of fins with tube coils to carry refrigerant. They are primarily used in systems that require very low airflow resistance.

Slab coils are often larger than the furnaces they are used with, so it is critical that the installer build a transition to ensure proper airflow and operation.

A-coils

A-coils consist of two slabs of fins arranged in an A-shape formation. This allows them to have a total surface area similar to that of a slab coil, but install directly onto the furnace with no transition ducting.

N-coils

An N-coil is a derivation of an A-coil that uses three fin slabs arranged in an N-formation. It is designed to fit on a furnace directly like the A-coil but has a shorter overall height.

Coil Orientation

While slab coils are only suitable for installation in horizontal applications (i.e., applications where the airflow is horizontal through the coil), "A" and "N" coils are available for both horizontal and vertical applications. A coil with the proper orientation must be used, or water will not drain properly, which can cause mold growth, poor operation, or property damage.

Air Handler Blower

Air handlers are available with a number of blower options that offer various combinations of cost, comfort, and efficiency. Detailed information about these options can be found in the blower section of our furnace buying guide.

For more Coil Handling Equipmentinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.