Washing Commercial Coils and Water Challenges – Short #292

In this short podcast episode, Bryan talks about considerations for washing commercial coils and water challenges techs might face. Despite being the topic of debate within the last several years, cleaning coils matters and will affect performance.

When washing coils, we use Refrigeration Technologies Viper cleaners (especially Venom Packs) when we actually need cleaners. No matter which cleaner you use (or if you don’t), you want some pressure and a high flow rate when rinsing, but keep in mind that some pressure-washers may produce too much pressure and too little flow; the sweet spot is around 300 PSI, and microchannel coils require extra caution.

In terms of commercial maintenance contracts, we often have a lot of coils to wash and may not have adequate water access for the job. We find that the best move is to ask the client to install plumbing infrastructure that allows for better water access. If they refuse, you can increase the labor charge due to extra hose setups, reduced pressure, etc. The client must also be able to provide safe access to the coils; do not write a proposal or carry out a maintenance procedure if techs cannot carry out the work safely.

Strict chemical policies are important, too. Water-first approaches are best; if a water wash is sufficient, use just water and only escalate to chemicals if there is a clear need for a stronger cleaning. If you use chemical cleaners, use the proper dilution ratio; over-concentrated cleaners can damage coils. Chemicals also require more rinsing, and it’s more economical to do as little rinsing as possible. Pre-rinsing, adding cleaner from bottom to top, letting the cleaner dwell, and rinsing off is the ideal sequence.

If you encounter water challenges on the ground, you can use a ground-based water trailer with a high-output, low-pressure washer attached. If the issue is on the roof, a battery-powered washer can help (like the Dewalt 20V MAX cordless power cleaner); they draw from vessels of water, like 5-gallon jerricans. Remove the casing if you need to (making sure the client pays for that additional labor), and rinse from the inside out.

Learn more about Refrigeration Technologies cleaners at https://www.refrigtech.com/.

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