How do I clean a dirty air conditioner condensor?

Answer 1

Best way is to take it out of the window, remove the outside cover, a few screws are holding it on. Then take it to the car wash and hose it out. Don't spray directly into the controls, but everything else will be all right. Let it dry our for a day before plugging it in or turning it on. Spray both coils from both sides. It will run better and cheaper afterwards.

Answer 2

at a hardware store buy some coil cleaner, follow directions on lable, ----It depends on what it is dirty from. There are many coil cleaners made, which cost money but often do little in real work. It's mostly show. I know, I'm an A/C contractor. Best way is to clean the solid debris off the coil GENTLY with a paint brush or soft bristle brush and just hose out with water. It should be washed out every month or so if you're in the SouthWest, as I am, where we have lots of duct. Coil cleaners come as 'acidic' and 'non-acidic'. The 'non-acidic' are a waste of money and the acid MUST BE RINSED VERY, VERY WELL, otherwise it will lay in the corners and eat the aluminum up off the fins. Clean it regularly and you won't have a problem. If it's oil, there may be a refrigerant leak in the area and it must be addressed by a certified technician.