Cleaning A/C lines

[butchrobbins]

What do you recommend to pump through the A/C water lines to keep growth, etc from accumulating (aside from cleaning the strainer). I had a partially clogged line downstream from the pump. I blew it out (I hope) with a garden hose, but certainly don't want to go through that again.

Oh, and here's why I'm not a DYI. When attempting to ascertain the location of the clog, I broke the casing for my perfectly good water pump. Guess what-they don't make them any more, so now I have to have a new pump put in. And, in hindsight, all I really had to do was cut the water line and put in a fitting with clamps to repair it. Less than $5 vs several hundred. :cussing::cussing::cussing:

 

[RichH]

Pump any 'inhibited' commercial boiler descaler through the lines.
Eg. RydLyme, etc.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Oh, and here's why I'm not a DYI. When attempting to ascertain the location of the clog, I broke the casing for my perfectly good water pump. Guess what-they don't make them any more, so now I have to have a new pump put in. And, in hindsight, all I really had to do...

How else ya gonna learn? Only time (other than standing rigging) I had someoen else work on my boat, I had to fix it later 'cuz he goofed big time.

None of us are born mechanics. We learn as we go.

"Still floating after all these years..."

 

[sailaway78]

Hitting the nail on the head

Stu hit the nail read square on the head. While I am pretty good with a wrench, there are some things I don't have a clue about. Currently rebuilding the rudder is one of them. If I had had the rudder done, I would have spent a whole bunch more money, and would not have learned a thing. Also I wouldn't have found the bad shaft log which would probably have sunk the boat at some point in the future. None of us know it all, but we can all learn. The more you know about your boat, the more you will be able to fix it, when you are off somewhere that any outside help is not available.

 

[petersea]

Marine Air suggest a 5% solution of muratic acid pumped threw

 

[Hermit Scott]

Becoming good at working on things is measured in dollars. After you tear up so much stuff, viola! You're good.

 

[Bill1565]

we put 1" chlorine tablets in the strainer basket. But only once a year.

 

[Snotter]

Sailors are jacks of all trades but masters of none--well, except for maine sail maybe.

 

[Alan]

Check out this product. I've used it and it's absolutely great. Best of all it's about as environmentally friendly as anything out there.

http://www.trac-online.com/barnaclebuster.htm

 

[Patrick17430]

I had mine done recently by an AC guy and he used a acid solution, cleaned the strainer, gave the unit a freon re-charge. He pumped the acid thru the system for almost an hour. He said 2 cleanings would trash 1 pump. The fee was $200 and the line flows good now and the unit cools and heats like it should. Good luck !

 

[RichH]

Check out this product. I've used it and it's absolutely great. Best of all it's about as environmentally friendly as anything out there.

http://www.trac-online.com/barnaclebuster.htm

Definitely an inhibited commercial boiler descaling compound. these mixtures of Phosphoric or Phosphoric/Peracetic acids wont attack and dissolve the metal components to the same degree as would "muriatic" or Hydrochloric acid. Plus they are truly 'biodegradable'.

With muriatic/hydrochloric they soon begin to 'eat' the bare metal sufaces.

... just added 'barnacle buster' to my suppliers list. Thanks Alan

 

[Benny]

All mechanics at one time or another break something in the process of fixing something else but the mark of the professional is stating that the breakage was unavoidable and due to the age and condition of the part and having no qualms in charging you for the replacement. At least if you break it yourself you avoid the mechanic fees.