Condenser Coil Cleaning

[BHW]

I Have A 2000 Hunter 380. My REFER Compressor Has Stopped. The Led Diagnostic Light Says "compressor Overload(rotor Is Blocked Or Refer Pressure To High) It Is Water Cooled And Water Is Pumping Fine. Grunet (polar Mate) Discontinued

I Talked To Manufacture And He Sugested To Acid Wash Coils. Has Anyone Acid Washed The Refer Coils. Can I Just Disconect From Strainer And Let Refer Pump Push Acid Thru Coils??

 

[mkuhn]

Use water and a brush don't use acid! We do, on AC coils (I have an HVAC Co) but only in the open not on boats or RV's

 

[DeniseO30]

bhw before you start messing with pumping acid into the tube in tube condensor. Does the compressor run when it's cool? 12volt I assume? You will want to do an amp reading when the comp is trying to start. if you get "locked rotor amps" LRA it may be pointless to clean the condensor. Not often a comp can be unstuck but that usually applies to larger hvacr comps that use capacitors, start kits and or relays. tiny little compressors for boat refrig aren't very robust. Hope it's not bad.. but I'd suggest going right to the comp first in your trouble shooting. it should run when cool. if not it's stuck. It would only overheat with a dirty condensor, which may or may not contribute to premature failure.

 

[Dan Johnson]

Go to an industrial distributor...

such as Grainger's and get the non-acid coil cleaner (there are two kinds as noted elsewhere on the post) and apply to the coil fins as directed. Use a dedicated gallon insecticide sprayer (never contaminated with insecticide!) filled with hot water to rinse off the coil fins.

Wouldn't hurt to pick up a set of "coil combs" to straighten out the fins if you get too agressive in applying the cleaner (or if something has bumped them and closed the gaps).

 

[DeniseO30]

he has a tube in tube condensor they are cleaned with acid because it's water cooled. no fins, Only fins he has are on the evap.

 

[Dan Johnson]

Thanks, Denise...

misread the post regarding what "coils" he was talking about. Thought it was on the evaporative side he was referring to since the water pump was said to be running fine. Compressor failure is more likely the culprit as you said.