Geekzone: technology news, blogs, forums
Guest
Welcome Guest.
You haven't logged in yet. If you don't have an account you can register now.


gzt

gzt

17001 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#319605 13-May-2025 10:16
Send private message quote this post

I've been putting this off for a while. I see there are cans of spray on hose off cleaner available from bunnings. Mine is a Hitachi if it makes any difference.

Have you cleaned your own external unit? any tips?

Mine has 5+ years of service. I clean the internal unit yearly.There are no current issues.

Create new topic
ANglEAUT
2307 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #3372696 13-May-2025 10:40
Send private message quote this post

Good question. following with interest

 

 





Please keep this GZ community vibrant by contributing in a constructive & respectful manner.




tweake
2349 posts

Uber Geek


  #3372732 13-May-2025 11:37
Send private message quote this post

if your referring to the supercell spray on cleaner, its really meant for indoor coils. its basically just a light detergent with fragrance so it makes the house smell nice.

 

dishwashing detergent will do fine for the outside coils. 

 

really what you want is the foaming detergents. i would look at crc coil cleaner. otherwise you can go get the real pro stuff at commercial refrigeration companies, but you have to be careful with what you buy as some of them eat the coils.


rscole86
4970 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator
Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #3372740 13-May-2025 11:42
Send private message quote this post

Have you seen the recent thread?




johno1234
2737 posts

Uber Geek


  #3372746 13-May-2025 12:08
Send private message quote this post

Some heat pumps have a self cleaning function for both indoor and outdoor unit. They freeze and thaw the moisture on the fins to push the dirt out using the freezing water's expansion. 


gzt

gzt

17001 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

  #3372750 13-May-2025 12:30
Send private message quote this post

rscole86:

Have you seen the recent thread?


July 2024, nearly a year ago. I missed that one.

  #3372761 13-May-2025 12:57
Send private message quote this post

I recently washed the fins on my outdoor split heat pump unit. Over the last 10 years I had only used compressed air annually on the fins.

 

Prior to the last 10 years it seems that no maintenance was ever done on the heat pump judging by the wads of dust blocking the indoor unit filters.

 

My Fujutsu 8.5kW heat pump would shut down on cold mornings giving an LED error: Discharge Temperature Abnormal.

 

A search on Google suggested either the outdoor unit fins needed cleaning or gas needed topping up.

 

I made a solution of 2 caps of car wash cleaner (I read dish detergent is too strong or corrosive) in a 1/3 of a bucket of water.

 

Sprayed the fins with the solution using a garden pressure sprayer and later sprayed with cold water using a garden hose with a spray nossle.

 

Heaps of gung came out. The heat pump has not faulted since. Remember to turn off the power to the heat pump system during cleaning.

 

 





Gordy

 

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.


tweake
2349 posts

Uber Geek


  #3372771 13-May-2025 13:30
Send private message quote this post

Gordy7:

 

I made a solution of 2 caps of car wash cleaner (I read dish detergent is too strong or corrosive) in a 1/3 of a bucket of water.

 

Sprayed the fins with the solution using a garden pressure sprayer and later sprayed with cold water using a garden hose with a spray nossle.

 

 

the trouble with car wash is if its has wax etc in it. thats best avoided.

 

dish detergent is fine, its safe on your hands. some of the dishwasher or laundry soap is quite alkaline and that could corrode if left on. they might have meant, dishwasher not dish. some of the commercial hvac cleaner is an aluminum brightener which eats the top layer off. thats best left to commercial guys.

 

also if you rinse it off, its all fine.


 
 
 

Shop now on Mighty Ape (affiliate link).
  #3372778 13-May-2025 14:07
Send private message quote this post

tweake:

 

Gordy7:

 

I made a solution of 2 caps of car wash cleaner (I read dish detergent is too strong or corrosive) in a 1/3 of a bucket of water.

 

Sprayed the fins with the solution using a garden pressure sprayer and later sprayed with cold water using a garden hose with a spray nossle.

 

 

the trouble with car wash is if its has wax etc in it. thats best avoided.

 

dish detergent is fine, its safe on your hands. some of the dishwasher or laundry soap is quite alkaline and that could corrode if left on. they might have meant, dishwasher not dish. some of the commercial hvac cleaner is an aluminum brightener which eats the top layer off. thats best left to commercial guys.

 

also if you rinse it off, its all fine.

 

 

Thanks for that advice.

 

It is now obvious to me now that the compressed air did not do a good enough job cleaning the fins.

 

Any wax residue in the cleaning method I used is not as bad as all the gunge that came out that was blocking the fins.

 

 





Gordy

 

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.


gzt

gzt

17001 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

  #3372793 13-May-2025 15:05
Send private message quote this post

My Hitachi the outdoor component model RAC-S50YHA is large and standing on a concrete pad.

The fan is on the outer face. It looks like there are multiple screws holding the covers on. I'm thinking I'll take off the front and top cover initially and see what kind of access that gives me.

Looking at the rear there is 100mm between the unit and the wall. Not a lot of working area. I hope no serious rear access is required. I see a bit of rust on the mild steel grid cover at the back.

.

tweake
2349 posts

Uber Geek


  #3372823 13-May-2025 16:06
Send private message quote this post

gzt: My Hitachi the outdoor component model RAC-S50YHA is large and standing on a concrete pad.

The fan is on the outer face. It looks like there are multiple screws holding the covers on. I'm thinking I'll take off the front and top cover initially and see what kind of access that gives me.

Looking at the rear there is 100mm between the unit and the wall. Not a lot of working area. I hope no serious rear access is required. I see a bit of rust on the mild steel grid cover at the back.

.

 

i hate it when they install them at the minimums. heat pumps need airflow, lots and lots of airflow.

 

for a big clean, i just pop the top off and then you get good access to the coil and check if anything has built up at the bottom etc.


insane
3224 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified
Trusted

  #3373770 16-May-2025 16:52
Send private message quote this post

Gordy7:

 

I recently washed the fins on my outdoor split heat pump unit. Over the last 10 years I had only used compressed air annually on the fins.

 

Prior to the last 10 years it seems that no maintenance was ever done on the heat pump judging by the wads of dust blocking the indoor unit filters.

 

My Fujutsu 8.5kW heat pump would shut down on cold mornings giving an LED error: Discharge Temperature Abnormal.

 

A search on Google suggested either the outdoor unit fins needed cleaning or gas needed topping up.

 

I made a solution of 2 caps of car wash cleaner (I read dish detergent is too strong or corrosive) in a 1/3 of a bucket of water.

 

Sprayed the fins with the solution using a garden pressure sprayer and later sprayed with cold water using a garden hose with a spray nossle.

 

Heaps of gung came out. The heat pump has not faulted since. Remember to turn off the power to the heat pump system during cleaning.

 

 

 

 

This is pretty much what a "professional" did to clean ours.


linw
2843 posts

Uber Geek


  #3374055 17-May-2025 15:11
Send private message quote this post

Two comments.

 

It is not old - they will last at least 15+ years.

 

Make sure that the floor isn't getting rusty. That killed my 15-16 year old one as the motor/fan lost its anchor point!


TwoSeven
1615 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

  #3374176 17-May-2025 16:58
Send private message quote this post

I've always had mine serviced.  I did once watch a video on how to do it, but it turns out while it seemed relatively straight forward, there were a bunch of things one has to be aware of.  Can't remember what they were though, it was a while ago.

 

 





Software Engineer
   (the practice of real science, engineering and management)

 

Gender Neutral
   (a person who believes in equality and who does not believe in/use stereotypes. Examples such as gender, binary, nonbinary, male/female etc.)

 

 ...they/their/them...


mdooher
Hmm, what to write...
1420 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified
Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #3374182 17-May-2025 17:41
Send private message quote this post

I use car wash cleaner, I'm told (have no idea how true...can't be bothered to look it up) that Dishwash has salt in it so that's why you don't use it on cars ... feel free to flame me...





Matthew


  #3374230 18-May-2025 03:28
Send private message quote this post

mdooher:

 

I use car wash cleaner, I'm told (have no idea how true...can't be bothered to look it up) that Dishwash has salt in it so that's why you don't use it on cars ... feel free to flame me...

 

 

car wash can have wax in it.


Create new topic





News and reviews »

Logitech G522 Gaming Headset Review
Posted 18-Jun-2025 17:00


Māori Artists Launch Design Collection with Cricut ahead of Matariki Day
Posted 15-Jun-2025 11:19


LG Launches Upgraded webOS Hub With Advanced AI
Posted 15-Jun-2025 11:13


One NZ Satellite IoT goes live for customers
Posted 15-Jun-2025 11:10


Bolt Launches in New Zealand
Posted 11-Jun-2025 00:00


Suunto Run Review
Posted 10-Jun-2025 10:44


Freeview Satellite TV Brings HD Viewing to More New Zealanders
Posted 5-Jun-2025 11:50


HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14-inch Review
Posted 3-Jun-2025 14:40


Flip Phones Are Back as HMD Reimagines an Iconic Style
Posted 30-May-2025 17:06


Hundreds of School Students Receive Laptops Through Spark Partnership With Quadrent's Green Lease
Posted 30-May-2025 16:57


AI Report Reveals Trust Is Key to Unlocking Its Potential in Aotearoa
Posted 30-May-2025 16:55


Galaxy Tab S10 FE Series Brings Intelligent Experiences to the Forefront with Premium, Versatile Design
Posted 30-May-2025 16:14


New OPPO Watch X2 Launches in New Zealand
Posted 29-May-2025 16:08


Synology Premiers a New Lineup of Advanced Data Management Solutions
Posted 29-May-2025 16:04


Dyson Launches Its Slimmest Vaccum Cleaner PencilVac
Posted 29-May-2025 15:50









Geekzone Live »

Try automatic live updates from Geekzone directly in your browser, without refreshing the page, with Geekzone Live now.



Are you subscribed to our RSS feed? You can download the latest headlines and summaries from our stories directly to your computer or smartphone by using a feed reader.