How to Clean Rust Condenser Evaporator Coil in Air Conditioner

An evaporator coil is a component of the cooling system in large appliances like air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines. When the coil becomes rusted, it doesn’t function as well and this can lead to the appliance not performing as well as it should. The rust forms when the metal of the coil comes into contact with water or moisture. Cleaning the coil is part of the regular maintenance for the evaporator coil.

Things You'll Need

• Wire brush, scrubbing pad or steel wool
• Lemon juice
• White vinegar
• Navel jelly
• Commercial rust remover

Instructions

1. Unplug the air conditioner. The first step to cleaning is to unplug the appliance. This is a safety precaution.

2. Locate the evaporator coil by referring to the air conditioner's owner's manual. Illustrations in the manual will help you to located the evaporator coil.

3. Use a scrubbing pad to scrub off the rust as best you can. According to the website Thrifty Fun, scraping or scrubbing off the top layer of rust is the first thing to do. You can use a scrubbing pad, small wire brush or steel wool pad.

4. Apply lemon juice to the evaporator coil with a cotton ball. Wait a few minuets and use the scrubbing pad again on the rust stains. A small amount of lemon juice—which contains citric acid—will help to loosen and remove rust on the evaporator coil.

5. Apply navel jelly to the evaporator coil if lemon juice and scrubbing alone doesn't work. Home improvement centers sell this product. It is effective in removing rust because it contains phosphoric acid.

6. Apply commercial rust removers if all other methods don't work. There are many rust removal products sold in hardware stores and online.These products are extremely effective in removing rust because they contain strong phosphoric and hydrochloric acids. Because of the toxic nature of such acids, follow the directions carefully to prevent injury.

References

• Thrifty Fun: Removing Rust from Tools