window a/c fins turning to dust

[astro46]

 i have a Whirlpool ACQ082XK1 window a/c. 7 years old. last summer i started noticing a white powder forming on the fins on the outside of the a/c.  this fall i realized that it is not on the fins,  it is the fins. if i touch the powder, it is gone, the fin, that is.  this is like the efflorescence seen on bricks. At this point not all the fins are affected, but it is spreading.

whirlpool has taken no interest in the issue, since it is technically out of warranty. (and whirlpool seems to have given up trying to make air conditioners)

I have 2 other a/c's, over 15 years old and the fins are fine. I don't live near industrial plants, heavy traffic area or salt water.

can anyone explain what is happening and what i might be able to do, to stop it.

[Pegi]

I have seen this a lot, seems like some condensers do this more than others, is is caused by stuff in the water and or the air that makes the aluminum fins turn to dust...this will not hurt anything,  just keep the units clean....

[astro46]

Pegi,  thanks for responding.

"not hurt anything"?

won't there be a severe negative impact on efficiency from not having fins on the condenser coils?

[Pegi]

Not really, the fins just direct the airflow from the fan blade thru the condenser coils to remove the heat from the freon, the water in the pan is splashed up onto the coil to help remove the heat from the coil also....what fins are missing (that are about like heavy duty aluminum foil) will not make an impact.....besides nothing can be done anyway except to replace the coil which would cost probably $200-$400 if it was even still available.....not worth fretting about something that nothing can be done about.....other than replacing the window unit itself.   I have seen units that had the whole bottom half of the coil bare of fins cause they were eaten off from the stuff that gets in the water in the pan out of the air, still chugging along doing just fine..

[astro46]

that is good to hear. i was considering spraying the fins with vinegar,then water, to neutralize the corrosion. you are saying not to bother?

[Pegi]

No clue......you can try I suppose...

[Bobice]

No No to "vinegar" this is what causes problems in delis. Next unit spray them with clear lacquer to retard corrosion.

[astro46]

[user=43030]Bobice[/user] wrote:

No No to "vinegar" this is what causes problems in delis. Next unit spray them with clear lacquer to retard corrosion.

ok. no vinegar.  so, you are advising, 'do nothing' for this unit?  let it go?

[applianceman18007260692]

Use a product called blow out Or get some aluminum brite cleaner and take it outside. Wash it down but dont get no water in the motor.

[astro46]

[user=4554]applianceman18007260692[/user] wrote:

Use a product called blow out Or get some aluminum brite cleaner and take it outside. Wash it down but dont get no water in the motor.

thanks a...2,  can't find anyone here in chicago that has heard of blow out.  nor any reference on the web.   is it the same as a product call new blast?

[applianceman18007260692]

Probably. The company that makes it is southern out of the carolinas.

[kdog]

We use a product called "Coilene" from Durachem

[applianceman18007260692]

http://www.instawares.com/blowout-refrigeration-condenser-coil.143-1090.0.7.htm