Cleaning out a Friedrich SS12L30 room A/C

[srjacob]

I have a Friedrich SS12L30 room A/C that recently gotten two problems.  It cools fine, but there is black stuff that coming out of the air vents.  Is this cleanable?  If so, how?

 

Also, water from the evaporator isn't draining out the back of the machine well, and builds up in the tray underneath the evaporator.  Can the drain port be easily cleaned as well?  If so, how?

 

Is there a way to get the service manual for this A/C unit?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Steve

[PDuff]

Not sure about any service manual for the Friedrich, but the best way to clean any window/room a/c is to remove the unit from it's mounting and cabinet.  Have a water hose with a high pressure nozzle with a fan/spray setting ready, as well as an acid based coil cleaner (should be available from your parts or chemical distributor).

 

With the nozzle set for fan or spray, flush out the evaporator and condenser, being careful not to bend or damage the fins.  You can also spray into the blower and condenser fan blade with the hose, just keep away from the motor and controls.  Gently flush out the evaporator drain trough as well.

 

Pour the coil cleaner into a spray bottle and dilute with water as directed.  I like mine a little on the strong side, depending on the buildup.  Set the spray bottle to a fan setting, and closely spray the evaporator and condenser starting from the top, working left to right, to the bottom.  It never hurts to hit the blower and condenser fan blade with a little cleaner as well.  Let sit for a few minutes.

 

Then rinse the unit thoroughly with the water still set to fan or spray until the coils are shiny, and the evaporator drain trough and unit base are clean and free of debris.  Drain any excess water and reinstall unit.

 

I used to clean dozens of window a/c's every summer for the packing houses and apartment complexes.  Steady money during the slow time of the year.

[srjacob]

Thanks for the info.  The coil is fine, just black particles coming out of the air vents.

 

How do you get it so that evaporator water drains from the coil into the back of the unit?  Something seems to be clogged up in there.

 

I haven't taken out the A/C to see what is going on.

 

Steve

[PDuff]

Usually the rear of the Styrofoam drain trough below the blower fan shroud is where the "gookus" accumulates.  I've tried every short cut I could think of to clear it without pulling the unit, only to get called back.  The 12,000 btu chassis may be separate from the cabinet to make it easier to pull.  If the cabinet's attached, hopefully the installer thought ahead (yeah, right), and didn't seal it in too tight.

[clman_old]

Pull and clean the unit with coil cleaner making sure NOT to get the electronics wet. Flush the drain pan under the evaporator coil very well along with the trough that leads through the middle partition ( the middle section between the inside and outside of the unit ) The black stuff is usually mold. An acid based coil cleaner will get most ( usually not all ) of it. Make sure to get cleaner on the blower wheel and rinse as directly as possibly.

[CMSATX]

I may be a little late to this thread but I wanted to mention although coil cleaner is a great thing over time and over use can deteriorate the aluminum fins. I would recommend Pulling the unit from the sleeve and spraying out the coils and blower/fan. Also clean the base pan too while you have it out. The clogging issue you are getting in the back is due to the "Mosquito trap" getting clogged up, more than likely this is caused by the black build up. 

 

You should be able to see viewing from the backside of the unit two areas where it should drain. spray these out with water and it should dislodge the clog.