How To Clean Dehumidifier Coils: 3 Simple Steps
You should know how to clean dehumidifier coils. We do not promise you will like the job, but someone has to do it.
The good thing is that if you clean them regularly, it will become easier. Do not let the dirt accumulate on the coils.
A clean dehumidifier will easily lower the humidity level from 70 percent to the recommended 30 to 55 percent.
Besides, if left unattended for too long, mold can start forming on the coils.
When you have thrown your money into a purchase, it will need regular maintenance.
Benefits of cleaning your dehumidifier
- It will last longer
- You will have fresh, clean indoor air all the time
- Cleaning will make you aware of defective parts or filters that may need to be replaced
- Many others
How do you know that your coils need cleaning? They will have dust, frost, or grime buildup. Make it a habit to clean the coils when you are cleaning the rest of the appliance.
When you have a humidifier, you have to deal with white dust. When you have its sister, the dehumidifier, you have to deal with coil cleaning.
If you are in a hurry, you can watch the video below on how to do this job:
3 Steps for Cleaning Dehumidifier Coils
Cleaning the coils does not take much. Get the following things:
- A small brush with moderately firm bristles
- An evaporator coil cleaner
- A vacuum hose and its brush attachment
- A pair of gloves
- Clean towels or rags
- Warm water
Step 1: Unplug the unit from power
This should always be the first thing to do for any powered appliance. Choose a good spot to clean the appliance because a lot of dirt will come loose.
You want a big nylon paper or an old bedsheet that you no longer use.
Step 2: To get to the coils
Before you get to the coils, you will need to do much more cleaning. Since this post is for the coils alone, we will go straight into it.
First, it is good to start with a wipe down for the exterior, you know, the covers and all. These usually have no grease or grime.
Secondly, you need to detach the hose and clean it too. If yours is small and has a reservoir instead of a hose, well, you need to clean that too.
Remove the filters and clean them. If they are worn out, you can replace them with new ones.
You can use a damp cloth to clean the fan blades.
Step 3: Clean the coils
This is where the heart of the matter is. It is where the things we said you would need to come in.
Use a soft brush to remove superficial dirt
First, you should use a brush with moderately soft bristles to scrub in an up-and-down motion. This will remove the superficial dust. You can buy such a brush on amazon.com.
However, the above step will only remove superficial dust. If it has been some time since you cleaned the coils, you will have caked dirt and grime.
Not to worry, though… It should be simple to remove!
Spray with foaming solvent for evaporators
After removing the superficial dust and dirt, spray your foaming solvent on the coils.
Here, you could use a product such as Web Coil Cleaner that you can buy on Amazon.com.
If you have ever seen an auto mechanic use WD-40 rust remover on rusty disks, the Web Cleaner works in the same way. Just spray it, and the hardened grime starts to loosen up.
Use the brush again after spraying
If need be, or if your coils were really caked up!
Scrub with your brush firmly. The dirt will start falling off. However, be careful with the fins because you do not want to bend them.
Rinse the coils with warm water
All the buildup is gone from the coils. Now, this is the final step. Cover the motor so that it doesn’t get water, and then clean the coils again with warm water.
To do this, you can soak a sponge in the water and squeeze it on the coils. That way, they get a good rinse, and you don’t have to douse the coils with water.
An important tip
You can attach the brush tool to your vacuum hose and use it to scrub the coils. Scrub them in an up-and-down motion and do it gently so that you do not damage them.
Conclusion
That is the short process for how to clean dehumidifier coils. It is simple and straightforward. Cleaning the coils also reveals any wear and tear.
Besides, you don’t want to clean the rest of the appliance and leave the coils dirty, do you? This task of how to clean condenser coils on a dehumidifier should take you one hour, and you are done.
Also check my other articles on:
Air Purifier or Dehumidifier for Musty Smell?
Why Does Dehumidifier Blow Hot Air?
Why Does Dehumidifier Blow Cold Air?
Can mold cause sinus infection
