Air conditioners are very sensitive units which require care, protection and regular maintenance. There are many components in AC units such as compressors, condensers, filters and motor fans. Cooling fins are important components because they enhance the cooling efficiency of the unit. When these fins are bent, they restrict the flow of air through them meaning the cooling process will not be as smooth as expected and this lowers the system’s efficiency. Learning how to straighten bent cooling fins can save you money.
For safety reasons, you must switch off power to the AC unit by turning off the circuit breaker or fuse. When cleaning the fins, having a condenser come in the middle of the process could be fatal.
Straightening Cooling Fins with a Fin Comb
A fin comb is one of the regularly used equipment for straightening cooling fins. It has four different fin tooth widths which allow you to control fin spacing. As a matter of fact, the manufacturers of fin combs deliberately put the different fin tooth sizes to enable you match the comb width with your fin width.
During the straightening process, you will need to access the outer fins. This can be done by removing the outer side cage from the system condenser. The process involves the removal of the outer screw which holds the cage in place.
Before running the fin through the cooling fins that are bent, you must first measure the correct comb spacing. This is done by running the comb through the fins which are not bent. After getting the right spacing, pull the comb gently through the bent fins so as to straighten them. After you have confirmed the outer cooling fins are straight, check the inner fins also. Though the chances of them bending are limited, you will not lose anything by just checking them out. The outer cooling fins are usually vulnerable to bending because they suffer damage from flying objects and debris which strike the outer cage.
Why Regular Maintenance is Important
Normally, an air conditioning unit with bent fins does not show from the outside and therefore difficult to detect. This is why it is important to have regular maintenance services to inspect the interiors of the AC system. There are several plans that you can enroll in which at the end of the day will save you money because the pricing of the packaged services is lower compared to their individual costs.
Any repairs involving the interiors of HVAC systems including straightening of bent cooling fins must be done by qualified HVAC professionals.
