Technology for deep cleaning HVAC coils

Carolina IAQ utilizes its unique and innovative patented deep coil cleaning system, Coil Flow Max^® to penetrate through thick coils, up to 16 inches thick, to remove dirt, biofilm and other contaminants.

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Benefits of Coil Flow Max^®  Over Conventional Coil Cleaning Methods

Over the past 20 years, significant advancements in the design and manufacturing of HVAC evaporator coils have occurred. Engineers have made various changes to increase heat transfer efficiency, including:

• Making the aluminum fins much thinner.
• Placing the fins closer together.
• Pleating or corrugating the aluminum fins to increase surface area.
• Increasing coil thickness (depth).
• Cutting slots in the fins to allow air to move horizontally through the coil.

While these improvements have indeed enhanced the coils' heat transfer efficiency, they have also inadvertently made the coils more effective at trapping dirt. Consequently, modern coils are more challenging to clean, and conventional coil cleaning methods have become increasingly ineffective.

In contrast, Coil Flow Max^® offers an innovative solution capable of effectively cleaning the advanced HVAC evaporator coils found in modern systems. There are many advantages of Coil Flow Max^® compared to conventional cleaning methods and Carolina IAQ sees its adoption as the preferred approach for maintaining contemporary HVAC systems.

Traditional coil cleaning techniques, such as applying chemical cleaners, using pressure washers, steam, wet steam, and employing probiotics or enzymes, often struggle to penetrate and clean the modern coils. These conventional methods can even cause damage to the delicate aluminum fins or push contaminants deeper into the coil, further exacerbating the problem.

Steam or wet steam cleaning, for instance, loses energy quickly when it deflects off the corrugated aluminum fins, limiting its penetration to one or two inches into the coil. Additionally, rapid heat dissipation and the high heat absorption rate of aluminum fins can compromise the bond between the aluminum fins and the copper tubes, which is crucial for coil performance.

Probiotics or enzymes have also been utilized to break down contaminants lodged within the coil. While this method may theoretically loosen dirt, the challenge of removing it from the coil remains. The flow of condensate water and air moving between coil fins is unlikely to be sufficient for extracting the dirt.

Coil Flow Max^®, on the other hand, employs a high-volume (40-90 GPM), low-pressure water stream to remove dirt from thick coils. The system utilizes the momentum (mass x velocity) of the water to dislodge and extract dirt from the coil, instead of merely pushing it further in. Coil Flow Max^® achieves this by recovering, filtering, and reusing the water used during the cleaning process.

By harnessing the energy of the high-volume water flow, Coil Flow Max^® minimizes the need for chemical coil cleaners, particularly in critical areas where these chemicals can cause issues. Conventional coil cleaning chemicals can damage coil components, create problems in wastewater systems, and pose risks to workers due to their corrosive nature and strong fumes. By avoiding these chemicals, Coil Flow Max^® presents a safer and more environmentally friendly approach to cleaning HVAC coils.

Coil Flow Max^® offers a superior method for cleaning modern HVAC evaporator coils compared to existing conventional techniques. Its ability to penetrate deeply into advanced coils with thinner, closely spaced fins and increased depth, makes it the clear choice for maintaining contemporary HVAC systems. As such, Coil Flow Max^® should be considered the preferred solution for cleaning advanced HVAC evaporator coils in commercial, healthcare, and industrial applications.