Coil cleaning, Coleman Mach: fins breaking off

I've seen coils completely shot after 2 years at the beach.

Acid washing the coils to clean them will make them brittle, period.

To answer your question...yes the fins become brittle over time. Where I live on the coast they will fall / flake off, especially on the older a/c units ( not necessarily just RV ). I have seen window units where you can just touch the fins and they fall off. Not much you can do but keep it rinsed or use the coil cleaner. The newer units have better corrosion resistance. Unless it is totally clogged it should be ok for a while. I would run it till it dies. I have a similar problem on a mobile home rental. Works fine now but if it quits I will not even consider repair, just replace it.

I just used AC coil cleaner on my air conditioners yesterday - I have a rubber roof and didn't note any problems .. I do rinse the roof and rig thoroughly when I clean the air conditioner (even with simple green).

Thanks for the info on simple green and aluminum. I didn't know.
I read the simple green FAQ on aluminum and dilution ratios.


It did not appear to be corroded. As for the salt, we do go to Myrtle Beach every summer.

I didn't intend to use full spray, it just happened.
I may have just hit it too hard with the water and caused the damage.


Is the AC coil cleaner safe for the rubber roof?


Thanks again for the info.

Home Depot carries a AC coil cleaner in a spray can.
A fan water spray is all that is needed after the cleaner is used.

I have cleaned my fins a few times with Simple Green before reading on this forum that there were better products - no problems. I have never considered using a hose a full force on those fins - they are very easy to bend and a gentle wash seems to clean them just fine.

Regular Simple Green is not aluminum friendly.

They do make an aluminum friendly product-- Simple Green Extreme that was designed to degrease aluminum airplanes.

You can also use a commercial coil cleaner.

Was there any sign of corrosion on the fins? Perhaps driven up north and received a misting of salt or sat near an ocean???