3M Foam Air Conditioner Cleaner -- Good or Not?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I've noticed most of the local stores -- Home Pro, Big C, Tesco -- have a supposed 3M product for cleaning air conditioning coils that's called "3M Air Foam 2 in 1 Cleaner and Freshener."  But I'm not sure what to make of it, and whether it's good / safe to use on indoor air con coils.

 

A few things strike me strange about the product:

 

1 -- The product labeling/instructions info are almost entirely in Thai. But even if you do an Internet search by the English product name, very few hits are returned, mainly some from India.

 

2 - When I check 3M's corporate/consumer website in the U.S., I can't find them showing any product information at all about a foam air conditioning cleaner product. And there doesn't appear to be any 3M corporate reference on the product can itself, not even like the 3M website or anything like that.

 

3. - Same lack of info when I do a search via the Amazon online store in the U.S. Nothing in the way of a 3M foam air con product.

 

4. - I've read some info online that suggests some kinds of DIY home air con cleaning products -- without specifying which ones -- can be harmful in the long run to the metal and other parts of the air con unit.

 

So all in all, given the seeming lack of info about this product and its seeming absence from anywhere else but here, I'm kind of nervous about trying / using it.

 

Anyone have any knowledge or insight on the subject???  Much appreciated.

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

No one has any clue about this stuff???

[JAS21]

2 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

No one has any clue about this stuff???

I have used it BUT always washed it off with my VIP Blue pressure washer.

 

If you are thinking of spraying and leaving ... personally I wouldn't. The tubes have quite a thin wall and you maybe pushing your luck.

 

I now use Norca ... I remove the full cover ...sheet up ... cover the electrics (already isolated of course) and then foam ... leave 15 minutes and then wash off ...

 

If you do this DON'T let the fan spin fast and definitely not in reverse ...

 

Don't forget to wash out the drain line ...

 

http://www.norca.co.th/eng/products-cleaner.html

 

https://www.3m.com.hk/3M/en_HK/company-hk/all-3m-products/~/3M-Air-Conditioner-Cleaner/?N=5002385+3291245360&rt=rud

Edited February 13, 2018 by JAS21

[Pib]

I've used Norca form cleaner for years also.  Not because it's any better or worst than any other foam cleaner such as the 3M cleaner, it's just Norco was what was usually the store shelves in Makro, HomePro, Big C, Lotus, etc., when I needed to buy more foam cleaner.  I've used other foam cleaners over the years, like 3M, but they are all really the same.  Spray it on....let it set for so long....etc....just follow the instructions.

 

Anyway, I have cleaned my own A/C for many years using foam cleaner....works fine.   I first dampen the evaporator coils/fins by spraying on some water, then apply the foam cleaner, let the foam do it's thing/soak-in for 15 to 30 minutes, spray water again to remove any remaining foam (no need to do this...I just do it) and to help the remaining foam get rid of gunk on/in the fins/coils. 

 

I also clean the drain tray and tube with water and bleach.  I use bleach because it will kill the algae build-up in the drain tube...algae just loves dark and damp places like a drain tube....algae build up can block the drain tube. 

 

And just as important as cleaning the fins/coils I spray clean the "cage fan" with water because a dirty cage fan can greatly reduce the flow of air through the coils/fins....reduces the A/C cooling efficiency...increases you electric bill---keep the cage fan clean as it makes big difference in how well the A/C works!!!

 

And don't forget to clean the outside unit (condensor unit) also....usually just spray cleaning with water is fine....really no need for any cleaner.   I take the protection grille in front of the fan off and then spray water through the fins/fans to push gunk/dirt back out the way they came in.   I usually just use my water hose with around 35psi pressure...but sometimes I pull out my pressure washer.   I also just spray the outside the fins/coils, but it's more important you spray straight into the fins/coils in order to get the gunk/dirt out that is wedged-in.   Be sure to turn off A/C power while doing this cleaning.