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 Mobile ViewAIR CONDITIONING & HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS A/C COMPONENTS A/C DATA TAGS A/C - HEAT PUMP CRITICAL DEFECTS A/C DIAGNOSTIC FAQs A/C REFRIGERANTS A/C TYPES, ENERGY SOURCES AIR CONDITIONER BTU CHART AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS AIR HANDLER / BLOWER UNITS DIRTY A/C BLOWERS DAMAGED COOLING COIL DIRTY COOLING COIL DIRTY COIL CLEANING PROCEDURES FROST BUILD-UP on AIR CONDITIONER COILS BLOWER FAN CONTINUOUS OPERATION BLOWER FAN OPERATION & TESTING BLOWER LEAKS, RUST & MOLD ADDING A/C: RETROFIT SIZING ANIMAL ALLERGENS / PET DANDER ANIMAL ENTRY POINTS in buildings ANIMAL ODORS IN buildings APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN buildings BACKUP HEAT for HEAT PUMPS BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION BLOWER FAN CONTINUOUS OPERATION BLOWER FAN OPERATION & TESTING BOOKSTORE - Air Conditioning "How To" Books CAPACITORS for HARD STARTING MOTORS CAPILLARY TUBES CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS CIRCUIT BREAKER SIZE for A/C or HEAT PUMP CLEANING & Legionella BACTERIA Should we disinfect Wisconsin Protocol for Cleaning A/C Legionella sp. Health Concerns What are Legionella Where do Legionella sp. occur? Recommended Level for Legionella sp. How When to Test for Legionella sp. Legionnaires' Disease Information from CDC CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS COMBUSTION GASES & PARTICLE HAZARDS COMPRESSOR & CONDENSING COIL, A/C CONDENSATE HANDLING, A/C CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS COOL OFF HEAT Thermostat Switch COOLING CAPACITY, RATED COOLING COIL or EVAPORATOR COIL COOLING LOAD REDUCTION by ROOF VENTS COMBUSTION GASES & PARTICLE HAZARDS CONDENSATE HANDLING, A/C CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS DATA TAGS on AIR CONDITIONERS DEFINITION of Heating & Cooling Terms DEHUMIDIFICATION PROBLEMS DEW POINT CALCULATION for WALLS DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE DIAGNOSE & FIX AIR CONDITIONER / HEAT PUMP DUCT SYSTEM & DUCT DEFECTS DUCTS - Asbestos AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS ALLOY SYSTEMS FLEXDUCT ASBESTOS HVAC DUCTS ASBESTOS PAPER on DUCTWORK ASBESTOS TRANSITE DUCTWORK BALANCING AIR DUCT FLOW DUCT & AIR HANDLER ODORS DUCT DAMAGE, MECHANICAL DUCT INSULATION - Asbestos Paper DUCT ROUTING & SUPPORT DUST CONTAMINATION FROM HVAC? FIBERGLASS DUCT, RIGID CONSTRUCTION FIBERGLASS HVAC DUCTS FIRE DAMPERS in DUCTWORK FLOOD DAMAGE in DUCT WORK GOODMAN GRAY FLEXDUCT INCREASING RETURN AIR LEAKY DUCT CONNECTIONS LOCATION OF REGISTERS & DUCTS MOLD in AIR HANDLERS & DUCT WORK NOISES in DUCT SYSTEM ODORS in AIR HANDLERS & DUCT WORK OWENS CORNING FLEXDUCT OWL FLEXDUCT RETURN AIR REGISTERS & DUCTS SOUNDPROOFING for DUCTWORK SUPPLY DUCTS & REGISTERS TRANSITE PIPE AIR DUCTS UNDERSIZED RETURN DUCTS UNSAFE DUCT OPENINGS VIBRATION DAMPENERS WATER & ICE IN DUCT WORK WET CORRODED DUCT WORK ZONE DAMPER CONTROLS DUST CONTAMINATION FROM HVAC? EDUCATION, HVAC SCHOOLS ELECTRIC MOTOR DIAGNOSTIC GUIDE ELECTRIC MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH ELECTRICAL POWER SWITCH FOR HEAT ENERGY SAVINGS in buildings EVAPORATIVE COOLING SYSTEMS EVAPORATOR COIL or COOLING COIL EXPANSION VALVES, REFRIGERANT FAN, AIR HANDLER BLOWER UNIT FAN AUTO ON Thermostat Switch FAN, COMPRESSOR/CONDENSER UNIT FAN CONVECTOR HEATERS - HYDRONIC COILS FAN LIMIT SWITCH FAN NOISES FURNACES WARM AIR HEATING SYSTEMS GASES, EXPOSURE, TESTING Carbon Dioxide - CO2 Carbon Monoxide - CO METHANE GAS SOURCES GAS MEASUREMENT TOOLS GAUGE, REFRIGERATION PRESSURE TEST HEAT LOSS (or GAIN) in buildings HEAT PUMPS HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE INSPECTION CHECKLIST - OUTDOOR UNIT INSPECTION LIMITATIONS LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION LOST COOLING CAPACITY MANUALS & PARTS GUIDES - HVAC MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH NOISY AIR CONDITIONER / HEAT PUMP NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE Air Leak Noises AIR CONDITIONING & HEAT PUMP NOISES OPERATING COST OPERATING DEFECTS OPERATING TEMPERATURES PORTABLE ROOM AIR CONDITIONERS PRESSURE READINGS, REFRIGERANT REPAIR GUIDE, AIR CONDITIONERS / HEAT PUMPS REPAIR & DIAGNOSTIC FAQs for A/C REFRIGERANTS SEER RATINGS & OTHER DEFINITIONS SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS SPLIT SYSTEM AIR CONDITIONERS & HEAT PUMPS SWAMP COOLERS SYSTEM OPERATION THERMOSTATS, HEATING / COOLING THERMOSTATIC EXPANSION VALVES Air Conditioning "How To" Books FURNACES WARM AIR HEATING SYSTEMS GASES, EXPOSURE, TESTING Carbon Dioxide - CO2 Carbon Monoxide - CO METHANE GAS SOURCES GAS MEASUREMENT TOOLS GAUGE, REFRIGERATION PRESSURE TEST HEAT LOSS (or GAIN) in buildings HEAT LOSS (or GAIN) INDICATORS HEAT LOSS R U & K VALUE CALCULATION HEAT PUMPS HEATING SMALL LOADS HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE INSPECTION CHECKLIST - OUTDOOR UNIT INSPECTION LIMITATIONS LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION LOST COOLING CAPACITY MANUALS & PARTS GUIDES - HVAC MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH MOLD in AIR HANDLERS & DUCT WORK MOLD INFORMATION CENTER ODORS in AIR HANDLERS & DUCT WORK OPERATING COST OPERATING DEFECTS OPERATING TEMPERATURES NOISY AIR CONDITIONER / HEAT PUMP NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE PORTABLE ROOM AIR CONDITIONERS PRESSURE READINGS, REFRIGERANT REPAIR GUIDE, AIR CONDITIONERS / HEAT PUMPS REPAIR & DIAGNOSTIC FAQs for A/C REFRIGERANTS RETROFIT SIZING for A/C or HEAT PUMPS SEER RATINGS & OTHER DEFINITIONS SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS SPLIT SYSTEM AIR CONDITIONERS & HEAT PUMPS SWAMP COOLERS SYSTEM OPERATION THERMOSTATS, HEATING / COOLING THERMOSTATIC EXPANSION VALVES WATER COOLED AIR CONDITIONERS More Information |
This article explains how to use the Wisconsin Protocol for cleaning air conditioners & heat pumps to avoid Legionella bacteria in air conditioners, how to clean air conditioning systems, Legionnaire's disease prevention & cleaning suggestions for air conditioning equipment and condensate trays, including condensate piping, traps, drains, condensate pumps, and concerns for mold, Legionella bacteria, and other hazards associated with air conditioning systems, cooling towers, and evaporative coolers. InspectAPedia offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at InspectAPedia.com/Contact.htm.This is a chapter of our full document describing the inspection, maintenance, and repair of residential air conditioning systems (A/C systems) to inform home buyers, owners, and home inspectors of common cooling system defects. © Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. Comments and Advice on use of the Wisconsin Protocol for Cleaning A/C EquipmentThe Wisconsin protocol for cleaning air conditioning condensate trays includes "This procedure calls for an initial shock treatment with 50 ppm free residual (total) chlorine, addition of detergent to disperse bio-fouling, maintenance of 10 ppm chlorine for 24 hours, and a repeat of the cycle until there is no visual evidence of biofilms. To prevent exposure during cleaning and maintenance, wear proper personal protective equipment: a Tyvek-type suit with a hood, protective gloves, and a properly fitted respirator with a high-efficiency particulate (HEPA) filter or a filter effective at removing one-micron particles." There is some suggestion that using chlorine products is more likely to damage the equipment by corrosion. For example simply pouring bleach will produce chlorine gas and will corrode nearby aluminum fins on an evaporator or condenser coil. This is a well known problem and there must be a collection of standard products offered to the HVAC industry. http://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/otm_iii/otm_iii_7.html is OSHA's technical manual re Legionnaire's disease and has some (incomplete) details "disinfecting the cooling tower system according to the Wisconsin Division of Health protocol for "Control of Legionella in Cooling Towers" or a similar process for cleaning heat rejection systems that follows sound practices to minimize potential for Legionella growth." A section in this document discusses the use of commercial biocides (looks questionable), traditional oxidizing agents (chlorine), or bromine (effective and less corrosive). In the case of Legionella, other measures like temperature control and cleaning frequency are cited as also important. I would look for a disinfectant that would be broad spectrum but which also is assured not to damage the equipment, maybe a bromine product. Some history behind the "Wisconsin protocol" for cleaning air conditioning condensate trays may be in order. By coincidence my associate Craig Balchunas (Poughkeepsie, NY) returned from a one day class on Legionella where he spoke with one of the original contributors to the "Wisconsin Protocol". He informs me that the protocol was an "off the cuff" exercise by a group of professionals in response to an urgent protocol request from the Wisconsin DOH, that the protocol has not been tested scientifically, and that there may be problems with corrosion damage to equipment when the protocol is followed. Therefore we add that for any disinfection using corrosives (as I anticipated in my comment below) since there is risk of damage to the equipment, you'll need to wash the disinfectant off thoroughly at the end of the procedure. We also discussed UV lights as a disinfection method - a method I view with skepticism for several reasons including questions about adequacy of exposure time in air systems and similarly, because some pathogens find intermediate hosts (such as Legionella bacteria hiding in an amoeba) which protect them as they pass through the UV system. At the end of the day, regular inspection and cleaning and control of blow-by of unwanted condensate droplets are what make the most sense to me. Questions & Answers regarding this article. Ask a Question or Search InspectAPediaHTML Comment Box is loading comments...
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