While assembling a newly-purchased window air conditioner, a small object (A friend's toe) accidentally impacted against the back of the unit (The end that sticks outside and exhausts the hot air), bending the tiny and exceedingly fragile cooling fins, creating a circular dent approximately two inches in diameter. The tubing within is not bent or dented, just the fins, and the whole dent is at most 1/8" deep. Is there a way to straighten these fins back to normal? I realize it is impossible to make them appear perfect like they did when it was brought home from the store, but at least enough to allow air to flow between them again. Perhaps a fine-tooth plastic comb or something similar would work?
2007-06-05 10:53:42 · 5 answers · asked by Torin Darkflight 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
go to Home Depot (or whatever you have by you ) and pick up a fin comb. It will be in th HVAC section and is very easy to use. Be careful though, you can tear those fins out f you use too much pressure so make several passes until they are strainght. If they are pounded flat, try a butterknife to lift them where the comb can get them. A little patience and you'll have proper air flow back.
2007-06-05 11:15:17 · answer #1 · answered by jerseydan1977 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you don't want to invest in a fin comb, you can gently use a lightweight dull spatula or dull butter knife to lift the fins one at a time, and then use a stiff nylon bristle cleaning brush to even them out. It takes time and you will need to work gently, but it can be done.
2007-06-05 14:00:47 · answer #2 · answered by OrakTheBold 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can use a putty knife or even a spatula.
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Believe it or not I have a professional fin straightener!
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Yup,,I got it from my Snap-on Tools dealer and I've seen cheaper models in auto stores. I used it in my shop to fix dented radiators.
2007-06-05 11:00:34 · answer #3 · answered by MechBob 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
think of of it like a radiator on your motor vehicle it expels warmth if i mash ur coils in on ur radiator ur engine now won't cool surprising and can overheat which could carry approximately harm on your engine... the same is going inclusive of your ac. some fins wont harm, yet use ur judgment.
2016-11-05 01:09:58 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
THEY MAKE A COMB AT THE HARDWARE STORE ESPECIALLY FOR THAT REASON
2007-06-05 10:56:56 · answer #5 · answered by whateverbabe 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋