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Figure 1 : This results from the fan wheel spinning in reverse during a previous cleaning. These clusters fall into the drain pain below over time and are commonly responsible for a heat pump leaking water. Over several years may lead to microbial induced corrosion on your coils.
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Figure 2: A strip of mold missed by previous cleaning due to inaccessibility.
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figure 3: This is where the fan wheel sits and can be mirrored on the other side. Aside from missed mold, water and cleaning agents can wear away lubricants and/or cause oxidation within the fan motor resulting in the need for replacement.
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Figure 4: Back plating, lateral veins and grates. When neglected this if often why you may find "black flecks" under your heat pump even after a recent cleaning.
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Given in our early years we used mainstream practices, we initially made these very mistakes. Despite rinsing until the water ran clean, we estimate that regular practices are lucky to only remove 50-70% of mold. This is unless you have had your unit diligently cleaned annually since its installation.
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Many companies advertise anti-fungal/microbial treatment, given the sensitivity of the evaporator coils very select few are safe to use. We have found a few products reportedly safe in this context. After Consultation with multiple manufactures they have unanimously expressed that the vast majority of mold must be removed before application to be effective. They are commonly effective on small amounts of remaining spores as opposed to large portions of matter. The mold is not merely incinerated by these agents such as when using sodium hypochlorite (bleach) which is far to corrosive for this purpose. Although denatured, can be reactivated in time and or serve as nutrients to support new growth. Depending on its location the remaining build up can also continue to impede efficiency.
Above is a sample unit we cleaned with common practice to show how much can be missed prior to us finishing the job.
Here we observe two separate refrigerant leaks. This poses a greater health risk than mold. When found, you will be notified! ***WARNING*** If you have ever have low refrigerant and a Red Seal Mechanic "tops it up" without resolving the issue itself, in this case REPLACING the coils. Steer very clear and consider reporting the matter. The leak will continue, in this case in to your living space with serious long term health effects. Occasionally a poor installation may result in a leak at the connection to the condenser unit or the flaring point the the inside head. This may be redone, tightened and refilled. Regardless of the origin make sure to ask if they "pulled a vacuum test" to ensure the leak was appropriately addressed. When no components are replaced, the tech should return in the following days to measure the pressure to ensure no leakage.
This is a whole lot of junk reclaimed from ONLY THE DRAIN PAN!!!
6 cleanings over 9 years and this was missed each time. Considering this excludes the coils, fan wheel and particles to small to retain we estimate this to be less than half of what we removed!! Yes, this is a worst case scenario.
This show a close up of a drain pan and the point of connect to the drain line. The narrow diameter is unforgiving when obstructed.
Aside from refrigerant leaks, these are all very common issues we see on a daily basis making the need for professional cleaning ever more apparent. Many people feel it to be more convenient to have refrigeration mechanics clean their heat pumps. Although we can certain see and respect this. It is worth considering that heat pump cleaning, although not rocket science, is more intricate than what many home owners, clearers, and mechanics perceive. A proper cleaning requires equals parts knowledge of heat pumps as cleaning procedures. Both of which are often over looked by refrigeration programs and arguably the heat pumps themselves. This is due to the vast array of knowledge students and apprentices must acquire in the context of residential, commercial and industrial refrigeration to gain their red seal. Once certified it is advantageous to provide their over arching services due to the lack of profitably in cleaning alone. All the while despite our efforts for years in search of, no courses on heat pump cleaning with the focus air quality are available leaving a vacuum of knowledge in this field.