A/C Units - Flush or Chlorine Tabs or both?

rlynch03

Well-Known Member
May 16, 2019
1,014
Annapolis, MD
Boat Info
07 52 Sedan Bridge, 2019 Brig Falcon 360HT-30HP Honda, 2003 16' Dauntless
Engines
Cummins QSM 11 660 HP w/ ZF 325-1A
Wondering what you folks do to keep your A/C Units running in the dog days of summer.

PO swore by installing Chlorine Tabs in the A/C Pump Strainers especially in the summer to keep the pump and line clean.

A friend keeps suggesting I still flush with Ridlyme or Barnical Buster periodically swearing that even with good water flow out of the A/C output lines cooling will be improved by the barnacle buster treatment.

what do you guys think?
 
I haven't done it yet, but several guys have suggested putting cooper in the strainer basket to have it leach off and kill what's growing, like bottom paint with cooper in it.
 
I flush my lines every time I clean strainers. Which this time of year is every two weeks. I have made up a connection to flush all the lines down stream with fresh water. I get a noticeable amount of "muddy water" every time. I have tried the chlorine tablets as well, only difference I see is a clean streak thru the middle of overboard discharge stain.
 
Flush once a year with Buster.... You will be amazed how much crap lines those cooling tubes. 1mm of crap will cut 20%+ cooling capability
 
I haven’t flushed mine for a couple of years now. Great project for the weekend. I imagine I’ll get some crud out for sure. I’ve been noticing the A/C seems to run longer these days. Going to try the copper bits in the basket with some chlorine tabs and see what difference it makes
CD
 
An oldie but a gem of a thread. I just pulled it recently in preparation for descaling my AC system. See Frank W.'s post in particular about using phosphoric acid, available at Home Depot, chemically the same as Barnacle Buster but much cheaper.
http://www.clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/clogged-air-cond-lines.40912/
I took this post to heart. I have the CampCo winterizing system, and use the 1:1 Prep and Etch from Home Depot with water, and have installed the hose tap in the intake line between the thru hull and the strainer. 2-3 times a year for that program.
All works well, and I get a HUGE buildup here in SW Florida, the king of algae, barnacles, and sludge. My A/C's run 24/7 in the summer and most of the rest of the year. Even doing all of this, I still have to blow them out every now and again, and watch for the strainer filling up with algae.
I have a plastic strainer cage, and since the A/Cs are running all the time, I will occasionally put some SPA tablets in the strainer after cleaning.
I did recently have a worm bore a hole in the raw water hose to the forward A/C, but at the mid cabin in the bulkhead where the hose goes from the mid cabin to under the cabinet with the 2 drawers. Walked into a couple of inches of salt water on the mid-cabin floor one day, and quickly discovered the spraying leak from a 4 year old 5/8" clear webbed water hose. Those bastards are ruthless. Good thing I'm not travelling much these days. That could have gotten real ugly.
 
Thanks Blue One, I'll check the label on my chlorine tab container post haste! I put a few tabs in the shower sump last weekend and the heads filled with a strong odor of chlorine immediately. Last night I
opened the sump to remove them and almost passed out from the fumes! The sump is squeaky clean now though! I'm switching to no flex in the sump and will be careful as to what I do in my strainers for the AC. I've never really had a big build up problem since leaving the mucky slough waters at my old marina so probably just regular cleaning of the strainer and yearly BB treatment is what I should stick to.
Carpe Diem
 
Great tip on the Phosphoric acid... $17.99 at Home Depot, way cheaper than Barnacle buster in concentrate.

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I would guess that using copper would violate some EPA guideline.
 
I would guess that using copper would violate some EPA guideline.
lol... I always laughed at that. The cooling coil is made of copper what is adding a smal piece of pipe in the basket going to do. Makes no sense...
 
lol... I always laughed at that. The cooling coil is made of copper what is adding a smal piece of pipe in the basket going to do. Makes no sense...
Seems to help on the strainer side prior to the coils...
 
Wondering what you folks do to keep your A/C Units running in the dog days of summer.

PO swore by installing Chlorine Tabs in the A/C Pump Strainers especially in the summer to keep the pump and line clean.

A friend keeps suggesting I still flush with Ridlyme or Barnical Buster periodically swearing that even with good water flow out of the A/C output lines cooling will be improved by the barnacle buster treatment.

what do you guys think?


I flush my systems two to three times a year. Use muratic acid.
Wondering what you folks do to keep your A/C Units running in the dog days of summer.

PO swore by installing Chlorine Tabs in the A/C Pump Strainers especially in the summer to keep the pump and line clean.

A friend keeps suggesting I still flush with Ridlyme or Barnical Buster periodically swearing that even with good water flow out of the A/C output lines cooling will be improved by the barnacle buster treatment.

what do you guys think?

my ac guy said chlorine tablets was very harsh on the coils.
 

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