Air Conditioning - Compressor cleaning

My compressor doesn't have any debri inside of it, but I would like to clean the fins.
Can I simply kill the power to it and then turn a hose on the fins?
And if that's OK how long should I leave it dry before starting it up again?
Rich

you can take a garden hose and clean the coil. If you feel you can remove the top, go ahead and do that.. With the power off, remove the top, and take the garden hose and spray inside out to push out anything that maybe pack into the coil that you can't see. Don't use a pressure washer.

What Jay said. Just wanted to add that you might consider using some simple green or similar to help with the cleaning. Make sure you don't bend the fins and if you don't soak the fan motor or electrical controls you don't have to let it dry to restart.

You can get an acid based cleaner which we use to clean coils which works quite well, its made specifically for coil cleaning. You can pick this up at any HVAC supply store. Just tell them what you want it for and they should be able to help you.;

Secondly I find a pressure washer is what you will want to use to clean the coils effectively. Adjust the head so that its a high enough pressure to really clean the coil, but not so strong as to damage the fins. And you should let the acid cleaner sit for a short while before you wash it out.


Edit, its the Outdoor Coil or Condensor you will want to be the cleaner for lol, i never noticed but you had put compressor..good luck

Id just stay with a water hose. We have had to try and comb out to many condenser fins. Where people have tried to use a pressure washer.

ED