Help! - I have a Coleman central AC condensing unit that has been ...

HOMEOWNER CRIES FOR HELP...

posted: September 8th, 2008 - 2:04pm

QUESTION:
I have a Coleman central AC condensing unit that has been brutalized by neighborhood children. This has minimal protection for the fins. So do some ArcoAire units I have seen. The children kicked many of the fins flat. I bought a fin comb. Great idea- so it seemed at the time. The fins were spaced 13 per inch originally. But the combs only fit on perfectly-spaced fins. So now that the unit is protected by chain link fence, straightening the fins to permit air passage is the tedious process of gently doing them one by one with a blunt knife edge. Have you other suggestions?

ANSWER: Straightening takes time and patience and sometimes more than one comb to complete the job. I'll carefully use a pocketknife to open up the rows so I can get the comb started..I found a 14 to work better on a coleman, but whatever works for you...once you have gotten them opened to your satisfaction, go to a lumberyard and buy some 1/4 inch hail screen and fasten it with some light gauge baling wire. BTW, Rheem also has nice cabinets to protect from damage. ;)