How can I repair dented or bent cooling fins on the rear (Outdoor) side of a window air conditioner?
Question: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?
Answers:
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.
THEY MAKE A COMB AT THE HARDWARE STORE ESPECIALLY FOR THAT REASON
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.
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.
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