How to Clean Coils With Muriatic Acid

Written By
Hollan Johnson
Hollan Johnson
Published: Mar 15, 2011
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
1 minute read

Cleaning the coils with a mixture of water and muriatic acid will clean all of the build-up off and keep the coils in working condition. The coils should be cleaned at least once a year.

Things You Will Need

  • Gloves
  • Goggles
  • Bucket
  • Wrench
  • Hose
  1. Turn off the air handler and open the unit’s door with a wrench, if needed.

  2. Remove the coils from the unit and take them outside. The coils should be removed with the wrench.

  3. Add 10 parts water to a bucket and pour one part muriatic acid into the water. Wear the gloves and goggles when working with the acid. Dip the coils into the acid mixture for up to five minutes.

  4. Rinse the coils well with the hose to remove all the build-up.

  5. Place the coils back into the air handler unit and turn it back on.

The Drip Cap

  • Your air handler unit controls the hot and cold air that blows into your home’s forced air system.
  • Cleaning the coils with a mixture of water and muriatic acid will clean all of the build-up off and keep the coils in working condition.
  • The coils should be cleaned at least once a year.
Hollan Johnson

Hollan Johnson is a freelance writer and contributing editor for many online publications. She has been writing professionally since 2008 and her interests are travel, gardening, sewing and Mac computers. Prior to freelance writing,…

Sponsored
HomeSteady Logo

HomeSteady is the ultimate guide for all your household needs, from cleaning and HVAC to electrical, DIY and maintenance.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.