Keeping your fins clean

Alpine Heating and Cooling • March 31, 2020

Typically speaking most air conditioning and heating repairs should be done by licensed professionals. However, there are certain small tasks that most homeowners can take that go a long way in helping maintain their HVAC system.


One of the simplest is cleaning the fins of the ac Unit. Now I now most Men and Women this time of year with the weather getting warm automatically begin to think of fishing when we start talking about cleaning fins but stick with me here for another couple minutes and you may save enough money to buy that new reel you’ve been wanting 😊


The fins play an integral part in keeping the air flowing in and out of your air conditioner. Let’s dig a little deeper.


What Are Air Conditioner Fins?

Air conditioner fins have 2 key jobs: Protecting the unit from debris (grass, leaves, sticks, etc…) and also aid in pushing warm air away from the unit to which increases the efficiency of your ac unit. There are two type of fins and they are explained below.


Evaporator Fins

The evaporator fins are located inside your ac unit around the evaporator (who’d a thunk right?) Their job is to cool the outside air and send that air into you home. If these fins become clogged with debris your system will have to work significantly harder thus raising those energy bills.


Condenser Fins

Condenser fins are thin metal slats that run along the outline of your exterior ac unit. These fins move warm air away from the air conditioner while it’s operating. Keeping these fins clean can significantly increase the lifespan of your ac unit.

Cleaning your fins…


Fins can be easily bent which leads to costly repairs. DO NOT power wash or harsh scrub to clean the fins or any component of your AC system. Also, do not attempt to just clean the fins with your hands!


We recommend purchasing an Air Conditioning fin comb. These can be purchased for around $10-$20 and are made specifically for the job their named. We recommend using the fin comb at least twice a year (Spring & Fall) to clean your fins and additionally throughout the year if you notice build up.


The best approach to cleaning ac fins is to use an air conditioner fin comb, or ac fin comb, to gently clean both the condenser and evaporator fins. An AC fin comb is a small tool with soft bristles made for delicately cleaning both the exterior and interior fins of your ac unit.


If you’re interested in this plan or looking at other options, please reach out to our office via one of the below methods.

 

Contact Information:

Alpine Heating & Cooling

P: 330-359-7114

E: sales@alpinehcservices.com

W: alpinehcservices.com

 

Commercial Kitchens

P:330-763-1902

E: office@commercialkitchensllc.com

W: commercialkitchensllc.com


March 17, 2026
Understand the importance of air filters and how they impact HVAC efficiency and indoor air quality with insights from Alpine Heating & Cooling.
Winter Flowers
March 11, 2026
Ohio spring weather can shift from cold to warm quickly. Learn why servicing both your furnace and air conditioner helps keep your home comfortable.
HVAC Service Tech Bobby Schmitt
February 23, 2026
TUESDAYS WITH THE TECH FINALE This week Bobby Schmitt from Apple Creek brings an end to our Tuesday's with the Tech Series. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to intereact each week and we hope to do this again in the future! 1. What’s one thing homeowners might not realize about heating & cooling? A: Home comfort is more about humidity than temperature, in the summer a whole home dehumidifier will keep your home comfortable without having to keep the temperature as low, and in the winter a humidifier will cause the home to still be comfortable at a lower temperature 2. Favorite State you’ve visited other than Ohio? A: North Carolina 3. Would you rather be chased by one angry goose or ten aggressive squirrels? A: One angry goose, having ten small things running around is hard to manage, one larger thing is more controllable. 4. What’s one piece of advice you’d give a homeowner to avoid breakdowns? A: Have maintenance done. Keep filters and the outdoor unit clean. 5. Remove One for the rest of your life… 1. Pizza 2. Cheeseburgers 3. Pasta A: Pasta. I’ve never been a big fan of Italian food. . . . #tuesdayswiththetech #alpine #heating #winter
SERVICE TECHNICIAN
February 17, 2026
TUESDAYS WITH THE TECH As we roll on near the end of Winter we also are nearing the end of our Tuesdays with the Techs Series. Next week will be our final week, but first, this week's Featured Tech is West Holmes Alum Cole Woods 1. What’s one thing homeowners might not realize about heating & cooling? A: How important preventive maintenance is. 2. Favorite State you’ve visited other than Ohio? A: Pennsylvania 3. Would you rather be chased by one angry goose or ten aggressive squirrels? A: Probably one angry goose. I stand a better chance then trying to fight 10 squirrels 4. What’s one piece of advice you’d give a homeowner to avoid breakdowns? A: Change your filter regularly. You’d be very surprised how much that little filter can affect the system. 5. Remove One for the rest of your life… 1. Pizza 2. Cheeseburgers 3. Pasta A: Probably pasta
hvac service technician
February 10, 2026
TUESDAYS WITH THE TECH Today we continue learning more about the Service Techs of Alpine while getting a few insider tips. Checking in this week from Wooster is Chris Jones. Chris has been a service tech at Alpine for almost 7 years. 1. What’s one thing homeowners might not realize about heating & cooling? A: Systems can be oversized. Just because the system is larger doesn't mean it's "better" 2. Favorite State you’ve visited other than Ohio? A: Wyoming 3. Would you rather be chased by one angry goose or ten aggressive squirrels? A: Angry goose. I can grab it by the neck 4. What’s one piece of advice you’d give a homeowner to avoid breakdowns? A: Keep up with regular filter changes 5. Remove One for the rest of your life… 1. Pizza 2. Cheeseburgers 3. Pasta A: Cheeseburgers
Service Tech Jeremy Kaufman
February 3, 2026
TUESDAYS WITH THE TECH This week’s edition of Tuesdays with the tech is the Service Manager here at Alpine, Jeremy Kaufman. 1. What’s one thing homeowners might not realize about heating & cooling? A: 50% of HVAC breakdowns are due to lack of maintenance 2. Favorite State you’ve visited other than Ohio? A: Montana 3. Would you rather be chased by one angry goose or ten aggressive squirrels? A: I’ll go with the squirrels. I was chased by a goose as a child 4. What’s one piece of advice you’d give a homeowner to avoid breakdowns? A: HVAC maintenance 5. Remove One for the rest of your life… 1. Pizza 2. Cheeseburgers 3. Pasta A: Pasta
By Tom Markley January 27, 2026
TUESDAYS WITH THE TECH This week we continue learning more about the Service Techs of Alpine and the Industry as a whole. This week is Ashland Native Trey Bright. 1. What’s one thing homeowners might not realize about heating & cooling? A: Systems are more complex than they may realize 2. Favorite State you’ve visited other than Ohio?. A: Tennessee 3. Would you rather be chased by one angry goose or ten aggressive squirrels? A: 1 angry goose! Bigger target to kick! 4. What’s one piece of advice you’d give a homeowner to avoid breakdowns? A: Maintaining there units is key to keeping them running longer  5. Remove One for the rest of your life… 1. Pizza 2. Cheeseburgers 3. Pasta A: Pasta . . . #tuesdayswiththetech #alpine #heating #winter
HVAC SERVICE TECHNICIAN
January 21, 2026
TUESDAYS WITH THE TECH Join us over the next few weeks in meeting the Service Techs of Alpine and learning more about them and the Industry as a whole. This Week's Tech of the Week: Nick Cutright 1. What’s one thing homeowners might not realize about heating & cooling? A: Your Thermostat is just an on and off switch 2. Favorite State you’ve visited other than Ohio? A: South Carolina 3. Would you rather be chased by one angry goose or ten aggressive squirrels? A: Goose 4. What’s one piece of advice you’d give a homeowner to avoid breakdowns? A: Maintaining units is key to keeping them lasting longer 5. Remove One for the rest of your life… 1. Pizza 2. Cheeseburgers 3. Pasta A: Pasta If you’re ready to make your home warmer, more efficient, and more dependable this year, now is the time to consider a new heating system . Serving Wooster, OH, and surrounding communities since 1993, we are a locally owned and operated HVAC contractor working with a variety of heating and cooling systems. Call (330) 263-0013 to schedule an furnace repair or inspection and visit our website to learn more about our qualifications.
January 14, 2026
Navigate the challenges of DIY HVAC repair with humor and insights from Alpine Heating & Cooling, and learn when to call in the experts.
A cozy A-frame cabin surrounded by snow-covered trees at dusk, warmly lit with string lights,
By Tom Markley January 7, 2026
Start the new year with a high-efficiency heating system that delivers better comfort, lower energy bills, and reliable warmth all winter long.
More Posts