Stinky AC Dealer Fix:

I tried to find more information on those products but hit a dead end

Is there a MSDS insert that came with the products? By law, an MSDS must be included. I'm very curious what the chemicals are

For example, NuCalgon Evap-Fresh uses proven EPA-registered fungistats and bacteriastats, along with a surfactant to provide mild cleaning action.

The Evap-Fresh has diethylene glycol monobutyl ether (Cleaner, hydrophilic solubility, surfactant, aids performance of bacteriacides)

N-alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (Microbiocide, disinfectant, fungicide algaecide, "slimicide," with surfactant ability)

and N-alkyl dimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chloride (Cleaning disinfectant, anti-fungal, odor control)

NuCalgon BioFresh used chlorine dioxide, which is EPA registered. It is a strong oxidizing biocide, disinfectant, and is effective against protazoa, most bacteria, and most viruses

 

I'm might start spraying myself with that after a date goes well..... So fresh and so clean clean :washing:

 

I would advise against spraying that up your hose.

 

OMG! Somehow I missed that part of the instructions. I assume it was a topical solution..... I'm kinda :dizzy: now....

 

just curious for future reference

would those chemicles contaminate the cabin air filter or would you be required to remove the cabin air filter before cleaning

 

I hear you buddy. I've had dates where I felt like taking a bath in laundry bleach

 

Overall, not really.They may even kill what is growing on the filter. It's a good idea to regularly change the filter anyway

 

Ed,

Keep us posted on how long your fresh air lasts. If this is truely a long-term fix then I'll gladly fork over the cash for the kit. Thanks again for providing us with the information.

 

Oh, this kills me, SET is selling a AC deoderizer that's basically a fizzy vodka martini while the stuff that jayman was talking about actually has a chance of working (tri-alkyl benzyl ammonium chlorides are used to disinfect everything from swimming pools to toilets and even have some agricultural uses.) The SET stuff is just booze and propellent. It'll be interesting to hear if this stuff works and for how long.

FYI, with respect to Jim Moran, you mean was the guy.....emphasis on passed tense. He died last year. A friend of mine works for JM Family Enterprises and apparenlty the aftermath has not been pretty.

 

A commercial chemical product with no MSDS, no info at all? That sounds a wee bit illegal. If you have a chance, politely ask for the MSDS. I'm just curious what they're putting into the stuff, without having to resort to using gas chromotography

In this application, ethanol can be used as a bacteriacide and fungicide. It will tend to dissolve lipids and denature proteins. The N-alkyls I mentioned in the earlier post are far better choices if you want to deodorize or control fungi, mold, mildew, etc.

Probably an ethane. Any warning about keeping away from flame?

This is a diol alcohol. In this application it's probably used for mild disinfectant/deodorizng. It's also humectant so is hygroscopic, and can be used for anti-static purposes

Do you mean dimethyl ether? I'd have to suggest it's also a propellant. I wouldn't sniff too much of it, keep it away from open flame.

No, usually a dedicated bacteriastat, fungistat, or deodorizer isn't that expensive. I buy the NuCalgon products by the gallon, and they're usually $12-$20. That lasts a *long* time

The MSDS on the e-coil cleaner would help me understand how they're attempting to treat the mold/mildew.

 

It's bugging me too. I *really* want to see the MSDS, especially if they went through the LEGAL steps of having CAS numbers assigned. If this is a "home brew" type of thing, at the very least they are in violation of a few laws regarding commercial application chemicals without proper MSDS and licensing

There are many chemcials that will absolutely eradicate molds, mildews, fungi, bacteria, virus, etc. Problem is the end application, in this case an evaporator coil made of copper tubing with aluminum fins.

For example, sodium hypochlorite will *absolutely* kill off whatever stinky thing is growing in there. You will also get a chance to first-hand observe what happens to aluminum and copper when they are saturated with a strongly oxidizing chemical

To the layperson: I'm talking about laundry bleach. Never, ever EVER try to disinfect an e-coil with bleach. You will destroy the e-coil.

Well, that is what usually happens when a rich guy kicks the bucket. The family and any business interests will fight cat-and-dog over the moolah.

 

Oh I bet. At higher concentrations, expect to lose consciousness, regurgitate while unconscious, aspirate your stomach contents, and croak.

Seriously, use caution if you chose to apply that home-brew stuff

For a chemical product intended for commercial/trade/industrial application, that is illegal.

To be sure. It's a dark, wet environment. Just what a lot of molds, fungi, mildews enjoy to put them in the mood to breed like crazy. Who can blame them?

It's like cockroaches fornicating under the fridge or stove. Doesn't mean I want to put up with it though!

 

Well all the things that were listed already have CAS numbers. There's no mystery about any of that stuff. I do agree that there should either have been either an MSDS or appropriate cautionary warnings on the can.

I thought the deal with ubiquitous substances was that you didn't need an immediately available MSDS as long the packaging contains appropriate cautions; think household cleaners. There are MSDSs available for many of them, but you'd be hard pressed to get one from the places that sell them. That doesn't necessarily make it right, but it does seem to be the way of things.

This is compounded by the fact that you can't get in there to rinse it and there may not be sufficient condensation to rinse the coil in anything like a timely manner. That may be why this stuff doesn't have any quaternary ammonium salts in them (based on the ingredients listed, there probably aren't any.) Then again, I can't see any oxidizers either. I guess we'll find out if it's snake oil or not.

Has anyone thought about asking a regular old auto AC shop? I can't imagine that this problem is unique to the Prius, especially in humid climates.

I might evaluate any answers I got very carefully (is there anything "unusual about the AC system in a Prius? I think the answer is "NO", but wouldn't make the assumption until I know more.)

 

Well, it could be a poorly made vodka gimlet, and we would never know.

Straight from the horse's mouth

Hazard Communication. - 1910.1200

Household products belong to an entirely different class. With most household chemicals, clear warnings *must* be communicated on the package and/or insert. If there are proprietary hazardous compounds, a toll free emergency number must be provided. That way an ER can call and find out if the 2 year old who gulped down Super Duper No Rinse Floor Cleaner needs a lavage, or a good spanking

Since the product sold by that Toyota dealership appears to be intended for "professional" or dealership use, the dealership is probably in violation of OSHA by not providing any warnings on the can, in addition to an MSDS insert

The NuCalgon products I use and recommend are intended for professional/commercial/industrial use, and have clear warnings on the container. In addition, the website has a download section that has the MSDS. For example, NuCalgon Evap-Fresh

http://ftp.nucalgon.com/ftp/msds/4166-08.pdf

At the very least, you know what you are getting

True enough. A product intended for "no rinse" will clearly state so, such as Evap-Fresh. A product intended for cleaning a very dirty coil, such as Special HD CalClean

Nu-Calgon Wholesaler Inc. : Products : CalClean, Special HD

has clear instructions to rinse with plenty of water. Along with the usual precautions about eyes, ingestion, etc

Obviously, sodium hypochlorite would be a no-no. The BioFresh is an inhibited sodium chlorite, and is intended for "no rinse" applications. It does have a very mild chlorine odor. It can also be used to fog ductwork to kill off anything growing inside

That can be hit-and-miss. A lot of those shops have folks who may be very skilled in A/C installation, diagnostic, and repair. Doesn't mean they understand IAQ issues. Let's face it, until a handful of years ago, IAQ didn't even rate much mention

A lot of repair folks will assume a consumer product like Lysol will work wonders. Thing is, is Lysol EPA certified to clean and disinfect AC components?

 

c'mon jay, you know your cell biology well enough don't ya? what happens when you put a cell full of water in an environment mostly lacking water such as etoh? water rushes out, cells do not have enough water to survive.

i wouldn't put much stock into the complete busting-up of cells by etoh. if you want cell lysis, etoh is not your tool of choice.

 

I was actually watching the clock, waiting for you to go nutty and respond to that. I had this mental image of you shrieking, your right eyebrow twitching, cursing my name, and hitting Reply.



Seriously, trying to keep this as generic as possible. Of course etoh can only do that in a theoretical environment, eg lab setting.

Anyhoo, why not use a dedicated product that has EPA-registered mildewcide, fungicide action, in addition to being *safe* for evaporator coils as a "no-rinse" formulation? It's a no brainer.

Why even bother making a product intended for commercial use, with compounds that provide iffy-at-best results?