Spine Fin™ Coil
The Trane exclusive Spine Fin outdoor coil boasts better heat exchanging capabilities, higher efficiencies, and less corrosion than a traditional copper or aluminum coil.
What is a Spine Fin™ Coil?
The Spine Fin coil is Trane’s all-aluminum outdoor coil featuring the patented Spine Fin™ design. This coil was designed to provide greater heat-exchanging capabilities (meaning higher efficiencies) and is more resistant to corrosion than a traditional copper/aluminum coil.
The Spine Fin coil contains thousands of tiny fins bonded to continuous aluminum refrigerant tubing. The end result is a greater surface area, which leads to more efficient heat transfer.
What makes Spine Fin different from traditional coils?
Traditional plate fin coils consist of copper tubes inserted through rows of aluminum fins. To increase efficiency, subsequent plate fin designs include more fins positioned very close together. However, when air passes through these coils, they tend to collect dirt and debris along the leading edge of the fins–which is where the bulk of heat transfer takes place. As the mat of lint and dirt builds up, these coils experience significant reduction in airflow and performance, leading to a loss of efficiency and decreased life expectancy of the system.
The Spine Fin design does not experience these same issues. Spine Fin coils have thousands of leading edges extending radially from a central tube. This results in a more even distribution of dirt and debris through the depth of the coil, and not just along the surface. The end result is that airflow and heat transfer are maintained.
How to clean a Spine Fin coil
Cleaning your Spine Fin coil will further improve its functioning and reduce efficiency loss. Spine Fin coils are best cleaned by a professional with a reverse flow of water. This means aiming water from the top of the coil down at a little over 45 degree angle. Generally, no chemicals are needed. While some technicians may use a torch with a weak flame to burn off debris, this is also not recommended. Best practice is to take the unit top off and spray inside-out with a low pressure stream of water.
Keep in mind that this is not a DIY endeavor. This service should be performed by a
trained technician and not the homeowner.