Air-Care Cobra-7 Air Duct Cleaning Machine (220v/50Hz)

The Air-Care Cobra-7 is a cable-driven power brush system for cleaning air conditioning ductwork and dryer exhaust ducts. A 90-volt DC motor in a portable case spins a 10 metre flexible cable fitted with a self-adjusting Flex-E-Bristle brush. The brush is fed into the duct, the operator controls speed and direction from a wireless remote, and the rotating bristles break the contaminant film off the duct wall so a negative air machine can carry it away.

It is the newest machine in Air-Care's Cobra range, from a manufacturer that has specialised in duct cleaning equipment since 1979. Rated for ducts from 100 mm to 457 mm as standard, with an optional brush taking it out to 914 mm, it is sized for residential and light commercial air systems rather than heavy industrial plant.

Important: the Cobra-7 is an agitation tool, not a vacuum

This is the most common misunderstanding about power brush systems, and at this price it is an expensive one to get wrong. The Cobra-7 has no suction of its own. It loosens debris. Something else has to collect it.

Cleaning a duct system properly needs two machines working together — a device that pushes debris off the duct wall, and a negative air machine that pulls it out of the system under negative pressure so it never enters the occupied space. Air-Care design the Cobra to pair with their TurboMax range. If you do not already run a negative air machine, budget for one alongside this, or look at a self-contained unit instead.

• Air-Care TurboMax 2 — negative air machine for residential and light commercial systems
• Air-Care DuctMaster III — four-motor machine with an integrated brush and hose assembly
• Air-Care Zephyr — self-contained unit with its own drill-powered cable and 4-stage HEPA filtration

Why professionals choose a power brush

Negative air alone will pull loose dust and lint out of a duct, but it will not remove the film of settled contaminant that bonds to the duct wall over years of service. That layer is what shows up on an inspection camera after the vacuum has finished, and it is what a client sees in a before-and-after photograph.

Mechanical contact cleaning is the accepted way to remove it. A rotating brush travelling the length of the duct scrubs the wall in a way no airflow can. The Cobra-7 does that with enough torque to keep working when the brush loads up, and enough control that the operator can back off in fragile ductwork.

The practical benefits on a job:

• A visibly cleaner result on camera, which is what closes the next job.
• Full length of run cleaned from a single access point, with 10 metres of cable reach.
• One operator can run the brush and manage the cable, because the remote goes on the belt rather than being tethered to the panel.
• A machine light enough for one person to carry into a roof space or up a stairwell.

Moving across from the Cobra-6

The Cobra-7 replaces the Cobra-6. They are close relatives — the case, the motor and the physical footprint are unchanged — so if you have run a Cobra-6, here is what is actually different:

• A self-adjusting brush. The Cobra-7 ships with a Flex-E-Bristle brush that adjusts itself across the 100–457 mm range instead of being selected for a duct size. Less brush changing across a mixed run of duct sizes in one house.
• A smarter controller. Air-Care specify the Cobra-7 with a 90-volt DC controller with speed and load correction, which holds brush speed as the load increases and reduces stalling in heavy build-up.

Your existing cable still fits. Air-Care list the 3/8″ core x 33 ft cable with 18″ Flex-E-Bristle brush (part SACOB0015) as suiting both the Cobra VI and the Cobra VII, so a spare cable assembly carries over. The Cobra-7 uses the universal Cobra remote, part SAXM0018.

If you already run a Cobra-6 in good order, there is no urgency to replace it. If you are buying a power brush now, the Cobra-7 is the current model.

Key features

• Self-adjusting Flex-E-Bristle brush. Adjusts across ducts from 100 mm to 457 mm (4″–18″) and to any width. An optional brush extends the range to 356–914 mm (14″–36″).
• 10 metre flexible cable. 3/8″ core in a 5/8″ nylon housing, 10 m (33 ft) long. A 15.2 m (50 ft) cable is available as an option for long commercial runs.
• Three-button wireless remote. Start, stop and reverse from the duct opening. Reverse is not a convenience feature — it is how you clean the second face of a rectangular duct on the way back out.
• 90-volt high-torque DC motor. A half-horsepower 1750 rpm unit with a four-speed drive and variable speed dial, driven by a controller that corrects for load rather than simply holding a set voltage.
• Portable. 12.7 kg for the motor case and 3.2 kg for the cable and brush, in a case measuring 366 mm W x 495 mm D x 356 mm H.
• Designed to pair with TurboMax negative air machines for a complete push-and-pull cleaning process.

Applications

• Residential ducted air conditioning and heating systems, supply and return.
• Light commercial air systems — small offices, medical suites, childcare centres, strata and multi-unit residential.
• Clothes dryer exhaust ducts, where lint accumulation is a documented fire risk.
• Post-remediation cleaning after mould, smoke or dust-generating building work, as part of a wider containment and filtration process.
• Pre-handover duct cleaning on new fit-outs where construction dust has entered the system.

Ducts you should not power brush

Air-Care are direct about this in the Cobra VII manual, and it is the advice that prevents a damage claim. A rotating bristle brush is aggressive by design. The following should not be cleaned with a power brush at all:

• Internally insulated ducts, where the brush will tear the lining.
• Brittle or deteriorated flexible duct.
• Fraying duct board.

Duct board and older flexible duct in sound condition can be brushed, but Air-Care direct that it be done at the lower speed settings — around 30 to 40 on the dial — and with caution. Where the duct will not tolerate contact cleaning, use compressed air agitation tools instead. Inspect before you brush; five minutes with a camera such as the Air-Care Apollo inspection camera is cheaper than replacing a client's ductwork.

Air-Care also specify that the machine is not to be used in a wet environment, and that there are no user-serviceable components inside it.

Technical specifications

Metric figures are converted from Air-Care's published imperial specifications. Specifications are subject to change by the manufacturer without notice.

Power supply and Australian connection

The Cobra-7 is a 220 V, 50/60 Hz machine, which suits Australian single-phase mains at a nominal 230 V, 50 Hz.

Air-Care specify the machine with a grounded pigtail power cord connection. If you need the lead and plug arrangement confirmed before the machine reaches site — particularly on a commercial job with a specified outlet type — contact us and we will confirm exactly what ships with the unit.

Operating advice

1. Inspect first. Camera the run before you commit a brush to it. You are checking duct construction, lining, joins and any collapsed sections.
2. Set up the negative air machine first and establish suction before the brush starts turning. Bag the return filter to block airflow through the system while you work, and remember to remove the bag at the end of the job.
3. Connect the cable properly. Align the square end of the shaft with the drive, then screw the disconnect nut onto the threaded coupler. Snug, not excessively tight.
4. Keep the machine end of the cable straight for the first 1.2 to 1.5 metres. This is the one that costs money. A tight bend close to the machine creates friction that heats and destroys the cable housing, and a damaged cable is an expensive repair or replacement. Give yourself the room before you start.
5. Never insert or withdraw a turning brush. The brush must be stopped before it enters the duct and stopped again one to two feet before it comes back out.
6. Work from the furthest point back. Start at the duct opening furthest from the air handler, feed the brush to the end of the run, then withdraw slowly so debris travels toward the extraction point. Plug each opening as you finish it.
7. Rectangular duct needs both directions. Reverse the brush at the end of the run so it walks to the opposite face on the way out. Running one direction only cleans one side.
8. Speed. Most duct cleaning sits between 30 and 80 on the dial. Duct board and older flex duct want 30 to 40. The optional 36″ brush should only be run at 30 to 50.
9. Switch the panel off when you put the cable down. The start switch can be knocked, and a brush that starts turning unattended is a hazard.

Maintenance and consumables

• Inspect the cable each day. Look for kinking, flat spots and damage to the nylon housing. Do not crimp the cable when storing or transporting it — bent strands cause premature fatigue and failure.
• Coil the cable loosely. Air-Care specify coils of roughly 600 mm diameter or larger in use. A brand new cable needs a few hours of running to break in and may feel stiff until it does.
• Check the brush hub and bristles. Bristles are a consumable. A brush with collapsed or worn-back bristles still turns and still looks like it is working, so wear is easy to miss until the result on camera drops off. Judge the brush on bristle length and stiffness rather than on how the machine sounds.
• Keep the coupling clean. Debris in the drive coupling causes wear and makes disconnection difficult.
• Keep the machine dry. It is not rated for wet use.

Air-Care publish a full spare parts list for the Cobra VII, including the standard cable and brush assembly (SACOB0015), the 18″ Flex-E-Bristle brush (SACOB0011), replacement bristle sets (BA0006, five changes per set), the brush hub (SACOB0005), cable housing (COM0571), disconnect nut (ACC0151) and cable repair kits for both the brush end (SACOB0020) and the machine end (SACOB0018). A damaged cable termination does not mean replacing the whole assembly. Contact us for current availability in Australia.

Warranty

The following are the manufacturer's warranty terms for the Cobra VII, as stated by Air-Care in the equipment manual.

• Two years against defects in materials and workmanship, to the original purchaser, from the date of purchase.
• Motor — one year.
• Circuit board and remote — one year.
• Cable assembly — 90 days.
• Brush assembly — no warranty.

Air-Care state that the warranty covers both parts and labour, with labour performed at CCW's locations. It extends to the original purchaser and is not transferable. The purchaser is responsible for the cost of shipping equipment to that location for evaluation; where the fault is found to be covered, Air-Care pay ground shipping on the repaired or replaced item back to the purchaser, and any expedited shipping is at the purchaser's cost. Where the fault is not found to be a warranty issue, return shipping is at the purchaser's cost.

The warranty does not extend to damage caused by or attributable to freight damage, abuse, misuse, or improper or abnormal usage, and is void if the product has been modified or altered in any way.

Your rights under Australian law

Our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law. You are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure and compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage. You are also entitled to have the goods repaired or replaced if the goods fail to be of acceptable quality and the failure does not amount to a major failure.

These rights apply in addition to the manufacturer's warranty set out above and are not limited by it. Contact Carpet Cleaners Warehouse first and we will handle the claim from this end.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a separate vacuum machine to use the Cobra-7?

Yes. The Cobra-7 agitates debris but has no extraction of its own. It must be run with a negative air machine such as the TurboMax, or the debris you loosen simply redistributes through the system and into the building.

What size ducts will it clean?

100 mm to 457 mm high, and any width, with the standard self-adjusting brush. An optional brush covers 356 mm to 914 mm. Above that, you are into commercial machinery designed for large plant ductwork.

Can I use it on dryer exhaust ducts?

Yes, and lint removal from dryer ducts is one of its normal applications. Bear in mind that clearing the duct improves airflow but does not clean the appliance — lint in the dryer's own fan housing and heating area still needs removing to reduce fire risk. Dryer duct construction varies considerably, so expect to adapt your method to what you find.

Will my Cobra-6 cable and brush fit the Cobra-7?

Yes. Air-Care list the 3/8″ core x 33 ft cable with 18″ Flex-E-Bristle brush, part SACOB0015, as suiting both the Cobra VI and Cobra VII. The Cobra-7 takes the universal Cobra remote, part SAXM0018. If in doubt about a specific part, send us the part number before ordering.

Will it damage flexible or insulated ductwork?

It can, and Air-Care say so plainly. Internally insulated duct, brittle flex duct and fraying duct board should not be power brushed at all. Sound duct board and flexible duct can be brushed at the lower speed settings with caution. Inspect before you brush.

Why does the cable have to come out of the machine straight?

Because a tight bend near the machine end generates friction against the nylon housing, and that friction generates heat. Air-Care call for the first 1.2 to 1.5 metres to run straight. Ignoring it is the most common way operators destroy a cable, and the cable is not a cheap part.

How long does the brush last?

Bristles are a consumable and their life depends entirely on duct condition, run length and how many jobs a week the machine sees. There is no meaningful hours figure. Judge it on bristle length and stiffness, not on time, and replace before performance drops rather than after a client notices. Replacement bristle sets come five changes to a pack. Note that the brush assembly is excluded from the manufacturer's warranty, as wear parts normally are.

Is it a one-person machine?

Yes. At 12.7 kg for the motor case it is a single carry, and the wireless remote means the operator can stay at the duct opening rather than working between the panel and the access point.

Related products

• Air-Care TurboMax 2 Duct Cleaning Machine — the negative air machine the Cobra is designed to work with
• Air-Care Apollo Air Duct Video Inspection Camera — inspect before and demonstrate after
• Air-Care Pogo Pole Hose Adaptor 300mm — ceiling and wall duct connection, with a 4″ access plug for Cobra brush tools
• Air-Care Ducting Blue 33cm (12″) x 7.5 m — vacuum hose to connect the negative air machine to the system
• Air-Care Brush 150mm for Cobra, Clothes Dryer Ducts — small-diameter brush for dryer exhaust work
• Air-Care Max ULV Fogger — for treating the system after cleaning

Summary

The Cobra-7 is the current generation of Air-Care's cable-driven power brush: a half-horsepower 90-volt DC motor, 10 metres of cable, a self-adjusting brush for ducts from 100 mm to 457 mm, and a controller that holds speed under load. It is the contact-cleaning half of a professional duct cleaning setup, and it needs a negative air machine alongside it to be worth owning.

For a contractor cleaning residential and light commercial air systems, or adding dryer duct work to an existing service, it is a long-established design from a manufacturer that has specialised in this equipment since 1979.

Not sure whether the Cobra-7 suits your work, or whether your existing negative air machine will pair with it? Talk to us before you order. We would rather spend ten minutes on the phone than have the wrong machine arrive on your site.