How to Clean AC Coils & Clean the Condenser Coils to Keep Your System Running Smoothly
September 09, 2024
Modern-day air conditioning keeps you cool all year—no matter how hot and humid the weather gets outside in Tennessee—thanks to the hard work of AC coils. These integral system elements can only do their job when they are properly maintained and regularly cleaned.
Professionals know where to locate your coils and how often they need maintenance. At proper seasonal intervals, they clean AC coils with foam cleansers and gentle water rinses. The right knowledge and supplies ensure that your coils are protected and function correctly.
Learn more about these important parts and how to clean AC coils for worry-free AC usage all summer long.
What You Need to Know About AC Coils
If you're not a seasoned homeowner, you may not know how important your AC coils are—or even what they are. No fear, Conway Services is here to help you understand all the details.
Where Are the Coils on an AC Unit?
In a typical central AC system, there are two coils: the evaporator coils, which cool the air, and the condenser coils, which dissipate heat.
Where is the condenser coil on an AC unit? These coils are found in the outside unit, behind the panel. To access them for inspection or cleaning, simply open the panel. Because these panels are outdoors, they are typically easier to access and maintain.
Where is the evaporator coil on an AC unit? The evaporator coil is found inside the home as part of the air handler. It can be found on the air intake side of the fan coil or the outlet side of the furnace. Knowing how to clean an evaporator coil in the attic can be more difficult, since there is limited space. HVAC professionals will know how best to access this coil for maintenance.
How Often Do AC Coils Need to Be Cleaned?
Just as you clean other items around your home, you should clean the condenser and evaporator coils when they are dirty. However, how dirty they get will depend on how often you use your air conditioner.
Heavy AC use calls for more cleaning. The more you use your AC system, the more debris and dirt will accumulate on your coils. If your AC unit stops running efficiently, this can be a sign of dirty coils. Without other signals indicating more urgent maintenance, you should call for regular cooling maintenance before summer starts.
Pre-season inspection and cleaning are essential to an annual AC maintenance and care routine.
Can You Clean AC Coils Yourself?
AC coils are delicate, important parts of an HVAC system. While cleaning them is an important maintenance task, it's generally one that is best handled by professionals who have the right tools.
If you attempt to clean them without the right tools and experience, you could cause serious damage to your system that will be costly to repair. You may even damage your system badly enough that you need a total HVAC replacement. Relying on trained technicians saves you the time and headache—and preserves your warranty.
How to Clean AC Evaporator and Condenser Coils
You should leave the majority of the work to professionals, but you can do a few basic care tasks for AC coils on your own. If you suspect your AC coils are dirty, follow these steps for how to clean a coil on AC units.
Turn off Your AC Unit
You should always perform maintenance checks with the system off, particularly if you plan to open any panels to look at interior pieces. Make sure the power is off at the electrical breaker. This will keep you safe as you follow the next steps.
Inspect the System
Look at both your condenser unit outside and the indoor unit (which may be located in your attic or utility closet). You may see noticeable debris and dust on the exterior of these units, which is a sign that debris may also be inside them. If you're familiar with AC units, you may also want to open the panels to check inside.
Gently Remove Debris
If debris is outside the units, you can gently remove it. Many homeowners use the hose on a soft setting to rinse the condenser unit. Dish soap is a popular at-home remedy as well, but be careful with any substances on your condensers. Everything should be fully rinsed and removed afterward to keep the unit running properly.
Never use pressurized water or harsh chemicals on your AC unit, as this can damage the coils or other parts. Make sure the unit completely dries before turning it back on.
Hire a Technician
If you don't know how to locate the coils or inspect your own units, don't worry. A technician can handle every step of the process, preventing potential damage or warranty violations.
For a full cleaning, they will inspect the system and gently remove debris with specialized tools like nylon brushes. Once debris is removed, they will use a foaming cleanser designed specifically for coil cleaning to loosen any dirt left on the coils.
The Benefits of Clean AC Coils
A buildup of grime and dirt on your air conditioning coils is going to make your system work harder than it needs to. This results in more energy use and less system efficiency. When you clean your AC coils regularly, you will experience many benefits.
These include:
- Fewer breakdowns
- Longer lifespan of system
- Lower energy bills
- Better indoor comfort
So, what are you waiting for? Speak with Conway Services today about AC maintenance like coil cleaning.
Need Further AC Assistance? Rely on Conway Services
If you've got better things to do on a weekend than clean your AC evaporator and condenser coils (and we hope you do), give us a call! We can come out and take a look for free. If your system needs its components cleaned, we'll recommend the best course of action.
For any other AC needs, we offer regular:
Remember, as the weather warms up, you don't have to suffer through the heat. You want to stay comfy and cool in your own home—and this starts with smart AC maintenance. Call the team at Conway Services today and we'll help you keep your cool. Schedule your service online.