AC coils are pivotal for AC performance and the cooling process. Ensuring clean coils significantly mitigates wear and tear and averts premature system failure.
During the year, dirt, lawn clippings, and other debris will naturally accumulate on the outdoor condenser, reducing your unit’s efficiency and forcing it to work harder. This can ultimately lead to the AC forming ice, which can damage your compressor and other HVAC system components.
While your air handler is relatively protected, it is not completely shielded from dust and other fine particles, even with regular filter changes. When the evaporator coils become dirty, your AC becomes significantly less effective at generating cold air and dehumidifying your home.
Frequency of AC Coil Cleaning
The need for AC coil cleaning is contingent on several factors, including the intensity of your AC use, filter-changing frequency, and the amount of dirt, dust, and debris in and around your home. However, cleaning dirty AC coils is generally recommended at least annually.
You can minimize dirt buildup on the coils by changing your air filters and regularly hosing off your outside unit.
Time Investment for AC Coil Cleaning
Considering item collection, unit disassembly and reassembly, cleaning, and cleanup, anticipate the process taking at least 2-3 hours.
While DIY projects can be enjoyable, for many, cleaning the AC coils may not be a worthwhile endeavor due to its time-consuming and delicate nature, and the results are not overtly visible to friends and family. It’s hardly surprising most homeowners prefer not to sacrifice their precious free time to clean their AC.
Moreover, AC maintenance encompasses more than clean coils. Proper AC maintenance includes a thermostat check, drain line inspection and cleaning, electrical tests, and more.
During a professional tune-up, we’ll also inspect your AC coils and remove debris from the outdoor unit.
RedHome Services offers a thorough top to bottom maintenance service for your home AC unit. Schedule an appointment with us, and we’ll ensure your AC is in tip top shape to keep you and your family cool during the warmer months.
Before cleaning the AC coils of your home system, it’s important to have an understanding of how to reach them, handle them properly, and which tools are required to finish the job successfully. Kickstart the process by assembling all the tools you’ll need, and most important, be sure the electricity is switched off by accessing the circuit breaker, typically housed in a small metal box on your home’s exterior.
How to Access Your AC Coils
Your AC system has two types of coils: the evaporator coil, located inside the indoor air handler, and the condenser coil, situated in the outdoor unit.
The air handler, which houses your AC’s evaporator coils, can be found in various locations such as the attic, basement, garage, or a utility closet. It features a detachable access panel, which can be unlocked with a screwdriver, revealing the “A” shaped evaporator coil.
The outdoor unit is typically located on the side of your house.
To reach the condenser coils, dismantle the protective top and/or side panels using either a cordless drill or a screwdriver. The condenser coils envelop the entire AC unit.
Handling AC Coils with Care
Your AC coils are located behind fragile metal strips known as fins. You’ll want to gently handle these during cleaning to avoid damaging the easily bent fins and causing further damage to your unit.
Essential Tools for AC Coil Cleaning
- Solvent AC coil cleaner or detergent soap
- Screwdriver
- Hose with a spray nozzle
- Soft-bristle brush
- Air conditioner fin comb
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Compressed air
- Water spray bottle
- Rags
Step-by-Step: Cleaning AC Condenser Coils on the Outdoor Unit
You must exercise caution whenever handling electrical equipment. Turn off the power to the AC unit via the breaker switch.
Dismantle the protective housing.
Clear larger debris like sticks and leaves that have accumulated over time.
Employ a soft-bristle brush to clean the fins on your unit’s exterior, moving upward or downward – never side to side.
Apply a foaming cleanser, soapy cleaning solution, or a solvent cleanser like Simply Green to all four sides of the unit’s interior.
Allow the cleanser to permeate the fins for 5-15 minutes; avoid touching the fins.
Using a garden hose and spray nozzle, spray from the inside outward at a downward angle, being mindful to avoid excessive pressure.
Hose down the unit’s exterior from the top down, ensuring no pressure is directed back inside the unit.
Examine the fins for damage and use the fin comb to straighten any misaligned coil fins by inserting the tines of the comb and moving it up and down.
Allow the unit to dry.
Reattach the protective covers.
Reactivate the system.
Note: If your AC’s fan assembly is located at the unit’s top, opening the condenser without risking electrical damage may be challenging. In this case, professional assistance is recommended. Give us a call at RedHome and we can safely handle the cleaning of your unit.
Cleaning the evaporator coils follows a similar process to the condenser coils, with the distinction being the rinsing method post-washing. Instead of a hose, a spray bottle will be utilized.
Guidelines for Cleaning the AC Evaporator Coils Indoors
You must exercise caution whenever handling electrical equipment. Turn off power to the AC via the breaker switch.
Remove the air handler cover and locate the A-shaped coil.
Utilize a soft-bristle brush to clean the fins on your unit’s exterior, moving upward or downward – never side to side.
Apply AC coil cleaner, soapy cleaning solution, or a solvent cleanser like Simply Green to both sides of the coil.
Allow the cleanser to permeate the fins for 5-10 minutes; avoid touching the fins.
Rinse the coils using a spray bottle.
Gently dry the unit using clean rags or towels.
Examine the fins for damage and utilize the fin comb to straighten any misaligned coil fins by inserting the tines of the comb and moving it up and down.
Reattach the protective covers.
Reactivate the system.
Utilizing Compressed Air for Inside AC Coil Cleaning
If the evaporator coils are not heavily built up, you can simply use compressed air for cleaning by directing a steady stream of air opposite to the normal airflow across the coil.
Want a Professional to Clean Your AC Coils?
The HVAC experts at RedHome Services can keep your AC unit clean and running throughout the year. AC service in Texas is a year-round need given our warmer than usual seasons. Schedule an appointment with us, and we’ll do a full diagnostics on your system and set you up for a cool, comfortable home.