Cleaning Your AC Coils: A Maintenance Necessity for Your System

You have likely heard time and time again how important it is to keep your air conditioner’s filter clean. There is no question that a clogged or dirty filter can hinder air movement and cause an array of issues for your system. As a result, it is recommended that you change it every month or so. However, believe it or not, this isn’t the only portion of your AC system that needs to be kept clean if you want it to continue running smoothly. The AC system is made up of two important coils. One is outside and one is inside. Today, you can learn why it is so important to keep the outside coil – the condenser coil – clean and dirt free. In order to prevent problems, it is necessary to clean the coil regular. Learn more about this component here.

What does the Outside Coil do for the AC System?

Your AC system has refrigerant moving through it from the inside components to the outside ones over and over again when it is on. Along the journey, the refrigerant will run through the two coils. The coil that is outside of your home assists with heat exchange. While the indoor coil will allow the refrigerant to evaporate and then absorb heat, the exterior coil is where the refrigerant condenses and releases heat. Essentially, the way that your air conditioner will cool down your home is not by making cold air, but by removing the heat. The warm air that is blowing over the evaporator coil will lose its heat to the refrigerant, which is in the coil, the coil then cools the air down that keeps moving over it and the refrigerant takes the absorbed heat outside.

Problems with Dirty Coils

All of the heat that is absorbed has to go somewhere. If the coil has become dirty, then the heat is going to struggle to get out of the AC system. This can lead to a number of issues with the AC system, including:

• Higher energy costs: The air conditioner is going to keep running until the temperature inside the home is right. This results in higher energy bills for you.
• Insufficient cooling: The air is not going to be cool enough if the AC isn’t doing a good job of heat exchange.
• Indoor coils that become frozen: This issue often causes your inside evaporator coil to become frozen. Also, other parts of the AC unit may begin to breakdown because they are being overworked.

Seek Professional Maintenance for Clean Coils

It is a good idea to have the coils cleaned once a year because quite a bit of dirt and other debris can accumulate since the unit is outside. However, it is often difficult to get the deep clean necessary on your own. This is when the services of a professional technician can be beneficial. Annual maintenance from a service technician will typically include cleaning of the coils, which is going to improve the efficiency and performance of the AC system.