If your home or business has an air conditioner and you’re in charge of making sure it keeps working, you probably know that it’s important to have your air conditioner regularly maintained. And you may have heard talk about AC coil cleaning as part of that maintenance.But if you’re not an air conditioning expert, it probably sounds like greek to you. What exactly is an air conditioner coil? And why is it so important to clean it? And most important: how do you know when you need to have it done when you’ve never even seen the thing?Your air conditioner’s coils are some of the most important parts of the system. There are two types of coils in an air conditioning system: evaporator coils that absorb the heat and humidity from the air in your space, and condenser coils that expel that heat outside of your building.In order for the coils to transfer heat effectively, the surfaces need to be clean. When the outside of the condenser coil is caked with dirt and grime, the heat gets trapped inside and can’t be effectively released.

Since the condenser coil is part of the outdoor unit, it gets exposed to all the smog and pollution in the New York City air, so it can get fouled in a hurry. Even if your “outdoor” unit is located in an inside mechanical room (as is common in New York City spaces without access to outside space) that mechanical room has been constructed with louvers to provide outdoor air, so your condenser coil is still exposed to the elements.When the evaporator coil gets dirty, it can’t remove as much heat and humidity from the air in your space. The evaporator coil is located indoors, but it’s still exposed to all the dust in your building. Especially if you forget to change the air filters regularly, it’s easy for airborne particles to clog up the evaporator coil so it doesn’t cool as effectively.You probably aren’t in the habit of actually looking at your air conditioning unit. But if it’s in an accessible spot, take a look at the coil, which looks like a long tube shaped into a coil with metal fins on the outside.

If you haven’t had the unit cleaned in a while, it’s probably a nasty sight. industrial cabinet air conditioning unitsEspecially when you consider that this unit affects the air you breathe all day long.outside ac unit on but fan not spinningBesides the fact that your air conditioner can’t cool your space as effectively when it’s dirty, there are other consequences of dirty coils:The question is, how much dirt is too much? heat pump and ac comboAs a general rule, you need AC coil cleaning twice per year as part of your regular preventative maintenance. But there are other factors, especially in New York City, that may mean you need AC coil cleaning more frequently:Coil fins are very sensitive, and can be easily damaged if you use too much force or abrasion or if you use the wrong type of cleaning products for AC coil cleaning.

There’s also a risk of handling potentially dangerous chemicals, not to mention the risk of electric shock and fire for someone who’s not properly trained. This job is best left to the professionals.Considering all the things that are likely to go wrong with your air conditioner if you neglect AC coil cleaning, it’s a relatively inexpensive insurance policy. The fact is that AC coil cleaning and regular AC preventative maintenance more than pay for themselves with the resulting energy savings, lower repair bills and increased system lifespan.Related Article: 8 Ways AC Preventative Maintenance Keeps the Repairman AwayAnd that doesn’t even take into consideration the increase in productivity that comes from having comfortable air temperatures, or the potential for lost business than can result when your system is down.Want to learn more about the benefits of AC coil cleaning? Grab a copy of our free guide: A Guide to Air Conditioning Coil Cleaning: Why, How and How Often.What is the purpose of the evaporator coil in an air conditioning unit?

The evaporator coil is the primary contact point for warm air in a central air conditioning system. The purpose of the evaporator coil is to remove the heat and humidity from the air that is passing over it. What are some tips for troubleshooting a central air conditioning unit? How does a mini split AC system work? The evaporator coil works by drawing hot air over the coil, which is filled with refrigerant, to cool the air. Once air has passed over the evaporator coil, a fan is used to circulate the cooled air throughout the building. The evaporator coil is located inside the building. Typically, it is located directly above the air handling unit of the furnace. The other half of the central air conditioning unit is located outside. The exterior portion contains the compressor, condenser and cooling fan. A central air conditioning unit circulates refrigerant through a series of condensers and coils to remove heat from the air in a building. The evaporator coil contains refrigerant, which extracts the heat and humidity from the inside air.

The refrigerant is then circulated to the external unit where the condenser is housed. The condenser allows the refrigerant to release the heat and humidity into the outside air. The refrigerant is once again cool and ready to be circulated to the interior. Freon is recycled throughout an air conditioning unit, and should not need to be added to the unit unless the system has a leak. In some areas, Freon is a ... What are the two main gases that are in the air we breathe? What are the main parts of an air compressor? Which brands of space heaters are the safest? What are the prices of Jotul gas stoves? What type of furnace filters should you use? Installed inside your home, evaporator coils are an essential part of any air conditioning or heat pump system. So when you need a new outdoor unit, Payne® always recommends replacing the indoor coil as well to achieve maximum efficiency and performance. Our full line of evaporator coils provide all of the options and configurations your dealer needs to make a perfect match.