A dirty evaporator coil can spell disaster for your air conditioning system’s performance. As a heat exchanger, the evaporator coil must be clean so that it can effectively absorb heat from the surrounding air. The presence of dust, dirt, mildew and grime will prevent this from happening. The evaporator coil will absorb less heat, resulting in less cooling power. To keep your air conditioning system’s evaporator coil clean, consider the following tips.
Vacuum Around It
You can keep your air conditioning system’s evaporator coil by vacuuming around it. In most residential air conditioning systems, the evaporator coil is installed in the attic or in a closet on the highest level. Dust, of course, is common in places. Dust will collect in attics and closets, and some of it will inevitably land on your air conditioning system’s evaporator coil.
For a cleaner evaporator coil, try to get into the habit of vacuuming around it at least once a month. Vacuuming will remove dust so that it doesn’t land on the evaporator coil.
Check the Condensate Pan
Don’t forget to check the condensate pan. Evaporator coils are installed in conjunction with a condensate pan. The condensate pan is a rectangular- or square-shaped metal pan that’s designed to collect condensation as it drips down from the evaporator coil.
A clogged condensate pan can contribute to a dirty evaporator coil. Condensate pans have a drainage pipe at the bottom. Like all drainage pipes, they can become clogged. If the drainage pipe is clogged, condensation will build up inside of the condensate pan, which can lead to mold and mildew growing on the evaporator coil. Ensuring the condensate pan is draining properly will promote a cleaner evaporator coil.
Schedule a Professional Cleaning Service
There’s no better way to keep your air conditioning system’s evaporator coil clean than by scheduling a professional cleaning service with a heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) technician.
Many homeowners assume that they can clean the evaporator coil themselves. The evaporator coil, however, is typically located inside of an Air Handling Unit (AHU), or it’s connected to the furnace. To access it, you may have to remove panels or other coverings. Even then, you may lack the tools needed to clean the evaporator coil. Rather than trying to do it yourself, you can hire an HVAC technician to clean your air conditioning system’s evaporator coil.
