Keep Your AC Coils Clean To Stay Cool This Summer

A Clean Coil is a Happy Coil -
Air Conditioner Maintenance Tip

Spring is in full force, the sun is out, life is good, then suddenly, you notice a bead of sweat dripping down your forehead. “But why?” you wonder to yourself as you remember turning your air conditioner on for the first time last week. Then, suddenly, you realize that your AC unit isn’t functioning as it should. Is it broken? Maybe. Is the problem something that’s easily repairable? You hope so.

Diagnosing Dirty AC Coils

If this sounds like your situation, the good news is that your air conditioner could be underperforming simply due to dirt build up on the outdoor condenser coils or the indoor evaporator coils. Much of the cooling process depends on these coils, which is why the smallest amount of dirt accumulation can impact your entire cooling system. In fact, it only takes 1/100 of an inch of dirt accumulation to decrease your air conditioner’s efficiency by 5 percent.

Where Are AC Unit Coils Located?

If you’re not sure whether or not dirty coils are causing your air conditioner to underperform or malfunction, here’s how to locate your AC unit’s coils and determine whether or not they’ve accumulated dirt. There are two coils that you’ll need to check, the exterior condenser coil and the interior evaporator coil. The exterior coil is more likely to accumulate dirt because it’s exposed to the elements. However, interior coils can also become dirty if they’re housed in an unfinished, dusty basement.

Outdoor Condenser Coil

Your outdoor condenser coil is typically wrapped around the interior walls of your unit. On some units, you may be able to see the coil without removing any other parts. On other units, the coils could be protected by a metal top panel or casing. If you’re a DIYer, don’t forget to turn off the power to your AC unit before you begin exploring and attempting to remove any panels or casings. Once you have the coils visible, you’ll be able to see whether or not dirt has accumulated.

Indoor Evaporator Coil

You’ll typically find the indoor evaporator coil attached to your furnace behind an access door or inside its own enclosure nearby. You will probably need a screwdriver or nut driver to open the panel and access the coil. Again, you’ll want to turn off power to the unit if you’re going to do this yourself. Once you have located and exposed the coils, a visible inspection will tell you whether or not a dirty coil is to blame for your problems.

AC Coil Cleaning Products

If you’ve discovered that your air conditioner coils are in fact dirty, there are a variety of coil cleaning products and applications on the market today that will help you remove dirt and debris from your unit. Application styles include, foaming sprays, compressed air, and household detergents. While each application has pros and cons, our favorite coil cleaning product is Nu-Calgon No Rinse Evap Foam . We like this Nu-Calgon cleaner because after the spray is applied, it will develop a foam that expands to reach areas that you couldn’t get to otherwise. We also find this cleaner to be effective, yet still mild enough to prevent chemical damage to your unit. Finally, it doesn’t require a rinse like other products, which saves you an extra step. If this product isn’t exactly what you’re looking for, Nu-Calgon produces a variety of cleaners to fit the needs of most professionals and DIYers. Visit our Nu-Calgon page today to explore all cleaners and find the best product for your job.

Have questions about which product is right for your job? Contact us here for help!