Facts about DIY AC Coil Maintenance

As homeowner, it’s always important that you keep your HVAC system clean and well-maintained. However, you don’t always have to hire a professional for some of the tasks; there are some things that you can clean out on your own, just like your air conditioner’s evaporator and condenser coils, for instance. Here are some facts you should know about these components:

What They Are

Basically, the cooling function of your air conditioning system works on cycles of shifting a substance, called a refrigerant, from gas to liquid and back to gas. The condenser coil turns the heated gas refrigerant liquid, allowing it to pass through the evaporator coil, which in turn transforms it back to gas.

Cleaning the Condenser Coil

The condenser coil is perhaps the easier of the two to access and clean, and for good reason, as it also becomes dirty much more often. You can pretty much do this by clearing away debris like leaves and grass trimmings, or dirt particles from the box that houses the coils. You should also clean the aluminum fins that connect to the coils inside.

Cleaning the Evaporator Coil

The ease with which you can clean your AC’s evaporator coil will depend on how well you can access the component in the first place, since different manufacturers or installers place it differently. Thankfully though, you don’t have to maintain it as often as you should the condenser coil, so replacing the filter regularly should do the job.