Why Your Air Conditioner Coils Might Need Cleaning
One of the most important things you can do to keep your air conditioner working well is to change the air filter often. Keeping the air filter clean can dramatically reduce the need for air conditioner coil cleaning and should be done on a monthly basis. If you're asking “Do I need to clean my air conditioner’s coils?” you should know that dirty coils can lead to many issues with your air conditioner's operation:
- Airflow is restricted
- Coils build up ice
- Reduced Cooling efficiency
- Mold or mildew may grow
- Compressor damage
- Poor Air Flow Through AC Unit’s Coils
Your home’s ventilation system is designed to deliver a certain amount of CFM of air to the various zones in your house. When the airflow is slowed due to the buildup of dust and debris on the evaporator coil, your HVAC system must work harder. Longer run times contribute to higher costs on your electric bill. A thorough air conditioner coil cleaning must be performed to restore proper airflow to your house. Once the coils become packed with debris, cleaning the coils can make a big difference in performance.
Iced Up Evaporator Coil
Moisture in the air hits the cold evaporator coils and condenses on them. Your AC system relies on air flow to dehumidify or remove the moisture. When the unit isn’t able to remove the water fast enough, the water can freeze and turn into ice. Ice buildup can continue to occur until a coil cleaning. The ice further reduces the air flow allowing more ice to build. The problem gets worse and may eventually stop all air flow to your house.
Reduction in efficiency due to lack of air conditioner coil cleaning
An air conditioning system will continue to operate until it reaches the desired temperature inside your house. If the evaporator coil is blocked with dirt, the system will not be able to cool as well as it could if it were clean. The evaporator coil is responsible for removing heat from the air circulated over it and into your home. Heat transfer is reduced if the air cannot make direct contact with the coil. The only way for the A/C system to compensate is to run longer. The increase in runtime will raise your operating cost and negatively affect your power bill.
Dirty Air Conditioning Coils May Cause Mold Or Mildew Growth
Air blockage in the air conditioner coil due to it being dirty will result in moisture formation on the coils and lines. Moisture and dirt are the perfect combinations for mold and mildew to grow and can present a severe health risk. Sometimes there will be a musty smell inside once this starts to happen. If you suspect your evaporator coil is growing mold, call for air conditioner coil cleaning as soon as you can before the problems get worse.
Damage To Your AC Components Such As The Compressor
As your Air Conditioner operates, components like the compressor begin to build up heat. The compressor can remain in operation only so long, and once it reaches the end of the duty cycle, it may fail. Most newer air conditioners are designed to sense this rise in temperature and turn off the system before significant damage happens. One of the main reasons for this situation is that the unit is in need of an air conditioner coil cleaning. Once the thermal overload circuit resets, the system goes through the same cycle. Over time this can slowly damage the compressor and other components. If it isn’t taken care of, then a more expensive air conditioning repair could become necessary.
Cleaning your air conditioning coils is something you can do yourself. There are many tutorials online. But, just because you can, doesn’t mean you should, or even that you should want to! If you are you looking for an air conditioner coil cleaning service, don't delay.
911 Heating, Cooling and Plumbing can service all commercial and residential HVAC and plumbing needs. Call today!
