When it comes to keeping your air conditioner running efficiently, coil cleaning is essential. The air conditioner should be serviced twice a year, although once is sufficient for some systems. Between visits, the condenser coils can be cleaned by removing large debris and rinsing the coils with a hose, after turning off the power. Without proper air conditioning maintenance, the summer heat will get the best of you.
Your HVAC air cleaner does its best to keep your system's evaporator coils clean by preventing dirt and debris from entering the system. However, over time, the evaporator coils still accumulate dust and will need to be cleaned. To prevent dirt and debris from affecting the heat exchange process, the air conditioner evaporator and condenser coils should be professionally cleaned once a year as part of your annual system maintenance. We recommend leaving the cleaning of the evaporator coils in the hands of an HVAC professional to avoid damaging the system components. The evaporator coil should be cleaned at least once a year.
If you live in an area with high humidity, you may need to clean it more often. A good way to know if the evaporator coil needs to be cleaned is to look for ice buildup on the coil. If there is ice buildup, it means that airflow over the coil is restricted and the coil cannot absorb heat properly. Although the coils themselves only need to be thoroughly cleaned once a year, there are preventative steps you can take to avoid build-up on the coils. You should examine the air cleaner about once a month.
Every time the filter appears worn or dirty, it must be replaced. A careless air filter will not block dust and dirt, but will allow it to accumulate in the coils. If you live in an area where your air conditioning unit is exposed to excessive amounts of dirt, dust, debris, or moisture, it's best to clean the coils regularly or so every three months. Each air conditioning unit and environment is different. If you find that AC coils tend to get dirty easily, clean them every three months to make sure they don't accumulate enough dirt or dust to cause lasting damage. Cleaning your air conditioner coils should be a priority at least once a year to keep them in the best possible shape.
You may be tempted to clean the AC coils yourself to reduce costs. That's not the best idea, because those little fins you see on the outside of the coils are very sensitive. If you use the wrong types of cleaners or the wrong technique, they can be easily damaged. The small cost you pay to get it done correctly can save you a lot of repair costs down the road. If you find that you use your air conditioner more often during the hot or cold months, the AC coils are likely to be dirty and need cleaning. Unique Indoor Comfort provides expert HVAC installation and repair in Palatine, IL and nearby areas.
Refrigerant flows through the air conditioning unit, from the expansion valve, which reduces its pressure, to the evaporator coil. Repairing your air conditioner can be costly, so keeping your system clean all year round can save you a lot of money in the long run. If you're in a big city with heavy air pollution, you might want your coils cleaned twice a year. When the evaporator coil gets dirty, it can't remove as much heat and moisture from the air in your space. Especially if you forget to change air filters regularly, it's easy for particles in the air to clog up the evaporator coil so it doesn't cool down just as effectively. As indoor air passes over the evaporator coil, it cools and then circulates back to the room.
Combined with the need to constantly maintain and repair it, it is often best to replace the air conditioner when it reaches the end of its useful life.
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