When your air conditioner coils are dirty, your unit will not function as efficiently and may not last as long. Use this guide to clean your AC coils, enhance your AC’s life span and enjoy crisp, cool air!
For the deepest clean, you have to tackle the condenser coils, which are part of your outdoor unit, and your evaporator coils, which are inside your indoor unit. In both cases, the coils are inside the AC’s fins, so you’ll target your cleaning efforts there.
Here’s a look at both coils and how they support your AC system:
When both units are in top-notch condition, they keep your home comfortable and cool.
If one of the following situations applies to you, it might be time to clean your AC coils:
Coil replacement might be a better option if:
If you’re unsure of the best course of action, reach out to an AC expert for insight.
If you want to try cleaning your coils before resorting to a replacement, ensure you do so correctly. Let’s start with cleaning condenser coils.
Here’s what you’ll need to clean your condenser coils:
It’s not enough to turn off your thermostat — you have to shut off all power to your AC unit. The exterior breaker should be on the wall somewhere close to your condenser. Open it up and shut off the power before doing any AC work. Also, look at your home’s interior breaker and shut off the power to the HVAC system.
Cleaning the unit from the inside and outside is your best bet. Some units have two rows of coils, so cleaning from the outside only won’t get the job done.
Use your screwdriver to remove the screws around the lid. Place the loose screws in a plastic bag so you don’t lose them, and remove the lid. Next, remove the side covers and protective grills. You can remove large debris trapped in the protective grills by hand.
We recommend not using a drill for this process — when it comes time to replace the lid, it’s easy to over-drill the screws.
Use your Shop-Vac to clean the bottom of your condenser unit and remove large debris, such as leaves and insects.
Very carefully, use a fin comb to straighten out the AC fins. Maneuver the teeth between the fins and cautiously move the comb up and down. To make this a bit easier, you can spray the bent fins with a diluted dish soap solution.
Foaming coil cleaners contain hazardous ingredients, such as hydrofluoric acid, so wear the appropriate PPE. Goggles and gloves are essential. Once you’re ready, spray the inside and outside of your condenser. Focus on one side at a time for the most thorough application. Let the cleaner sit between five and eight minutes.
Rinse the inside and outside of your unit with your garden hose. You can use a showerhead attachment if you have one. Otherwise, just be careful not to use too much pressure. You’ll also want to rinse the bottom of the unit. For this part, you can turn the pressure up.
Grab your bag of screws and replace your condenser’s lid and side covers. Remember to use a screwdriver rather than a drill.
With your unit clean, you’re all set to turn the power back on — unless you’re moving straight into cleaning your evaporator coils.
Cleaning evaporator coils follows a similar process.
For this process, you’ll need:
Completely shut off the power to your unit at your interior breaker box.
The evaporator coils typically sit behind a service door on your AC unit. Remove the door using a screwdriver, and keep the screws in a plastic bag for later. You know you’ve found the right parts when you see a coil assembly shaped like an “A.”
Use a soft bristle brush to remove the big debris on the fins. If it’s been a while since you last cleaned your unit, you may be able to pull off the dust and grime in a sheet with your hands. Just remember to wear gloves!
Spray the fins with a no-rinse coil cleaner. These formulations use condensation water to rinse the unit. Focus on one side at a time.
If it’s warm enough outside to turn on your AC unit, you can turn it on after reassembling everything and let the condensation rinse the coil cleaner off. However, you can also spray water on the fins to rinse the coil cleaner.
Replace the service door and reassemble your indoor AC unit.
Flip the breaker switch to “on” and get ready to enjoy more efficient cooling!
If you’re uncomfortable performing air conditioner maintenance yourself, you can call in the professionals.
Strada Air Conditioning & Heating offers annual and semiannual AC maintenance plans, repair services and replacements in Florida and throughout the Southeast. During our maintenance visits, we can clean your condenser coils and apply cleaner to your evaporator coils. We’ll also monitor refrigerant pressure, lubricate moving parts and inspect the blower assembly to ensure your unit continues running effectively.
Keep your AC unit in excellent condition with Strada Air Conditioning & Heating’s AC maintenance services. We’re a family-owned and -operated company with more than 20 years of experience, and we are committed to providing unmatched service. Our technicians will communicate with you about our findings and processes to make AC maintenance and repairs a breeze.
Schedule a service with us today!
Joe Strada, owner of Strada Electric, Security & Air Conditioning, started working at the young age of 14. He’s never attended college, but he has spent his life dedicating his time and energy to his trade and providing high-quality services to his customers. At 19, Joe started working at a well-known air conditioning company and developing his commitment to excellence. He has state certifications in electric, plumbing, air conditioning, residential building and general contracting. During his years of training and experience, Joe noticed a sincere need for a dependable electrical contractor in Florida who embodied the same dedication to customer service in which he believed. In 2003, Joe co-founded Strada Electric, Security & Air Conditioning. Since then, the company has been in the business of providing peace of mind to customers. We offer expert electric, security and air conditioning solutions for homes and businesses, leveraging our experience to deliver professional and responsive service with reliability and respect.
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