How To Clean An AC Evaporator Coil (Quickly & Easily!)

A clean evaporator coil ensures your air conditioning system is working efficiently and effectively. Evaporator coils can collect dust, debris, and oils over time. It is crucial to maintain this element of your air conditioning system regularly.

According to the experienced Action AC technicians, The maintenance of the AC unit is the lifeblood and source for a lasting unit. Over time, it will save money through the electric bill and keep you from repairs. So, how do you clean an evaporator coil?

To clean an evaporator coil, you can use a soft cloth with a specialized cleaning agent or a mild detergent. You may use a soft bristle brush only, but you must take heed not to damage any of the coils or other components. Begin with opening the access panel to get a good view of the next steps. You may want to begin with a vacuum cleaner hose to suck up all the loose dirt and debris. Follow up with the soft cloth and cleaning agents and rinse off with a spray bottle of water and the cloth to take off the remaining residue.

The evaporator coil may seem well protected behind the access panel of your air handling unit. However, it is not the area around your air conditioning unit which gets the coil dirty.

Air in your home is sucked into the air conditioning system through intake vents. Unfortunately, the air isn’t the only thing that gets sucked in. Dirt, debris, dust, hair, and other particles get sucked in through the intake vents.

When air goes through the air conditioning system to cool, it passes over the evaporator coil. The evaporator coil absorbs the heat. From there, everything else that gets brought in through the intake vents gets trapped on it and around it.

The dirt, dust, and debris that build up around your evaporator coil make it difficult for it to do its job. When all that stuff gets in the way, the coil cannot properly absorb heat from the air.

When the evaporator coil struggles to absorb heat, the whole system is affected. Your air conditioning system will not be producing as much cool air as it would if everything were working properly.

When elements such as the evaporator coil are not adequately maintained, the machine must work harder to cool the air. The extra work puts it at a greater risk of getting damaged. Paying for maintenance is much cheaper than paying the cost of a repair bill or electric bill for wasted energy.

The exact process at this step will depend on how dirty your evaporator coil is. In some cases, a few quick bursts of compressed air will remove dust and debris. Alternatively, you could gently wipe away dust and debris with a clean, soft cloth for minor cases.

For evaporator coils with more build-up, you will have to work a little harder to clean them. Use a mild detergent or a cleaning agent designed especially for cleaning evaporator coils.

You might choose to wipe them down with a cloth or sponge. Another option is a specialized sprayer to apply cleaner to the evaporator coil.

Be sure to be cautious when cleaning the coils. The fins around your evaporator coil are thin metal. Do not brush or wipe across the fins.

Bending them will reduce or block airflow, and your air conditioning system will not be able to do its job.

The air brought in by the intake vent often brings along with it many other unwanted elements. Along with dust and debris, your intake vent might pick up bacteria or mold spores.

If there is a lot of build-up on or around your evaporator coil, this could be a prime opportunity for bacteria and mold to grow. Should this gets out of hand, it could spread through your air conditioning system.

If you see signs of mold or bacteria growth, clean the area with a bleach solution. Wear gloves and a mask to protect yourself should you see any sign of them.

Most experts will recommend cleaning the evaporator coil at least once per year. However, it is best to clean it twice per year.

An excellent way to determine the frequency of needing to clean the evaporator coil is to monitor it. Checking your coil regularly will help you determine how dirty it gets and how quickly. You can use this information to determine the best frequency for your air conditioning system.

A regularly maintained system will work more effectively and more efficiently than one that is not regularly maintained. A clean evaporator coil will have an easier time absorbing heat and doing its part in the air conditioning system. When your AC system works efficiently, it will help you stay cooler, and it won’t drive up energy costs.

Related Questions

Do I Need to go Outside to Clean My Evaporator Coil?

Your air conditioning system is made up of an air handling unit and a cooling unit. The cooling unit is located outside. The cooling unit contains the compressor coil, which is different than the evaporator coil.The evaporator coil and the compressor coil work together to keep your home cool. They remove heat from the air with refrigerants, which are introduced in the evaporator coil. The refrigerant moves to the outside unit, where it goes through the compressor coil to cool down.

Is It Safe to Clean My Evaporator Coil?

Be sure to remove power from your air conditioning system. Let the air handling unit cool down fully before removing the panel and doing any maintenance.

Should I Call a Technician to Clean the Evaporator Coil?

Professionals have the experience, expertise, and proper tools to take care of the job. They charge around $65 to $150 per hour.If you are uncomfortable with doing the job yourself, you risk damaging the air conditioning system. A damaged system will likely cost more to have repaired or replaced.