As an expert in the HVAC industry, I have seen firsthand the consequences of neglecting to clean air conditioner coils. Many homeowners may not realize the impact that dirty coils can have on their cooling system and overall comfort. That's why I want to stress the importance of regular AC coil cleaning. Due to the narrow gap between the coil's fins, the surface moisture from the cooling process, and the amount of air flowing through them, dirt, dust, debris, and other contaminants can accumulate on the coil surfaces.
Over time, this buildup reduces the system's ability to transfer heat in and out of the house, reducing the system's ability to provide cooling during the summer. In more extreme cases, dirty coils can also hinder or block airflow, which is so important to the entire process. This can result in having a less comfortable home and increasing utility bills due to loss of energy efficiency. Even worse, dirty coils cause the system to work harder than expected and can reduce system life and, potentially, costly repair bills.
In short, the cleaner the air conditioner coil is, the more efficient the system will operate. Excessive accumulation of dirt and debris can cause excessive strain on the system, causing fans and compressors to work harder and at higher operating temperatures to achieve the desired interior comfort. That seems almost impossible, just by knowing what we know about air conditioners: the function of a condenser coil is to capture heat from the house and then release it to the outside air. You can't do that important work as effectively if you're dirty, right? Air conditioner condenser coils take hot air inside a building and disperse it into the outside air.
When the condenser coils are dirty, dusty, rusted, or blocked by dirt, the unit works harder and uses more energy to achieve the same degree of cooling, which can cost your company hundreds or even thousands of additional dollars in electricity each year. Cleaning air conditioning units is easy with an aerosol product like Coil Cleaner. Depending on the configuration of the unit, the cover may need to be removed. In addition, there is no need to disassemble the unit, as the coil cleaner can usually reach the fins and coils and clean them from outside spray.
It's a total of 5 to 10 minutes of work for a small unit. Allow a little more time for larger units. How often you should clean air conditioning coils depends on several factors. The age of your air conditioner, how often you use it, and the area you live in should be considered when scheduling your cleanings.
Air conditioner coils generally don't need to be cleaned more than once a year during annual maintenance. However, if you find that your air conditioner is having ongoing problems or isn't blowing out cold air properly, the coils may need maintenance. Failure to care for the air conditioner coils can cause significant damage to the unit in the future. Cleaning your outdoor air conditioning unit is an important part of regular maintenance, but it's not the only thing you need to do to keep your air conditioning system running smoothly.
When air conditioning coils can't evaporate and get the hot air out of the house, the air conditioner tries harder to compensate. If you use the air conditioner more often during the hot or cold months, the air conditioning coils are likely to be dirty and you need to clean them. For older air conditioning units, you should clean the air conditioning coils approximately every three months, depending on use and season.
