Keeping up with the maintenance of your air conditioning unit is essential to its longevity. Many homeowners think about the routine tasks they can do indoors to support the functioning of their AC unit including changing the air filters. However, they forget about other important tasks such as cleaning the evaporator coils. This can be just as essential to supporting healthy functioning on your air conditioner over time.
Since this is an oft-forgotten part of your most overworked appliance, we wanted you to understand the importance of keeping it clean. Learn a little bit more about how a clean evaporator coil can help support smoother functioning in your home in this short guide.
What does the evaporator coil do?
Your air conditioner has a lot of parts to it that you can’t always see. Similar to lifting the hood of a car, you have to take a peek inside your HVAC system to see some of these smaller pieces. The evaporator coils are an essential part of your AC unit because they are responsible for removing some of the heat and humidity from inside your house. They work very closely with your condenser coils to cool down the home.
While the evaporator coils remove the heat and humidity from the inside of your house, the condenser coils get rid of the heat. It’s important for both of them to work together to effectively keep your home at a stable temperature during the hot summer months. When one part is dirty and ineffective, it makes it far more difficult for the entire unit to function. Let’s take a closer look at how a dirty evaporator coil affects your climate-controlled home.
A dirty evaporator coil prevents it from absorbing heat.
It’s normal for your evaporator coil to collect dust, dirt, and debris over a period of time. When the buildup becomes too much, the dirt will reduce the airflow and prevent it from properly absorbing the heat. This forces your air conditioner to work twice as hard to cool down the inside of your home appropriately. As a result, the condenser coils don’t have anything to expel and your home remains warm despite a rising utility bill.
How can you prevent a dirty evaporator coil?
The best thing you can do to avoid having an ineffective air conditioning unit is to replace your air filter regularly. Most filters need to be changed every one to three months, but you may find it necessary to do so more regularly if you have pets. This is one simple task you can do throughout the year to ensure that your evaporator coil stays in great shape.
Your evaporator coil may still need to be professionally cleaned. We recommend signing up for an annual maintenance plan where a qualified heating contractor in Winnipeg can come out to your home and properly take care of your entire unit. A homeowner can easily cause damage to their AC unit if they aren’t careful, so we only recommend professional maintenance. Lower your utility bills and extend the lifespan of your air conditioner by signing up for an annual maintenance plan with Provincial Heating and Cooling’s experienced air conditioning service!