Air conditioning (A/C) maintenance on a regular basis is important if you want to extend the life of your system and sustain a high operating efficiency. One of the most important maintenance tasks is to clean condenser and evaporator coils. The benefits of clean A/C coils are minimizing performance losses, which means clean coils will save you money.
It is possible to do it yourself if you have the desire, but most opt to have an A/C expert examine the coils and the system twice a year. Note that maintenance doesn’t necessarily have to be performed twice a year, but the coils should be inspected for any signs of damage or pollutants such as mold.
Damage to your coils can come in many shapes and sizes. An expert will check for a number of different problems:
- Debris: Particles or dirt that has built up on the coils that will impede air flow
- Frost: Evaporator coils are very cold and it is possible for ice and frost to result in buildup
- Damage: Especially in your condenser coils (in your outside A/C unit), damage can result from random objects hitting your coils and surrounding equipment
- Holes: Any holes in coils will allow refrigerant to escape, either as a vapor or liquid. This can dramatically lower your A/C unit’s efficiency
All of these different types of damage will cause performance issues. Another problem you may encounter is mold: Depending on your climate mold can be a big issue. If let go for too long mold will seriously impact your indoor air quality.
Cooling or evaporator coils are the locations in your A/C system where heat is transferred between the coils and the surrounding air. When there are issues that reduce airflow over the coils, it will limit the amount of heat transfer that occurs. This is why the benefits of clean A/C coils are the sustained, high-quality airflow and associated heat transfer that keeps your unit running at high efficiency.
For more expert advice about the benefits of clean A/C coils, contact the experts at Cox Air Conditioning and Heating. We’ve been serving Clearwater and surrounding areas since 1958.
