How To Clean Air Conditioner Coils Inside House?
Cleaning Your AC Coils – Obviously, gaining access to your AC coils is the initial step in cleaning them. The evaporator coils are located within the air handler, behind a detachable access panel. Before doing anything else, ensure that the air conditioner is turned off at the thermostat.
You might wish to turn off the circuit breaker for safety’s sake! Then, remove the screws or fasteners and release the panel, taking care not to lose either the panel or the screws. Use one of the following methods to clean the evaporator coils of your air conditioner: using pressurized air If there is not a significant amount of dirt accumulation on your coils, it can often be cleaned by using compressed air to blast the dirt off the evaporator coil.
You should guide the compressed air in the opposite direction of the coil’s regular air flow. In addition, employ a steady airflow over the coil, use eye protection, and use a shop vacuum to remove dirt and debris as they are displaced. Utilizing a brush This method is helpful for eliminating light quantities of debris from the coils and gives you greater control over the pressure and cleaning regions.
- This approach is using the brush directly on the coils to remove dirt, scraping if necessary for stubborn grime.
- You should use a soft brush and avoid using stiff bristles or wire brushes, since they might harm the fins.
- Using commercial cleaning products After picking your favorite brand, follow the directions included with the cleaner to clean the evaporator coils on your air conditioner.
Allow the cleanser to settle and foam until the foam and particles have both drained away. Reapply as required (or as instructed) until the coils are clean and free of buildup.4. Using mild detergents and water, If you would rather not use a commercial cleaner, occasionally a simple detergent and water may suffice to clean the coils.
In a spray bottle or garden sprayer, combine basic detergent and warm water. Spray the solution onto the evaporator coils and let it to penetrate and remove the dirt and debris for a few minutes. Using a gentle brush or cloth, remove any loose material and reapply as needed. Heavy-duty cleaning procedures If your evaporator coils are extremely filthy, you may need to use strong cleaning chemicals and equipment, such as a steam cleaner or pressure washer.
It may also necessitate a more extensive disassembly of your AC unit, including removal of the coil, cutting of the refrigerant lines, and subsequent reassembly. If this is the case, you should connect with a professional HVAC contractor who can assess the task and will have the proper tools, training, and materials to safely clean the coils and restore your AC system to normal operation.
Can I clean the coils of my air conditioner myself?
How to Use Commercial Cleaners to Clean AC Coils – Your Carrier dealer may opt to clean the coils of your air conditioner with commercially available coil cleaning products. Foaming cleaners for outdoor condenser coils and self-rinsing cleansers for interior evaporator coils are among the available varieties.
These substances are available in aerosol cans or in bulk for use in a low-pressure sprayer. During coil cleaning, the contractor will likely remove any surface dirt by hand or with a specialized fin brush. In accordance with the cleaner’s instructions and the manufacturer’s recommendations, they will then apply a commercial cleaning and rinse the coil with water.
To clean your indoor evaporator coil, the contractor will likely remove heavier material by hand or with a special brush, then use an evaporator oil solution that is self-rinsing. This solution will efficiently clean the coil and rinse away throughout the cooling process when the system is activated.
This is one of the reasons why your rooms take so long to cool down. In rare instances, the space may never reach its optimal level of cooling. In this instance, the issue is no longer a delay in cooling performance, but rather an irreversible influence on the unit’s cooling capability.
- Also problematic are the increasing operating pressures.
- This indicates that your machine is operating at much higher temperatures.
- This is not ideal, as more heat is detrimental to the rest of your AC’s components.
- Degradation of system.
- The unclean evaporator coil forces the other components of your air conditioner to work considerably harder to compensate for the malfunctioning element.
Consequently, they tend to be more susceptible to component degradation. With deteriorating components, the system will malfunction on several levels. A faulty evaporator coil impacts the functioning of the other components. This results in decreased unit expectancy.
If you want your air conditioning system to survive much longer, you will need to pay more attention to the maintenance routine. Why should the coil be kept clean? Maintenance has several advantages. Regular AC maintenance keeps your system operating with little inconvenience and problems. It maintains your unit’s like-new condition for as long as possible, which is excellent since it means less repairs.
Fewer repairs result in decreased repair expenses. Regular inspections prevent issues from escalating. Contractors have the opportunity to address them before they escalate into more costly issues. Lastly, frequent maintenance ensures the unit’s continued operation.
- It lasts longer, so you not only save money on AC repairs but also on a replacement.
- That implies you won’t need to search for and purchase a new unit in the near future.
- How is the coil kept clean? Remove the access panel first.
- This will reveal the condenser coil.
- However, prior to proceeding, you should thoroughly review the handbook.
The instructions should help you locate the access panel and the location of the evaporator coil. Turn the AC off. Avoid taking chances. Take it out of the plug. You do not want it to switch on by mistake. Remove the access panel. Simply eliminate the screws or fasteners.
However, ensure that you do it in a neat and orderly manner. This involves placing the panel and screws or fasteners in one location. Thus, you will not lose anything. If you don’t search for every misplaced screw or missing fastener, it will be simple and straightforward to reattach the panel after you’re through.
Use a canister of compressed air. Compressed air is one of the most efficient ways to remove dirt and other particles. The dirt can be loosened by blowing air into the coil. If there is obstinate dirt, though, you may need to position the nozzle near to the debris’ base, along its side.
If you’re utilizing high-pressure air, you may also utilize a 90-degree approach. Similar Reading: Filthy Evaporator Coil? How to Clean an Air Conditioning Evaporator Coil What do you require? When cleaning the coil, safety goggles and equipment are required. This is only a precaution, but it is a nice habit to have.
When cleaning the coil, it is possible to inadvertently blast dirt into one’s eyes. The goggles protect your eyes should this occur. Ensure that you follow all directions while attempting to clean the coil, or call in a professional for assistance.
How can I gain access to the evaporator coils of my home’s air conditioner?
To reach the coils, remove the access panel for the evaporator coils. Remove the aluminum tape that seals the access panel in order to remove the panel. Next, remove the screws that secure the evaporator coil access panel to the air handler. You will observe that the evaporator coil is housed within a frame with two sides.