Dirty air conditioner coils interfere with efficient unit functioning by inhibiting heat transfer. This means higher energy bills and overly stressed equipment that may eventually malfunction.
Fortunately cleaning your air conditioner evaporator coils is a relatively easy DIY task, and unless there are complications, it is a procedure you should be able to handle yourself.
Find out how to clean your air conditioner’s evaporator coils in six easy steps below.
6 Steps To Clean Your Evaporator Coils
The only supplies you’ll need to do the job are a pair of gloves, a roll of reflective metal tape, a flat-head screwdriver and a can of no-rinse coil cleaning solution, which you can pick up at your nearest hardware or all-purpose department store.
The cleaning procedure is as follows:
1. After you find your air handler, turn off the unit switch or the circuit breaker to cut the power.
2. Remove the metal tape that seals the edges of the coil access panel.
3. Use the screwdriver to loosen the screws that hold the access panel in place, then remove the panel completely.
4. The curving shape of the coils, on the sides of the metal A-frame, makes them easy to identify. Carefully check the coils for dust, dirt, and mold. If mold is found you’ll need to call an HVAC contractor who can treat it with a special biocide made for that purpose.
5. Spray the coils with the no-rinse cleaner until you have them fully covered. The liquid will slowly drip off and collect in the air conditioner’s condensate pan below.
6. Once all the cleaner has dripped away examine the surface of the coils to see if more accumulation remains. If it does repeat the above procedure one more time.
Since you already have the access panel off, this would be an excellent time to check the condensate pan for mold or mildew and the condensate drain pipe for blockage. To test for drain pipe blockage, simply pour some water down through the drain tube to make sure it is clear.
Cool Blew Inc.’s Service Technicians
If anything is blocked or moldy, make sure to contact a licensed heating and cooling technician. A knowledgeable service tech can do the job right and make sure your unit is properly and safely cleaned and well-maintained.
After you’ve finished with everything, put the access panel back in place, reinstall the screws and cover the panel edges with fresh strips of metal tape.
Be sure to turn on the air conditioner immediately afterward, this will create moisture condensation on the coils that will help rinse off any remaining traces of cleaning solution.
In Search Of HVAC Solutions? Keep Your Cool And Contact Cool Blew Inc.
If you attempt to clean your evaporator coils and encounter problems, or if you’d simply prefer to have the task completed by a professional, contact us at Cool Blew Inc. and we’ll send a technician out right away. We service the cities of Gilbert, Surprise, Sun City and Glendale along with most other locations throughout the greater Phoenix area, and if you need any type of HVAC services we are only a phone call or email away.
