In the Valley of the Sun, weather can be tough on air conditioners. While they can run for many years without missing a beat, the elements can eventually begin to erode components – including the evaporator coils. When this happens, the refrigerant that flows through the coils can begin to leak. This is a significant repair, and often it makes sense to simply replace the unit. But this isn’t always the case.
Signs of Evaporator Coil Problems
- Loss of cooling power
- Registers not blowing cool air
- Hissing sounds from the unit
- Rising electric bills
Reasons to Replace the Unit
Your AC is 10 years or older – If you have a unit that is approaching the end of its life (10 years or older), it typically makes sense to go with replacement because of the increase in efficiency that you will gain with a newer model. Here’s another way to think about it. Replacing just the evaporator coils in an old unit is akin to replacing the engine in a car with 150,000 miles on it. It just doesn’t make sense.
Your AC uses R-22 (Freon) – If you have a very old unit that uses the now banned R-22 refrigerant (Freon), replacement is a no-brainer. This type of refrigerant is no longer being produced, which means it’s in limited supply and increasingly expensive. Regardless if it’s a problem with the coils or any other type of refrigerant leak, unit replacement is the way to go if your unit takes R-22.
The evaporator coil you need is obsolete – If you have a unit with a low SEER rating, the replacement coil may no longer be available. Mismatched coils can drag down the performance of your unit and ultimately cause a full system breakdown.
Think you may have an evaporator coil problem with your air conditioner? Considering a new unit? Call the experts at Cool Blew today.
