To keep your air conditioner functioning throughout the year, you’ll require annual AC maintenance, including AC coil cleaning. Unfortunately, homeowners focus on AC parts like the air filter, compressor, etc., neglecting AC coil cleaning just as they do with air duct cleaning. But when you neglect AC coil cleaning, it heavily affects your cooling system’s performance and reduces efficiency.
AC Coil: Why & How Often to Clean AC Coils
Function of the AC Coil
There are two types of air conditioner coil in your cooling system – evaporator and condenser coil. The evaporator coil collects the heat and moisture from your indoor space and transfers them to the condenser coil. Then the condenser coil releases the heat and moisture to the environment.
When you skip regular AC coil cleaning, dust and micro particles start to accumulate on the outside layer of the AC coil. As a result, it becomes difficult for the AC coil to transfer heat from your space to the outdoor. Eventually, your cooling unit becomes less efficient.
4 Consequences of Not Cleaning the AC Coil Regularly
1. Longer AC Operating Period
As I mentioned earlier, when there is dust on the outside layer of the AC coil, it cannot transfer heat and moisture efficiently. As a result, your cooling unit will have to operate longer to reach the desired thermostat temperature. This means you cannot enjoy a cool breeze right after you enter the home from outside heat.
2. More Wear and Tear
Every machine has its own limit, and when the machine exceeds that limit, it starts to show wear and tear. It goes the same for your air conditioning system. Due to the layer of dust on the AC coil, your cooling system won’t be able to transfer heat efficiently and have to function longer. Because of this, your cooling unit will start to overheat and have more wear and tears. And eventually, this will lead to frequent system failure and heavy repairs.
3. Higher Cooling Bills
It’s obvious that when your AC operates longer, it’ll consume more electricity. As a result, your monthly cooling bill will have an exponential rise. This can be a big issue for homeowners who are on a tight budget or want to save money on cooling bills.
4. Can Lead to Refrigerant Leaks
When you don’t clean the AC coils regularly, due to smog and pollutants, AC coils can develop corrosion. Over time, this corrosion can lead to cracks in the AC coils, eventually leading to an AC refrigerant leak. And when you have an AC refrigerant leak, your system’s cooling efficiency will drop drastically and reduce the cooling capacity.
How Often to Clean AC Coils
Generally, it’s recommended to clean your AC coils once a year. However, if you live in a polluted area, you may have to clean the AC coils twice a year. For better understanding, you should contact your nearby Dallas professionals.
Again, if your AC is relatively older or you use your cooling system throughout the year, your AC coils will get dirty more often. As a result, you’ll require frequent AC coil cleaning.
If you don’t want to face the hassle of cleaning AC coils individually, you can integrate it with your annual HVAC maintenance. By doing this, you’ll have fewer things to worry about and enjoy your summer.
Reasons to Clean AC Coils
1. Enhanced Comfort
When the AC coils aren’t covered with dust or microparticles, they’ll be able to transfer heat more efficiently. As a result, your comfort will be increased, and you won’t have to suffer from the extreme heat in Dallas.
2. Save Money on Energy Bills
If you want to save money on cooling bills this summer, you must keep your AC coils clean. When the AC coils are clean, your AC will function more efficiently and use less energy. As a result, your monthly cooling bills will drop down automatically.
3. Better Indoor Air Quality
When the AC coils are filled with dirt and other particles, your indoor space will be filled with excess humidity. But excess humidity is the breeding ground for molds and bacteria. And when there are molds or bacteria in your space, you’ll become sick. Besides, humidity above 50 percent is unhealthy and can cause serious damages to your health. But when you keep your AC coils clean, you won’t have to face these issues and have higher indoor air quality.
See the summary in this infographic – Everything You Need to Know About AC Coil Cleaning [Infographic]
