How to Clean AC Coils: Step by Step Guide

This can take up to an hour, depending on how dirty your coils are, but this is a critical step if it’s been a while. After that, the cause and impact of a dirty evaporator coil are discussed. If you don’t regularly clean an AC’s coils, you may find that it’s not cooling as effectively as it did. Over time, dirty AC coils will cause the unit to use more power and eventually wear out. A clean air conditioner works better than an under-maintained unit.

Can I Use Oven Cleaner on AC Coils?

Most experts will recommend cleaning the evaporator coil at least once per year. Another option is a specialized sprayer to apply cleaner to the evaporator coil. For safety purposes, the breaker should always be turned off. Be sure to let the system cool down before doing any maintenance.

How Long Before I Can Turn on my AC After Coil Cleaning?

And you can’t YouTube your way to that kind of expertise—it’s definitely a job for experienced specialists. And if your attic or roof hasn’t been insulated in the past ten-ish years, then hot air is almost certainly invading your house through the roof (hello, stale and stuffy air!). It’s often a better deal in the long run to upgrade to a newer, more efficient system (such as a heat pump).

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Cleaning with Mild Detergents and Water

When everything is clean, and back in place, it is safe to turn your air conditioning system back on. Drip openings allow water that has melted from the defrost cycle to flow down to a pan located by the compressor, where it evaporates. On cycle-defrost fridges, a channel directs the water to a tube in the food compartment. The two other 1/4 inch sheet metal screws are behind the suction manifold in the follow photo.

Steps

Once complete, place the cover back on the unit and screw it in. Leave the cover off of the unit and let it completely air dry for at least one hour. When you look inside the unit, you might notice a lot of debris. Wearing your protective gloves, remove bulky debris (like leaves and twigs) by hand.

As a result of the reduced airflow, heat won’t be absorbed as readily. Apply a second coat after minutes or when it appears all the cleaner has run off. Air conditioner condensers are highly charged 240V systems. Make sure that electricity is completely disabled before working on the condenser. Air conditioners use a lot of expensive electricity to run.

Using Commercial Cleaners

Your unit may have an N or slab coil which can be more challenging to access for cleaning. The evaporator coils are basically a heat exchanger, cooling the air inside the house and transferring the heat to the outside condenser unit. If you had to use a coil cleaning solution to remove tough debris, make sure to allow time for the coils to dry.

Cleaning AC coils: A simple step-by-step guide

This grime reduces the coil’s available surface area for heat exchange, and their ability to absorb heat from the air diminishes. Maintaining your home’s HVAC system is crucial for optimal performance and longevity. An essential part of this is cleaning the AC evaporator coils. These coils play a pivotal role in the cooling process, and neglecting them can lead to inefficiencies, increased energy costs, and potential breakdowns. If there were no drawbacks to installing a heat pump, everyone would already have one, so it’s not surprising that not every aspect of this appliance is beneficial.

Spray the Foam Coil Cleaner

It continues to function, attempting to fulfil its designated function, wearing itself down. So, the longer the rounds last, the filthier the coil becomes. Dirt will make your air conditioner function ineffectively. You may feel as though your AC is continually running and still not making your room cool. When you’re in the AC unit, you might as well clean the rest of it. Here are some other handy cleaning instructions to deep clean the whole thing.

There are many aspects of your air conditioning system that should be maintained to prevent further problems. Scheduling regular maintenance with a licensed HVAC professional will help keep your AC coils clean and your unit running smoothly. Once everything is all clear, you can reinstall the access panel, tighten the screws, and re-seal the box with tape to keep as much dirt out of the coils as possible.

Use your shop vacuum on the wet vacuum setting to remove excess water. There are tabs on the bottom of the panel that fit into slots in the furnace cabinet. Gently pull the panel toward you from the top until the snaps pop loose. HVAC companies charge anywhere from $60 to $150 or more to clean a coil, inspect the system and provide other basic maintenance. The no-rinse foam cleaner breaks down and liquifies quickly for a good rinsing action. If you see signs of mold or bacteria growth, clean the area with a bleach solution.

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Airtro observes that fin combs feature interchangeable heads to adapt to different units. You can match a fin-comb head with the number of fins per linear inch in your home's indoor or outdoor HVAC units. Ensure the electrical current is switched off before using a fin comb. Then, insert the comb between the fins at the bottom and comb upward to remove dust and debris while straightening the soft metal fins. Continue the process, moving through all of the fins in your unit. You can use a brush with moderately stiff nylon bristles to clean your AC coils.

Once the warranty expires, consumers are faced with having to replace the defective evaporator call with no recourse from Lennox. Should Lennox replace the coil, the coil is allegedly replaced with the same defective product, which may rupture prematurely, leaking Freon with normal use. Given all of these issues, the Lennox warranties fail in their essential purpose. Consult your user manual for gaining access to the air handling portion of your air conditioning system.

Professionals have the experience, expertise, and proper tools to take care of the job. They charge around $65 to $150 per hour.If you are uncomfortable with doing the job yourself, you risk damaging the air conditioning system. A damaged system will likely cost more to have repaired or replaced.