If your air conditioner isn't working as effectively as it used to, or if it's not blowing cold air at all, unclean condenser coils could be the cause.
If you feel you have this problem, you're undoubtedly wondering, "Can I clean my AC coils myself?"
You certainly can. Cleaning your AC coils is a very straightforward task, but you must proceed with caution to avoid damaging your AC unit (or your sanity).
We'll show you how to clean both the inner and outside air conditioning coils, as well as some next actions to consider if a thorough cleaning doesn't enhance your AC unit's performance.
Table of Contents:
l Why is it vital to clean AC coils—and what happens if you don't?
l How do AC coils function (there are two kinds)?
l Cleaning AC coils requires the use of specific tools.
l Air conditioner coil cleaner How to clean condenser coils on the outdoor unit
l How to Clean the Indoor Evaporator Coils
l What to do if cleaning the coils doesn't solve the problem How to permanently solve your home cooling problems with no upfront costs
Are you ready to make your air conditioner look and work better? Let's get started.
Why you should clean your condenser coils—and what will happen if you don't
When it's hot and muggy outside, the last thing you want is for your air conditioner to break down—no one enjoys stifling, humid air in the house. (Perhaps your child's pet iguana, if they have one.)
That's exactly what could happen if you don't clean your condenser coils: a hot and damp home.
Why? (And what exactly is a condenser coil?)
Here's a crash course in how AC coils work:
The heat from the air inside your home is removed by your air conditioner and released outside.
The process begins when your air conditioner draws warm air from your home via a return duct. The air then travels over the evaporator coils, which are packed with a heat-absorbing refrigerant. The now-cool air is subsequently returned to your home via the supply ducts.
The second part of the equation takes place outside.
Once the heat has been extracted from the indoor air, it must be released outside. The condenser coils come into play here. The hot refrigerant from the evaporator coils travels through the condenser coils, releasing heat into the outside air.
If the evaporator coils on the inside are unclean, they won't absorb as much heat and humidity in your home. And if the condenser coils outside are unclean, they won't be able to adequately discharge heat from your home.
If you let dirt to accumulate, your air conditioner will have to work harder and harder to remove heat from the air.
An overworked air conditioner caused by filthy AC coils can cause a number of issues:
1.Your air conditioner will likely need more energy to work at the same level, resulting in increased energy costs.
2.Your air conditioner's fan will run continuously.
3.Your air conditioner may not effectively cool your home.
4.Frozen coils, a full AC malfunction, and an expensive repair or replacement can all result from dirty coils. (That quickly escalated! But it is correct.)
To summarise, keeping your condenser and evaporator coils cleaner is vital for your air conditioner to perform properly—and to avoid a costly repair bill.
That means cleaning (or paying someone to clean) your air conditioner at least once a year.
So, how do you clean dirty AC coils? Well! We appreciate your inquiry.
Here are the tools and materials you'll need to clean your air conditioner coils.
When it comes to cleaning, it's tempting to just "wing it" (how difficult can it be?)., but obtaining the necessary tools before beginning an AC maintenance project is the most critical step—it's where you really set yourself up for success.
Even if you've never tried air conditioner repair before, you probably already have many (or all) of the necessary tools. Gather the following items before you begin:
AC coil cleaning tools and equipment
l Gloves
l Flashlight
l Drill or screwdriver
l scrubbing brush
l A fin comb (an affordable specialised brush that you probably don't have in your tool shed—order one ahead of time)
l Sprayer attachment for a hose
l Soap (see below!)
l A store hoover, particularly one with an extension wand.
A/C coil cleaner:
A word about AC unit soap! You basically have two choices:
1. Purchase a foamy cleaning product in a can from a hardware shop.
This is the only solution we can officially recommend. These soaps have been designed specifically for use on AC coils, and the foamy qualities in these products aid in the soap's adhesion while performing its function.
If you go this route, check for "AC foaming cleaner," and buy a couple cans to be safe. Keep your receipt and return anything you don't use!
2. Construct your own air conditioning coil cleaner.
You can also make your own AC cleaner. Many people do this, but you must use non-corrosive substances (vinegar is probably fine—nail polish remover is absolutely not), and give your AC unit an extra-thorough rinse at the end of the cleaning process.
A word of caution: there is no guarantee that your homemade air conditioning cleaner will not damage your unit. You do so fully at your own peril!
What to do if cleaning the AC coils does not resolve the issue
Unfortunately, cleaning the coils of your air conditioner does not always solve the problem.
If you've cleaned the coils but your air conditioner still isn't working properly, it may be time for a more serious repair, such as a coil replacement.
However, a word of caution about coil replacements: they are not cheap. In fact, depending on the type and model of your AC unit, they might be fairly costly. So, before you decide to replace the coils, think about whether it's time for a new AC unit altogether. (Here's how to tell if your MIJ TECH needs to be replaced.)
While that may appear to be a biassed suggestion, it is actually a matter of mathematics: The expense of coil replacement (together with the cost of ongoing maintenance and repairs for your ageing AC) can frequently exceed the cost of a new AC unit.
In the long term, upgrading to a newer, more efficient system (such as a heat pump) is often a better deal.
When should you replace your air conditioner?
Another option is that your AC's coils aren't the source of your problem. In truth, your AC unit could be experiencing a variety of different problems, such as:
l Filters that are dirty
l Condenser clogging
l Coils that have been cooled
l Low refrigerant levels Improper sizing Broken compressor
(Would you like to make a diagnosis? Learn more about why your air conditioner isn't working.)
Finally, and most importantly, if you've been experiencing ongoing cooling troubles (or unequal cooling in your home), there's a good possibility that your air conditioning isn't the problem—or, at the very least, isn't the sole problem.
If your home hasn't been professionally air sealed, at least some of your cooling problems are due to heat gain from air leaks.
If your attic or roof hasn't been insulated in the last ten years or so, hot air is almost probably infiltrating your home through the roof (hello, stale and stuffy air!).
Look below for a quick explanation of why and how air sealing and insulation work to keep your cool air inside.
It's also crucial to understand that insulation deteriorates with time,
so depending on the type of insulation you have and when it was
installed, it may be time for an upgrade. (Depending on when your
house was built, you may have uninsulated attics that you are unaware of.)
In fact, the most likely case is that you have a lot of difficulties that are interfering with your HVAC system.
And if that sounds overwhelming, don't worry—help is on the way.
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