A few months ago, my air conditioner completely died. I woke up in the middle of the night covered in sweat, and I didn't know what to do. The next day, I called an HVAC expert, and they came out to inspect my system. It turned out that it had failed because of filthy filters and a clogged return duct, which made me sick to my stomach. I had caused the problem, and I needed to learn how to fix things. My HVAC professional taught me a few easy maintenance techniques that I didn't know before, so that I could maintain my new system. Check out this blog to learn more about HVAC yourself.
Condenser coils are exposed to the elements, which means that bugs, leaves, and all sorts of yard debris can get caught in your coils. Dirty coils may not seem like a big deal, but they can reduce your overall system efficiency by up to 30%. Thus, in order to keep your system running at the optimum level and save yourself money, you need to know how to clean your coils.
How Dirty Coils Cause Problems
AC coils are designed to push air through the small cracks between the fins that they are made from. As the air moves through condenser coils, it absorbs heat from the fins, which in turn absorb heat from the refrigerant running through them. Thus, the coils are able to cool refrigerant enough that it returns to a liquid state and is ready to cycle back to the evaporator unit inside your house. As dust builds up on your coils, it acts as an insulator that prevents the air from absorbing heat from the coils. If you get too much dirt and grime built up on your coils, it can actually stop airflow altogether. Thus, it is in your best interest to inspect your condenser coils regularly and clean as necessary.
How to Clean Your Coils
Use the following steps to clean your condenser coils:
1. Remove the screws that hold the protective grid that surrounds your coils in place. Make sure to put these screws in a safe place where you can easily find them again.
2. Remove the protective grid and set it to one side.
3. Spray your coils with a coil cleaner and wait for several minutes to allow the solvents in the cleaner to break down that grime built up on your coils.
4. Scrub your coils clean with a stiff-bristle brush.
5. Use a fin comb to straighten and clean in between the fins.
6. Gently rinse your coils with a hose.
7. Put the protective grid back in place.
8. Put the screws that hold the grid back.
The above steps should illustrate that cleaning condenser coils is not terribly complicated. Any homeowner who is handy with a screwdriver and a hose should be able to accomplish the task. Thus, you should be able to save yourself some money and clean your own coils rather than call in an AC technician to do the job. On the other hand, if you think your AC unit might need more maintenance than a simple coil cleaning, you should call in an expert to give your unit a thorough tuneup. After all, the key to keeping your cooling costs in check is to ensure that your system is running as effectively as possible. Visit a site like http://www.getzschman.com for more information.
Share11 August 2016
