With summer just around the corner, you’re likely getting ready to turn on your air conditioning unit. Before you do so, perform some preventative maintenance to ensure that your appliance runs efficiently. One area to pay special attention to is the evaporator coil, which you can learn more about below. 

The Role of an Evaporator Coil

A vital part of your air conditioning unit, an evaporator coil regulates the temperature in your home. The component rests inside the air handler. Its metal tubing contains a liquid called refrigerant, which comes out of the expansion valve cool. 

When the blower fan sends warm inside air over the coil, the refrigerant absorbs the heat, turning from a liquid to a gas in the process. Since hot air is often moist, air conditioning units also dehumidify your home to some extent.

Common Problems

Over time, the blower motor may malfunction, causing you to have weak airflow from your unit—or no airflow at all.

Alternatively, because the refrigerant inside the tubing is so cold, the evaporator coil can easily freeze. This causes certain components to become blocked, which can stop your air conditioning unit from producing cool air. Your home may even get warmer when the AC is on. Certain parts can also get worn down from trying to work around the blockage, resulting in the need for premature replacement.

How to Maintain Your Evaporator Coil

For the evaporator coil to cool your home well without using excess electricity, it requires maintenance. First, you have to loosen the access panel on your air handler. Then, use a small non-wire brush to remove dirt and debris. If you feel uncomfortable doing this yourself, have an HVAC professional perform this task every three months to a year.

While some ACs leak naturally—as a result of pulling moisture from the air—in some cases, drips from your unit may be refrigerant, not water, so have this investigated.

You should also have your evaporator coil inspected on an annual basis. The technician will identify early signs of problems so they can be fixed before they do further damage.

 

If you have more questions about your air conditioning unit, turn to the professionals at Critical Air in Sugar Land, TX. The locally owned and operated company offers comprehensive and affordable heating and air conditioning services. They’re available to serve their customers seven days a week and utilize the latest technology in the industry. To set an appointment, call (281) 468-4250. Visit their website to learn more about their services.