Your air conditioning unit consists of an indoor evaporator and an outdoor condenser. Each of these units contains a coil that allows refrigerant to continuously flow and change from a liquid to a gaseous state as it pulls heat from the home and disperses it outside. The evaporator coil is the part responsible for absorbing the heat from the passing air so that the remaining air blown into the home is nice and cool. Knowing when to replace this part will ensure your system continues to produce cold air. 

Where Is the Evaporator Coil Located?

In a traditional HVAC setup, the evaporator coil is found inside the air conditioning unit’s air handler, which is normally sitting above or near the furnace. It consists of copper, steel, or aluminum tubes bent into U-shapes and set into panels that are usually positioned into an “A” shape.

The panels are also lined with thin, metal fins, which pull the passing air closer to the coils to maximize the cold, liquid refrigerant’s effect. 

How to Determine When to Replace the Evaporator Coil?

At least once a year, ideally before turning on your air conditioning unit for the season, the evaporator coil should be cleaned and inspected. A dirty or damaged coil can have problems absorbing heat and can potentially freeze over. As a result, the air conditioner will run for longer periods of time and kick on more frequently to maintain the indoor thermostat setting. 

Under normal circumstances, regularly cleaning the coil is enough to keep it working efficiently throughout the end of the air conditioner’s life cycle. It’s often not very cost-effective to replace the evaporator coil in a system that’s eight or more years old.

At this point, the part is likely very outdated or obsolete. However, if you’re early into the system’s life, and the coil has corroded and is leaking refrigerant, replacing the part is better than continuously having the system recharged with refrigerant. 

Symptoms of a refrigerant leak include decreased cooling inside the home, increased system running times, and a spike in recent utility bills. You might also notice rust or holes on the coil tubing and metal fins. Sometimes a damaged evaporator coil will also make a banging or hissing sound. 

If you suspect your evaporator coil is failing, turn to Strouth & Son’s Heating and Air Conditioning to determine the best solution for your air conditioning unit. This locally owned HVAC company provides heating and air conditioning repair and installation services to homes and businesses in Liberty, NC. Their expert technicians can properly diagnose any issue and will use high-quality equipment to fix it. Call them today at (336) 524-3868 to schedule an appointment and visit their website to learn more about their services.