3 Good Reasons to Keep Those Coils Clean

Posted on: 22 April 2019

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When was the last time you gave your A/C system a thorough cleaning? As a responsible owner, air filter changes and the occasional ductwork cleaning are always on your maintenance to-do list. Unfortunately, other parts of your A/C system, such as the evaporator and condenser coils, might not get the same level of attention.

Make no mistake—the evaporator and condenser coils are essential to your A/C system's performance and longevity. Here are a few reasons why they could use a thorough cleaning before the start of each cooling season.

1. Clogged Coils Can Kill Cooling Performance

The evaporator and condenser coils exist to move heat from inside your home and transfer it via refrigerant to the outdoors. Both coils rely on steady airflow between the coil fins to extract and release heat. Dust and debris accumulation on either coil can prevent heat transfer from happening, which in turn hampers your A/C system's performance. In short, your A/C system can't keep your home cool if dust, dirt, grass clippings or mulch come into contact with either coil.

2. Dirty Coils Also Waste Energy

When either coil becomes caked with debris, your A/C system compensates by working harder to deliver the same level as before. The harder your A/C system works, the more energy it'll consume in the process. Your A/C compressor's energy usage can spike by as much as 30 percent because of a dirty condenser coil. Clean coils help reduce your A/C system's energy consumption by making it easier for your system to operate as efficiently as possible.

3. Dirty Coils Can Impact Indoor Air Quality

Keeping your home's indoor air quality in check takes more than changing out an air filter or improving your home's fresh air circulation. A dirty evaporator coil can deliver an unnoticed and unexpected hit to your indoor air quality. Dirty coils can turn into safe havens for pollen, pet dander, mold spores and other airborne particles that could trigger allergic reactions and make illnesses more likely.

Dirty coils can also get in the way of the dehumidification process. That's right—your A/C system also acts as a dehumidifier, pulling excess moisture out of the air as it removes heat. Too much moisture makes it easier for airborne viruses and mold spores to spread, not to mention that overly humid air is also hard to seek cooling relief from. Overall, dirty coils can leave your home stuffy and its indoor air unsafe due to a host of airborne pollutants. 

To learn more about air conditioning maintenance, contact local HVAC contractors.