Nobody wants their AC to break down. In the hot temperatures that come with the summer months in Plano, Texas, it is important that your AC unit is functioning properly. Part of properly maintaining your AC system involves knowing how it functions and what issues can arise, especially when it comes to one of the system’s most important mechanisms — the evaporator coil.
What is an Evaporator Coil?
The evaporator coil is the component in your AC system that absorbs the heat from the air inside your home. It is often either attached to your furnace or located on the inside of your air handler. It works with a condenser coil to complete the heat exchange process that produces cool air.
How Does it Work?
The evaporator coil is full of evaporated refrigerant that the compressor pumps to the metering device as a liquid then into the evaporator. The air that is pushed through the coil from the blower fan will move over the coil where the refrigerant in the evaporator will absorb the heat.
Why is a Clean Evaporator Coil Important?
Keeping your evaporator coil clean and well-maintained is crucial to maintaining the efficiency of your system. Dirty coils can increase the energy use of your AC unit by up to 30 percent. Poorly maintained coils can also cause other problems with the system, such as poor cooling performance due to reduced heat transfer, frozen coils, and an overheating compressor.
How Can I Prevent Dirty Evaporator Coils?
You can keep your evaporator coils clean and help them perform better by changing your air filter at least once a month. When your filter becomes too clogged, the dirt and dust will begin to settle on the evaporator coils instead of the air filter. You should also schedule HVAC maintenance once or twice a year so that your evaporator coil can be properly cleaned and inspected.
Are you unsure if your evaporator coil is working properly, or think it’s in need of cleaning? Contact Samm’s Heating and Air Conditioning at (214) 251-4438 today to schedule a maintenance visit. One of our experienced technicians will service your system so it can continue to run as efficiently as possible.
