What’s a Condenser Coil?
Located outside of your house, the condensing unit contains many different components, including condenser coils. Condenser coils slow down the rate at which refrigerant (a liquid cooling agent) passes in front of a condenser fan. After arriving at the condensing unit, the refrigerant needs to be cooled down before returning to the indoor air conditioning system it just came from. This is so it can effectively absorb and carry the heat out of your house once it enters.
What’s an Evaporator Coil?
While the condenser coils help the refrigerant release excess heat into the outdoors, the air conditioner’s evaporator coils help the cooling agent absorb the unwanted hot air near the air handler. Your home’s air is pushed through the panels lined with fins by a compressor toward the evaporator coils. As this occurs, the compressor pulls the cold refrigerant through an expansion valve to release its pressure and further chill it. Once this is complete, the refrigerant flows through the evaporator coils and absorbs heat from the passing air.
Since the temperature of the evaporator coils is extremely cold, the temperature of the incoming air will start to decrease as it’s circulated through the coils. The coils are designed to absorb heat energy and transform the air in the system from a warm temperature to a cold temperature. Evaporator coils also reduce the humidity in your home. When the air’s water vapor touches these air conditioner coils, it turns into a liquid, drips down, and drains away to the outdoors.
3 Negative Consequences of Dirty Air Conditioner Condenser Coils
Learn why homeowners should keep their air conditioner condenser coils in tip-top shape.
Your Home Won’t Cool Correctly
The dirty substances that build up on your condenser coils can form a thick barrier that traps the heat within them. If the heat can’t be transferred to the air running outside, then the air coming into your house will be too hot.
Your Utility Bills Will Be High
The layer of dirt makes your air conditioning system work much harder to try to produce the same amount of cool air. Once the condenser coils in your air conditioner become dirty, the system will be required to use a higher amount of energy. This will cause your energy bills to increase .
Your Air Conditioner May Stop Working
This increased operational strain could cause damage to your air conditioner. Talk with a licensed technician about the advantages of cleaning the condenser coils in your central HVAC system.
Tips & Insights: What Are the Signs of a Malfunctioning Air Conditioner Compressor?
5 Ways To Maintain Your Air Conditioner Condenser Unit
Now that you know just how much damage a dirty condenser coil or related parts can cause, let’s go over some of the ways you can clean out your entire condenser unit.
Hire a Professional for Annual Maintenance
Call Snell Heating and Air Conditioning for a routine tune-up. You won’t have to worry about an AC breakdown in the summertime heat if you’re proactively getting it fixed up. Our repair guys can deep clean your unit, check for leaks, and perform maintenance that only an experienced professional could handle.
Remove Dirt and Debris in the Condenser Unit
Since your condenser unit is exposed to the outdoor elements, twigs, grass, leaves, dirt, trash, and other debris can easily get stuck in it as time goes on. To improve the performance of your air conditioner, remove the dirt and debris from the condenser coils and condenser unit to improve the circulation of air in your living space.
Remove Landscaping Near Your System
If you see any hedges, plants, and tall grass getting unwieldy around your condenser unit: get rid of them. The greenery planted too close prevents air from properly circulating in and out of your house.
Listen For Weird Sounds
If you notice a weird noise coming from your condenser unit, give the Snell team a call. Even if it seems like nothing, our technical team can take a look and find out what’s the cause and if there’s any damage.
Fix the Fins in Your Unit
The fins lining the panels in the condenser unit are susceptible to wind damage over time. Luckily, you can buy a condenser fin comb to straighten out any areas that have been bent out of shape. Just do so carefully.
Air Conditioner Repair & Replacement Services
Kick back and relax to the sound of cold air blasting throughout your house. Our licensed, certified technicians are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. We offer reliable air conditioning repair services to homes in Virginia. In addition, our staff offers innovative air conditioning installation services and will help you choose the correct model and capacity for your home. In addition, our team of technicians offers other types of HVAC services such as furnace repair, gas boiler maintenance, and whole-house humidifier installation. Book your air conditioning service appointment at (703) 543-9649 or go to our website.
Tips & Insights: Why is My Furnace Leaking Water & Ways to Fix