How to Clean AC Evaporator Coils Inside the House

AC Evaporator Coils Cleaning Guide 2022

Regular maintenance is essential to ensure your air conditioner continues to function correctly. There are many aspects of your air conditioning system that should be maintained to prevent further problems. One of the main components is the evaporator coil.

 

What is the evaporator coil?

AC evaporator coils have a very specific function. Effectively, your evaporator coil works by capturing heat from inside your home. They are commonly found inside your house and they operate in conjunction with the condenser coils in your air conditioner. When heat is captured by the evaporator coil, it is converted by the condenser coil into the cold air that is dispersed outside of your air conditioner. 

Essentially, if your AC evaporator coils are broken or don’t work correctly, your entire AC unit will stop being effective. These coils are critical to take hot air and cool it down. An ac evaporator coil is also responsible for reducing the humidity in your home. Again, it works with the condenser coils to take air and cool it down. But, when there’s moisture in the air, these coils condense it down and remove the moisture from the atmosphere. This is super helpful when dealing with high humidity levels and preventing dampness. 

How do you clean an evaporator coil?

Clearly, you need to prevent your air conditioning system from breaking down or being ineffective. 

So, how do you clean the evaporator coils and prevent them from getting dirty? 

For starters, it’s important to know how frequently you should conduct maintenance on a dirty evaporator coil. Generally, it’s a good idea to do this every month during the hotter periods of the year when you’ll use your AC unit every day. 

With that in mind, here are the steps you should follow: 

Step 1: Open your AC unit

Go to your indoor air handling unit and locate the access panel. It’s a good idea to view the owner’s manual to know how to do this, just in case this is the first time you’ve done it. 

Of course, make sure the air conditioner is turned off before you remove the panel. You will likely need to remove a few screws, so be sure you keep them in a safe place to put back later. 

Step 2: Use compressed air

Get your hands on a compressed air can to clean your evaporator coils. You should be able to see the coils as soon as you open the access panel. If you’re struggling to locate them, consult the owner’s manual yet again. 

From here, you can spray the compressed air onto the dirty evaporator coil. A lot of dirt and dust should blow away from the AC unit when you do this. One pro tip is to blow the air from the cleaner side of the coil out to the dirtier side. This stops you from accidentally blowing more dirt and dust onto the cleaner part of the coils. 

Step 3: Get a brush

Next, you should find a soft brush to help wipe the evaporator and condenser coils in your air conditioner. Compressed air is good at removing loose debris, but a really dirty AC system may need some extra help to keep it clean. 

Using the brush, wipe the coils and try to remove as much dirt as you can. If you do this regularly, you’ll find that most of the dirt is removed right away. But, on your first attempt, it will be tricky – which is why you may need step four as well. 

Step 4: Use cleaning products

You can find various cleaning products that are fine to use in air conditioning systems. Typically, they drain away through the system’s drainage components. Alternatively, you can use water and a light detergent. 

Only use cleaning products and a soft cloth if your evaporator coils are very dirty. If your brush and compressed air don’t do the trick, this will remove the stubborn grime from the coils. 

After this, you simply go back to step one and do the reverse. Screw the access panel back onto the air conditioner, and turn your unit on. 

That’s all there is to it! Cleaning your AC evaporator coils inside the house is a lot easier than you think. This is a crucial maintenance task to prevent efficiency issues with your air conditioner. Dirty coils can make the system work incorrectly and cause your energy bills to go up. Commit to cleaning once a month during the summer and it will be easier every single time.