If HVAC talk seems like Greek to you, you are probably wondering a few things. What is a coil? Why is it so important? Why does it need a cleaning? This is understandable considering you've probably never seen your coil. Or at least you think you haven't.
The coils are an extremely important part of your air conditioner. They absorb heat and humidity from your home (the evaporator coil) and blow that heat outside (condenser coils.) In order for that operation to take place both efficiently and effectively, they must be clean. When the condenser coil is dirty, it can't do its job very well.
Since the condenser coil is located outside, it typically gets dirty faster being exposed to the elements. When landscaping, make sure to keep the debris off of the outdoor unit. Also, be very careful around the backside of it as that is where the line set is located. If the line set is punctured, you will lose the gas that cools the air. Your unit holds several pounds of this gas (varies by the system.) If all of the gas leaks out of the system, you're looking at a pretty costly repair.
Your evaporator coil is located inside. Although it's not exposed to the elements, it is exposed to the dust within your home. Let's say you forget to change your filter for a few months here or there, that dust is accumulating on your evaporator coil. Haven't had a duct cleaning in a while? There's more dust accumulation.
Still not convinced you need to get a coil cleaning? Consider this....beside the fact that your system can't function as efficiently as it could if they were clean, those dirty coils are the equivalent of what you're breathing in. You'll experience higher energy bills as the unit is having to work harder to keep you cool. The likelihood of a breakdown increases and worst of all, running your system with dirty coils will decrease the life of your system.
Always make sure a professional cleans your coils. Trying to DIY could lead to damaged coils as the fins are fragile. There are things that you can do yourself. Check those out here.
If you'd like to get a coil cleaning or have questions, give us a call at 770-672-6963 or visit our website.
