The Importance Of Keeping Air Conditioning Coils Clean
An air conditioning system contains two coils--the condenser coil and the evaporator coil--which are vital to its proper functioning. Should excessive amounts of dirt and debris be allowed to gather on the coils, your AC will simply not be able to cool your home as efficiently. If you would like to learn more about the importance of maintaining the air conditioning portion of your HVAC system, read on. This article will discuss the importance of keeping your air conditioning coils clean.
Coil Overview
The two coils in your air conditioning system play vastly different yet equally important roles. The condenser coil, which is located inside of the outdoor condenser unit, it utilized for transferring heat out of the system into the open air. The evaporator coil, on the other hand, is located inside of your home. Its job is to absorb heat from the air. This is accomplished thanks to the fact that condensed and super cold refrigerant is flowing through the coil.
Dirty Coil Problems
The effectiveness of both types of coil will be progressively impeded as dirt and gunk builds up on their outer wall. Such dirt prevents the transfer of heat--either from the inside of the coil to the outside, or from the outside of the coil to the inside. In effect, this dirt and grime acts as a layer of unwanted insulation, one that will end up requiring your system to work much harder than it should to accomplish a particular cooling task.
Unfortunately, the very design of a refrigerant coil makes it somewhat susceptible to dirt accumulation. That's because the tightly coiled metal tube offers plenty of nooks and crannies in which dust can land. The problem tends to be exacerbated by the fact that the coils accumulate a good deal of water as the result of vapor condensing from the air. This leads to the accumulation of a stubborn layer of grime. Such problems are especially pronounced for the condenser coil, thanks to its outdoor--and thus more exposed--location.
Dirty Coil Symptoms
As noted above, the most easily recognized symptom of a dirty coil is an air conditioner that seems to have to work much harder to achieve normal cooling. In other words, you may begin to notice that your AC starts running more frequently, and that it then remains running for much longer. This is a clear signal that you may be dealing with dirty coils. Contact a trustworthy repair professional, like Boyers R S Heating & Air Conditioning Inc, at your soonest convenience to schedule a cleaning. This simple maintenance act can save you large amounts of money as time goes on.
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