The evaporator coil in your AC unit is responsible for cooling the air in your home. It has the important job of carrying the refrigerant that pulls heat from the air. When something goes wrong with the evaporator coil, your AC can't cool your home as well and it may stop cooling altogether. Here's a closer look at how the evaporator coil works, what can go wrong with it, and how you can maintain it to prevent problems.
How AC Evaporator Coils Work
Your air conditioner circulates refrigerant from the condenser coil outside to the evaporator coil inside in a process that removes heat from your house and releases it outdoors. As the cold refrigerant circulates through the indoor coil, it pulls heat from air that flows through the air handler. This air passes through the filter first so it's as free from dust as possible. As the heat is pulled from the air, water condenses and drips into a pan to be drained away.
The temperature of the coil elevates during this process as the warm air heats the refrigerant, but when the refrigerant circulates outdoors, the heat is released and the condenser coil cools the refrigerant and starts the process all over.
What Can Go Wrong With Evaporator Coils
An evaporator coil can develop a tiny hole that allows refrigerant to leak. With low or no refrigerant in the coil, the air in your home won't be cooled down. When this happens, your AC may still blow air but it won't be cold. An air conditioning service can check the pressure of the refrigerant to determine if it's low, and if it is, they can locate the leak to repair it. Once there are no leaks, the refrigerant is filled and your AC works as it should.
Another common problem with evaporator coils happens when there is a build up of dust inside the air handler. When dust coats the coil, the dust insulates it and keeps the coil from cooling the air. This coat of insulation can even cause the coil to ice over. You may notice your AC isn't working, and when you check it, you find the coil covered in ice. An HVAC technician can fix this problem once the ice has melted by cleaning off the coil.
How To Maintain The Evaporator Coil
Fortunately, it's easy to prevent problems caused by a dirty air handler. Do this by changing the filter once a month or as often as recommended by the manufacturer. Also, remember to have an annual tuneup of your AC before the start of the cooling season. During this annual service call, the technician cleans the coil and air handler so you start the season with a clean system and little threat of a dirty coil causing an ice over or shut down that leaves you hot and miserable.
Share30 December 2019
I know it can be difficult to make yourself think about getting your furnace running when the skies are sunny and the temperatures are hovering around 90, but it is the best time for you to think about your heating system. Getting ahead of the winter preparation game will help to save on the cost of the repairs because the need for furnace maintenance is usually at a low during the fall season. This blog will show you what you can do to prepare your furnace for winter and when you should hire a professional HVAC technician to take care of it for you.