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Most air conditioning systems will have two sets of coils – the evaporator coil and the condenser coil. These coils play vital roles in the air conditioning process. Both the evaporator and condenser coils may look similar, but their location and function within the HVAC system are different.
Evaporator and condenser coils are usually made of copper tubing, which conducts heat easily. The coils are surrounded by a series of thin, aluminum strips called fins for improved heat transfer. The coil fins are delicate in nature and must not get bent or damaged during the coil cleaning process.
Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil, also known as the cooling coil, is located on the air intake side of the fan in your split system air conditioner’s indoor unit. The indoor evaporator coil removes heat and moisture from indoor air by absorbing heat as warm air passes over them so the blower fan can return cool air.
Condenser Coil
The condenser coil can be found in the outdoor unit of your split air conditioning system or on the back of your window-type aircon. The outdoor condensing coil takes the captured heat and releases it into the surrounding air outside with the help of an exhaust fan.
Air conditioning coil cleaning is an important part of the HVAC maintenance routine. With regular air conditioner coil cleaning, your A/C unit will maintain its efficiency, extend its system’s life expectancy for years longer, and save you money.
Due to the tight spaces between coil fins, dust, dirt, debris, and even mould, mildew, fungus and bacteria can build up on the coil surfaces. Without proper HVAC maintenance, over time this buildup will affect your air conditioning unit’s performance negatively, working harder than intended, resulting in a shorter life span, an increase in electricity bills and potentially expensive repairs.
1. Dirty coils reduce comfort
The coils in your air conditioning system play an important role in the cooling process by removing unwanted and uncomfortable heat and humidity from the indoor air and releasing it outside. Dirty coils reduce the system’s ability to transfer heat efficiently, causing a higher level of humidity inside your space and less overall indoor comfort.
2. Maintain air conditioning system efficiency
With dirty coils, your A/C system is forced to work harder and longer than its normal operation to achieve the desired indoor comfort. A less efficient heat transfer process means you are spending more money to keep the maximum level of comfort inside your space.
3. Reduce operating temperatures
The dirt buildup on the coil’s surface can block the airflow making the compressors and fans work double time with increased operating temperatures, causing stress to the entire system.
4. Save on maintenance and repairs
A blocked aircon coil surface causes undue stress in the system and can result in system breakdowns if the coils are not cleaned and maintained. In this case, the best solution is to hire a trusted HVAC professional to diagnose and repair which costs more. Worst case, you may need to replace the entire system.
While evaporator coils and condenser coils can be cleaned using a low-pressure sprayer with a solution of water and mild household detergent, a lot of coil cleaning solutions are commercially available on the market including foaming aircon coil cleaner spray. Air conditioner coil cleaners are formulated specifically to remove the grime and gunk from the coils. There are heavy duty coils cleaners available especially for cleaning the condenser coils only. It is best to familiarize yourself with the types of air con coil cleaners depending on the acidity, alkalinity, strengths, colours and application and more importantly the safety practices in handling it.
It may seem like a potential home DIY project but Cool Tools HVAC-R always recommend hiring an expert who is trained on how to clean air con coils. Upon inspection, your local HVAC technician will determine the correct method of coil cleaning following your air conditioning unit’s manufacturer’s recommendations. Your trusted HVAC technician may use several types or combinations of AC coil cleaners that meet the specifications of your air conditioning unit.
Cool Tools offers the best air conditioner coil cleaners for indoor evaporator coils and outdoor condenser coils from residential to industrial coil cleaning. We put together a wide variety of air con coil cleaning products including Viper coil cleaners, foam coil cleaner sprays, tablets, concentrate solutions, no-rinse formula, and heady-duty coil cleaning chemicals from the best and most popular brands in Australia such as Mizu, AIRCONcare, SpeedClean, Errecom, Hydrocell and more. You will also find useful and top quality coil cleaning supplies like spray bottles and long nozzle sprayers here.
If you are after a cleaning kit, Cool Tools also offers air conditioner cleaning kits for any home do-it-yourself or professional air conditioning cleaning services. You will find the best AC cleaning supplies depending on your requirements and price range here. Check out our range now.
