Keeping your outdoor AC unit clean and free of debris is essential for ensuring that it works effectively. Using a hose to spray water on your AC unit can be an effective option for clearing away debris stuck to the sides of the unit. However, it’s generally not something that most experts recommend. One reason is that just spraying water on an AC unit isn’t effective enough to fully clean the condenser coil.
Even though the sensitive internal components and electronics inside an AC unit are designed to be waterproof, significant damage can result if water comes into contact with certain parts of the unit. These reasons are why it’s also best to have a technician clean your AC unit as part of an annual maintenance service. Here, we’ll explain the importance of keeping your AC unit clean and also discuss what other types of maintenance an AC system needs.
The Importance of Keeping an AC Condenser Clean
The fact that an AC condenser unit sits outside means that it will always collect dust and debris over time. This especially happens during the fall when you have lots of fallen leaves blowing around, which is why it’s best to have your AC cleaned and serviced in the spring before you turn it on. When there are lots of leaves and debris stuck to an AC unit or inside it, it can greatly restrict how much air the compressor fan can draw through the unit. This makes the AC system far less effective. This is because it constantly needs lots of air flowing through it and over the condenser coil to release the heat it captured from inside.
If the system can’t effectively release this heat, it prevents the refrigerant from again getting cool enough for the system to cool efficiently. This issue then leads to the system consuming more electricity. This is because it cools more slowly and takes a longer time to bring the temperature in your home back down to where it should be. It also puts much more strain on the compressor and can lead to the system shutting down due to overheating. If the compressor motor overheats, there is also a chance it could burn out or damage the nearby wiring and electrical components.
These issues are why it’s a good idea to regularly check the unit to make sure it isn’t clogged with debris. You also need to make sure to regularly trim any nearby grass and other vegetation so that there is two to three feet of clearance around the unit.
While keeping debris and vegetation away from your AC unit will help it work more effectively, it’s equally important that you have the condenser coil cleaned. The dust and debris that build up on the condenser coil act like a layer of insulation that prevents the air flowing through the unit from reaching the coil. This again makes it virtually impossible for the system to work effectively since it prevents it from releasing nearly as much heat.
While you can find coil cleaner in almost any home improvement store, we’d never recommend trying to clean the condenser coil in your AC unit yourself. Major damage can occur if you accidentally spray the coil cleaner on the compressor motor or other sensitive components. If you’re not extremely careful, you could also end up putting a hole in the coil and causing a refrigerant leak.
The fins on the coil can also be bent very easily, which is an issue since bent fins will also make the system work less effectively. There is one final reason why coil cleaning isn’t something you should attempt yourself. This is because the only way to access the coil is to disconnect and remove the fan from the top of the unit. If you’re not careful and don’t know what you’re doing, you’ll likely damage the fan and end up having to pay a few hundred dollars or more to have it repaired.
Why Evaporator Coil Cleaning Is Also Essential
While the condenser coil in the outdoor part of an AC system releases heat, the evaporator coil inside the home is responsible for capturing heat to lower the indoor air temperature. As with the condenser coil, your AC system won’t work nearly as well if you don’t have the evaporator coil cleaned at least once a year. Again, the issue is that dust insulates the coil and prevents the refrigerant from capturing nearly as much heat. This not only increases cooling times and leads to greater energy consumption, but it can also cause condensation on the coil to quickly begin freezing.
AC systems work to both cool and dehumidify the air flowing through them. An AC dehumidifies because moisture in the warm air always naturally condenses when the air comes into contact with the cold coil. There is a problem if the refrigerant isn’t capturing as much heat as it should. Then, the coil can get so cold that all the condensation freezes instead of dripping off the coil down into the drain pan.
If your AC ever does freeze, it will no longer be able to work until you shut it off and wait for all the ice on the coil to melt. As the ice melts, it can sometimes lead to the drain pan overflowing and water leaking out onto the floor. The bigger issue is that there is a high risk of the compressor motor burning out if you were to let the system continue to run when it’s frozen.
The Importance of Changing Your AC Air Filter
Another essential part of keeping your AC system properly maintained is to regularly change the air filter. This is something that you’ll normally need to do at least every three months or sometimes more frequently. Whenever you see that the filter is beginning to look darker colored or overly dirty, you should change it immediately to ensure your AC functions efficiently.
Neglecting to change the air filter in your AC system will make it cool far less effectively. That’s because a dirty air filter restricts airflow, which means the system won’t be able to effectively move air around your house or absorb as much heat. If the airflow is restricted, there is also a fairly high chance that the evaporator coil will freeze at times.
One other thing to note when it comes to AC air filters is that you need to make sure you’re not using a more efficient filter than your system can handle. Most systems can still work fairly well with up to a MERV 12 filter. But smaller, less powerful systems may only be able to work properly with a MERV 8 or MERV 10 filter. The more efficient an air filter is, the more it restricts airflow. That means using a filter that is too efficient will essentially lead to the same issues as running your AC with a filter that’s overly dirty and clogged.
Your Trusted AC Professionals
Since 2010, Landen Heating and Cooling has been helping residents in the Zebulon area with all of their air conditioning and heating needs. As the area’s leading HVAC company, we expertly can take care of your AC and heating maintenance, repair and installation or replacement requirements. Whether you need to have your AC cleaned and maintained or your HVAC replaced, contact us today to ensure the job gets done right.
