When you rely on an air conditioning unit to cool a space, whether it’s your home or business, having it break can be extremely uncomfortable. Depending on how hot it is outside, you or your patrons might feel miserable – and that’s not good for business.
Unfortunately, air conditioners break down all the time, often because the components get overworked and stressed on really hot days. It’s impossible to avoid breakdowns completely, but with the right A/C unit, you can avoid the majority of them. With just a little research on what makes an A/C unit more reliable, you’ll discover a handful of factors you probably weren’t aware of before. One important factor to consider is the quality of your A/C’s evaporator coils.
What are evaporator coils?
The evaporator coils in your air conditioner absorb heat from the air inside the space you want to cool, and transfer it outside. Traditionally, evaporator coils are a network of copper tubes with fins designed to maximize contact between the coolant and warm air. As the warm air passes over the coil, the refrigerant evaporates, simultaneously removing heat from the air and cooling it down.
Maintaining your A/C’s evaporator coils is essential to keep your system running efficiently. If you don’t clean your coils regularly, they’ll continue to become dirtier, and this can cause an increase in energy consumption by around 30%. An overworked unit can overheat and damage the internal mechanical components.
The quality of your evaporator coils matters
When you think about quality evaporator coils, it’s not just about material, but also about the overall design. For instance, when it comes to high-quality evaporator coils, traditional copper coils lack energy efficiency compared to microchannel evaporators. The heat transfer is more efficient, which improves cooling. This technology reduces the amount of refrigerant used and makes leaks less likely. Microchannel designs are also lightweight and more compact than copper tubes. Finally, microchannel technology is resistant to corrosion, which reduces the need for maintenance and creates a longer lifespan.
Signs that there’s a problem with your evaporator coils
These are the most common indicators that something is wrong with your evaporator coils:
- You’re getting warm air from vents
- Your energy bills are higher than usual without a rate increase
- You hear hissing of bubbling noises
- Refrigerant leaks.
Your air conditioner can’t cool the air if your evaporator coils aren’t functioning properly. If they’re broken or dirty, they either won’t work at all or will barely function. For example, you might have a consistent airflow, but the temperature of that air will be warm.
How a dirty evaporator coil impacts your air conditioner
When an evaporator coil collects dust and dirt, it creates a barrier that prevents air from reaching the coil, which halts the whole process. This will result either in a non-functional A/C or one that has to work really hard just to keep your space slightly cool. Most of the time, a dirty evaporator coil won’t cool a space to its full potential.
Dirty and broken evaporator coils cost you more
Having an inefficient A/C unit will result in higher maintenance costs and higher utility bills. This is often the reason people see a drastic increase in their energy bills in the summer when the utility company hasn’t raised rates.
The worst part is the potential for experiencing a breakdown that requires expensive repairs or even a replacement. The harder your A/C has to work to do a basic job, the more strain it puts on the unit overall, which can lead to excessive wear and mechanical failure.
It’s crucial to have your air conditioning unit professionally serviced
The good news is that evaporator coils can be cleaned, but the task requires opening up the unit, and due to the fragile nature of the inner components, it’s not a DIY job. However, you can make a big difference by keeping your air filters clean. Dirty air filters will pass collected dust directly onto the coils, so cleaning your air filters is a must. Still, it’s a good idea to hire a professional HVAC technician to service your unit and clean your coils periodically.
Proper evaporator coil care will keep your A/C in good working order
To maintain your air conditioning unit in good shape, proper coil care is crucial. Keep the air filter clean and get your unit professionally serviced on a regular maintenance schedule to avoid preventable breakdowns.
