When it’s time to talk about HVAC, there may be a lot of terms you aren’t familiar with. One of the most common, and most important, is your condenser coil. You may not know exactly what it is, or why dirty condenser coils can cause major problems. In this post, we’ll discuss what they are, why it’s important to keep them clean, and how City Plumbing can help.
WHAT IS A CONDENSER COIL?
Condenser coils are found in your HVAC’s outside unit. When the system is on, and heat is being sucked out of your home and pushed outside, the refrigerant travels through the condenser coils. As the unit blows air over the condenser coils, the heat is transferred outside, then blown out through the fan.
WHAT CAUSES COILS TO GET DIRTY?
The condenser coils are subject to a lot of wear and tear. Being outside, dust, dirt, and other debris blowing around your unit can attach itself inside. Any dirt or particles in the air that your unit pulls from inside your home will also stick to the condenser. The dirt will naturally build up until you clean it.
WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF DIRTY CONDENSER COILS?
- When the dirt starts to build up, your home won’t cool properly. The layer of dirt prevents them from working properly, making it harder for heat to transfer from the coils to the outside air. That means more of the heat will stay inside your home.
- Dirty coils can also result in higher energy bills. If your coils are dirty and not working, you’ll likely try to counter that by blasting your A/C to try to stay comfortable. Unfortunately, this drives your bills up and probably won’t make you much cooler.
- If you continue pushing the system, it will eventually break down. The system can reach a point where it’s working so hard, that elements of it will overheat and stop working completely. Then you’re in real trouble!
HOW DO YOU KEEP CONDENSER COILS CLEAN?
- The best way to maintain your condenser coils is by leaving it up to the pros! A semi-annual tune-up will work wonders for your HVAC system in both the long and short term. Part of our routine maintenance check involves cleaning the entire condenser unit.
- One thing you can easily do on your own is clear the area around your exterior unit. That means trimming back bushes or brush and sweeping away leaves or other debris that can build up and block airflow to the area surrounding the unit.
- It may sound silly but listen for unusual sounds coming from the unit. Anything like a grinding or clicking sound, or anything out of the ordinary could be a sign of a problem.
- The blades of the fan can bend over time for a variety of reasons. These can be replaced or repaired to help improve efficiency.
WE’LL COME RUNNING
The fall is the perfect time to get your HVAC checked out and make sure you’re prepared for the switch from cooling to heating your home! Our Fall Clean & Check is only $89.99 and is the best way to ensure your condenser coil is clean and your system continues running optimally. Make an appointment online, or contact City Plumbing today at (432) 366-2401. Give us a call, and we’ll come running!
