3 Signs of a Dirty Evaporator Coil

When Is Evaporator Coil Cleaning Needed?

AC evaporator coils may just be a single component out of many others that make an air conditioner function properly. However, it's a crucial part of cooling a home. They work by absorbing the heat from the indoor air that passes through the coils made of copper tubing. Inside the tubes is a liquid refrigerant that helps cool the air, transforming it into a gas that is then passed on to the outdoor compressor, where heat is released.

It is a no-brainer then that homeowners should invest in keeping this component in tip-top shape to get the most out of their AC’s cooling capacity, and the best way to do this is to ensure that the evaporator coils are cleaned professionally. Typically, this is done during routine maintenance. However, if the evaporator coils get dirty, they should be cleaned. To determine if evaporator coil cleaning services are needed, homeowners can watch for the following three signs.

Insufficient Cooling

One of the easiest ways to tell that the AC’s coils may be dirty is if the air conditioner is no longer cooling the home sufficiently. Because the AC coils are primarily responsible for removing the heat indoors, dirty evaporator coils won’t function properly, leading to issues with cooling. 

A dirty evaporator coil covered in dust and debris can have trouble absorbing heat. It can cause home comfort to suffer, so if homeowners notice their home doesn’t get cool enough, they may need their evaporator coils cleaned. This should be one of the most apparent indicators of issues with the evaporator coil.

Frozen Evaporator Coil

Another red flag for AC coils is the presence of frost on them. This usually happens because dirt and dust tend to accumulate on the surface of the copper tubing, reducing its ability to absorb heat. In some cases, this causes moisture to build up on the coils’ surface, which then freezes because of the refrigerant running through the tubes. 

This frozen layer then prevents the copper tubing from absorbing heat and compromises the cooling function of the air conditioning system. So, seeing frozen coils can also indicate to homeowners that they need evaporator coil cleaning. Frozen coils could also be caused by other issues, such as low refrigerant levels in the coils due to a refrigerant leak, which technicians can catch when they inspect the system.

The AC Is Constantly Running

Homeowners concerned that their AC systems are running longer cycles just to achieve their desired temperatures may want to look into the cleanliness of the evaporator coils to get to the root of the problem. Dirty evaporator coils can be the culprit for insufficient cooling, and AC units can compensate for this reduced cooling capacity by staying on for longer periods. 

While running longer cycles may eventually get homes to the temperature homeowners have set, it is inefficient and costly. Allowing the air conditioner to stay on for unusually long periods can cause energy bills to skyrocket, not to mention the wear and tear that can be added to the unit when it is forced to function inefficiently. This added stress on the machine can lead to breakdowns that may result in unnecessarily expensive repairs or untimely replacements.

About Tiger Temperature

Tiger Temperature is a heating and air conditioning company serving Thibodaux and the surrounding areas. They offer honest pricing, fast response times, and beneficial maintenance plans. Call them today for AC evaporator coil services in Thibodaux, LA.

Contact Information:

Tiger Temperature

201 Cedar Tree Drive
Thibodaux, LA 70301
United States

Alysa Hebert
(985) 492-7295
https://www.tigertemperature.com/