Maximizing AC Performance: The Critical Role of Evaporator and Condenser Coils

Evaporator coils and condenser coils are some of the most important parts found in the air conditioning systems in Burlington, NC, homes. If you don’t make it a point to maintain these coils, it could take a huge toll on your AC system performance and even hurt your system’s energy efficiency.

Discover more about evaporator and condenser coils below and find maintenance and cleaning tips for these systems. 

Understanding the Functions of Evaporator and Condenser Coils

Your AC’s evaporator and condenser coils play vital roles in the effectiveness of your system as a whole. However, they operate in very different ways. By getting a better understanding of what they each do, you’ll gain a new appreciation for just how hard they work to keep your home cool.

Evaporator Coils 

The evaporator coil in your AC system is one of the first parts to come into contact with the air that will cool your home. Your AC system is designed to pull in air from your house and run it over the evaporator coil, typically located somewhere inside your home. This coil specializes in heat absorption and can remove heat from the air in your home using the refrigerant found in your system.

This refrigerant will evaporate as air passes over the evaporator coil and go from being a liquid to a gas. It enables the evaporator coil to remove heat from indoor air and cool it off before it makes its way through your ductwork and into the various parts of your home.

Condenser Coils 

The condenser coil in your AC system, meanwhile, is responsible for heat dissipation. Its job is to take the heat the evaporator coil has collected and remove it from your home to ensure it stays cool.

During refrigerant circulation, the gaseous refrigerant utilized to gather heat from the evaporator coil will work its way through your AC system and make it to the condenser coil located in the outdoor portion of your system. The condenser coil is designed to take the refrigerant and convert it from a gas back into a liquid while simultaneously releasing the heat in it outside.

Both the evaporator coil and condenser coil in your home’s AC system will affect everything from its airflow efficiency to its ability to perform humidity control. These critical components must remain in good working order at all times.

Importance of Properly Maintaining Evaporator and Condenser Coils

Since evaporator coils and condenser coils are so important to the well-being of AC systems, you’ll need to get into the habit of maintaining these coils early and often. Over time, dirt, dust, and other debris can build up on these coils and stop them from effectively removing heat from the air that passes through your AC system. This can prevent your AC system from sustaining a successful cooling cycle every time you turn it on. 

Arranging for a licensed HVAC technician to clean, inspect, and maintain your Burlington, NC, home’s AC system will help you avoid running into issues with your evaporator and condenser coils. It’ll also allow your AC system to achieve peak performance so that your house stays cool on even the warmest days.

Impact of Dirty Evaporator and Condenser Coils on AC Efficiency

If your home’s AC system isn’t as efficient as it should be, it could result in you spending more money than you should have on cooling your house. It could also lead to the need for extensive AC repairs down the line and possibly even AC replacement. Dirty evaporator and condenser coils will get coated with debris, which will insulate these coils and stop them from being able to absorb and dissipate heat. This can lead to:

• Reduced cooling capacity.
• Increased energy consumption.
• Higher utility bills.

It can also lead to your evaporator coil freezing if you’re not careful. A dirty evaporator coil can result in a lack of airflow, which can cause it to begin to freeze. Practicing evaporator coil freezing prevention can be as simple as cleaning this coil to reduce the chances of it freezing on you.

Homeowners can steer clear of all these potential pitfalls by scheduling an inspection and cleaning of their evaporator and condenser coils with an HVAC professional. It’ll work wonders for your home’s AC system and your overall peace of mind since you won’t have to constantly worry about your AC system not working in the way it should.

Best Practices for Maintaining Evaporator and Condenser Coils

When it comes to deep cleaning the evaporator and condenser coils in your home’s AC system, you should lean on an HVAC technician to get the job done right. You can also take several steps on your own to help maintain these coils. Here are a few of the best practices for those interested in maintaining evaporator and condenser coils:

• Replace the air filters in your AC system regularly to stop dirt, dust, and debris from reaching your coils.
• Use coil cleaning solutions and stiff brushes to remove stubborn dirt and grime from your coils.
• Trim grass, weeds, bushes, and other vegetation that might come close to touching the outdoor portion of your home’s AC system.
• Monitor your evaporator and condenser coils for any signs of corrosion, leaks, and other damage.
• Schedule professional AC system maintenance to keep your evaporator and condenser coils clean.

The harder you work to maintain your evaporator and condenser coils, the better they’ll perform when you turn your AC system on to cool your home.

Start Taking Better Care of Your AC System’s Evaporator Coils and Condenser Coils

Far too often, homeowners in Burlington, NC, neglect their evaporator coils and condenser coils and don’t realize there is an issue with them until it’s too late. If you’d like to avoid finding yourself in a situation where your AC system isn’t working effectively because of dirty coils, Barber Heating & Air can help.

Reach out to us today at 336-226-6959 to schedule maintenance for your evaporator and condenser coils. We’ll perform a full system inspection and evaluation and set it up for a reliable season of cooling ahead.