What does an evaporator coil do?

The role of the evaporator coil

Located inside the blower compartment or air handler, the evaporator coil holds the chilled refrigerant that the compressor moves into it. As the air from the blower fan moves over the coil, the cold refrigerant removes the heat from your home's air.

What are the two main functions of the evaporator coil?

The evaporator coils help in the occurrence of the process of heat transfer, and as a result a cold surface created. The blower attached with your air conditioner, moves the air and also creates the cool conditioned air which decreases the temperature inside your house or any other building.

What happens if the evaporator coil is clogged?

An extremely dirty evaporator coil can cause your AC to breakdown completely. This happens when condensation forms on the dirt and then freezes during the AC's operation. The buildup of frost stops the heat transfer with the air in your home, which causes the air conditioner to stop cooling air at all.

What are the symptoms of a dirty evaporator coil?

Is it worth replacing evaporator coil?

You should replace the entire unit when…

Air conditioners last anywhere from 10 to 12 years. That said, if your AC is nearing 8 years old, replacing just the evaporator coil would be like putting a brand new engine into a dying car—it's just not worth the money.

Evaporator 101

Can I replace an evaporator coil myself?

Some technicians charge anywhere from $800 to $1,500 to do this. While we suggest hiring a professional to replace evaporator coils, here's an idea of what you can expect, if you want to try it yourself.

How often should evaporator coils be cleaned?

At times, evaporator coils can collect debris and dirt quickly, so monthly cleaning may be needed. Typically, however, evaporator coils need to be cleaned every three months. Without proper care and upkeep, you can end up spending money on air conditioner repair as opposed to maintenance.

What is the difference between condenser coil and evaporator coil?

Evaporator Coils vs. Condenser Coils. The evaporator coil is the part of an air-conditioning system that removes heat and moisture from indoor air to cool it. The condenser coil takes that heat and releases it outside.

How do you clear a clogged evaporator coil?

Mix warm water and a simple detergent in a spray bottle, hand sprayer, or garden sprayer. Apply the water and detergent solution to the evaporator coils. Give the solution a few seconds to a few minutes to soak in and loosen debris. Reapply as needed.

Can Dirty coils cause AC to stop working?

If your coils are dirty, they won't be able to work properly and your AC will work longer and harder than it should. The more your AC strains, the more likely it is that your AC will break down.

Can Dirty coils affect cooling?

A dirty condenser coil with have a reduced ability to transfer heat to the outside air and this can lead to a less effective cooling system. A person that is using an air conditioner that has a dirty condenser coil may find that the unit no longer provides adequate cooling to the structure.

What does evaporator do in refrigerator?

The evaporator is located inside a refrigerator and is the part that makes the items in the refrigerator cold. As the refrigerant turns from a liquid into a gas through evaporation, it cools the area around it, producing the proper environment for storing food.

What is the function of an evaporator in a refrigerator?

The evaporator is the second heat exchanger in a standard refrigeration circuit, and like the condenser, it's named for its basic function. It serves as the “business end” of a refrigeration cycle, given that it does what we expect air conditioning to do – absorb heat.

Is the evaporator coil inside or outside?

The evaporator coil is the part of the air conditioning system that sits inside of your home near the air handler and is where the refrigerant absorbs heat. The evaporator coil uses U-shaped metallic tubes that easily conduct the heat the refrigerant flows through. Metal "fins" are located on the outside of the coils.

Can I clean my AC coils yourself?

While there are a number of commercially available coil cleaning solutions on the market, air conditioner coils can be cleaned with a solution of a mild household detergent and water. The detergent and water mix is applied to the coil using a low-pressure sprayer.

How do I stop my air conditioner from freezing up?

Is AC coil cleaning worth it?

Surprisingly, we found that dirty air conditioner condensers often perform better than clean ones. The change in condenser coil heat transfer performance ranged from a 7 percent increase to a 7 percent decrease for the coils we tested. The average change was … none at all.

How do I know if my evaporator is leaking?

To verify if a leak exists, before removing the evaporator, a vacuum test can be performed. Using appropriate flush adapters on the evaporator fittings, pull a vacuum of 28” to 30” Hg. The evaporator should hold vacuum for 30 minutes. If there is a loss of vacuum, verify that the adapters and gauges are not the cause.

How do I know if my AC is leaking Freon?

A technician can detect a refrigerant leak by using ultraviolet (UV) dye. An HVAC technician will send a fluorescent dye through your system to find the source of the leak. Once it circulates throughout your HVAC system, a detection lamp is used to find the leak's exact location.

Why does evaporator coil freeze up?

Coils freeze when the temperature in your evaporator coil drops too low. Moisture in the air freezes on contact, building up ice on the coil. This buildup blocks airflow and can cause your unit to fail completely.

How long do AC evaporator coils last?

If proper maintenance is regularly performed, then the evaporator coils should last 10 to 15 years, which is the ideal lifetime for an evaporator coil and comparable to the lifespan of an AC unit. However, how long your evaporator coils last will be much shorter if your unit is improperly maintained.

What causes evaporator coil leak?

Corrosion of the copper tubing in the coil from the outside is the most common cause of evaporator coil leaks. This corrosion happens when formic acid accumulates on the coil as a result of the interaction of water, copper, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in your indoor air.

How much does freon cost per pound?

Freon Cost Per Pound

Freon costs $50 to $80 per pound for R410A or $90 to $150 per pound for R22, installed. Most central air conditioners need 2 to 4 pounds to recharge the refrigerant.