Tips for Properly Cleaning Your A/C’s Evaporator Coils

Routine A/C maintenance should be performed each spring in preparation for summer heat and humidity. Cleaning the A/C evaporator coil—the heat exchanger for refrigerant—is an essential step of preventive maintenance that helps keep energy bills low and your Lorain home comfortable. Keep reading to find out how the pros take care of coil cleaning.

Cleaning the A/C Evaporator Coil

Cold refrigerant inside the evaporator coil needs free airflow to effectively extract heat from your home. Dirt, mold and algae on the A/C evaporator coil are airflow and cooling obstructions that should be wiped out. Here’s how:

• The A/C coil is generally located above the furnace in an upflow furnace and A/C combination split system.
• The panel to the plenum is removed. If the plenum is wrapped in insulation, it too is carefully removed.
• A smaller coil panel is removed to access pipes inside the A-frame coil.
• Foaming coil cleaner and disinfectant is applied to all evaporator coil surfaces, which include copper pipes and thin metal fins.
• A no-rinse foam will liquefy, drip and drain away. Or, after about 10 or 15 minutes, the foam cleaner is simply wiped away with a soft cloth.
• After drainage is checked, the panels are secured and insulation is affixed again.

Cleaning the A/C Drainage System

The A/C evaporator coil rests on top of the drip pan. Several pints or gallons of condensate are carried away through a PVC drain pipe, depending on the amount of indoor humidity and A/C usage. A secondary drip pan serves to protect against water overflow and subsequent damage.

The condensate also carries dirt and debris with it, which can clog drainage. Mold and algae are common problems, too, which can block drainage and give off foul odors. Your HVAC technician treats the drip pan and drain line with a microbial solution to destroy existing algae and mold, and prevent new growth.

To learn more about cleaning the A/C evaporator coil, preventive maintenance service or a free HVAC estimate, please contact Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. We serve residents of Lorain, Elyria and Oberlin areas.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about evaporator coils and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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