If you’ve ever taken a good look at your air conditioner (or taken a high school science class on the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics) you know how sophisticated AC systems really are. We’ve gotten so used to their ubiquitous presence, we forget what life would be like if we didn’t have air conditioning. Needless to say, summers in Hampton, GA, would be pretty brutal without AC, so it’s important that you take all the necessary steps to keep your HVAC working properly. That means it needs to be cleaned and serviced regularly by an HVAC technician if you want to protect yourself from being without air conditioning when you need it most. In particular, your AC won’t work properly without clean coils. Here’s why.
Types of AC Coils
The two coils that exist within your AC unit are the condenser and the evaporator coils. While the evaporator coils have the responsibility of removing ambient heat and humidity from the air in your home, the condenser expels the accumulated heat. In order for the warm air to be drawn from your home, the condenser starts the process by converting the AC’s refrigerant from a gas to an extremely cold liquid. The liquid is then moved to the evaporator unit which spreads it throughout the house. As it returns back to the condenser, the coolant pulls warm air from your home. When it reaches the outside unit’s condenser coils, it’s returned to its gas form, with the warm air being blown by fans into the air outside your home.
Why Clean Coils Matter
As the coils draw warm air from throughout your home, they draw in other things as well such as dust, dirt, grease, bacteria, everything. Part of the duty of an air conditioner is to improve your home’s air quality, which means, by necessity, removing such nasty things from your home. As this debris builds up, however, your AC unit is forced to work harder in order to cool your home the way it’s supposed to. This puts tremendous strain on the unit while spiking your monthly energy bills.
Delicate Instruments
The AC’s hardworking elements are found within the AC unit, and they’re extremely delicate. They can’t withstand too much force, and they can be damaged if the wrong kinds of chemicals are used while they’re being cleaned. Furthermore, to clean them properly and thoroughly involves the use of dangerous chemicals, and the potential for electric shock. It’s for these reasons — as well as the complexity of the job — that it’s recommended that AC coils only be cleaned by experts in heating and air conditioning repair.
