One of the most important steps to a properly functioning heating, venting and air conditioning (HVAC for short) unit is keeping your evaporator coil in good shape. It can be somewhat involved work, due to the coil being inside most units. Whereas the condenser coil is outside the unit and requires frequent cleaning, which you can often do yourself, the evaporator coil will not need to be cleaned and maintained as often. But it is best left to well trained technicians for professional cleaning and maintenance.
Once every 4 to 6 weeks during the times of the year when your HVAC unit is used often, the filter will need to be changed. If the unit is well sealed and professionally built, that might be all you need to do for years to come. On the other hand, if it is an old unit or one that is not regularly cleaned or properly sealed, the evaporator coil itself may need cleaning. You can hire an HVAC contractor to clean it for you.
If you have to clean the evaporator coil it might be doable by yourself, but this will largely depend on whether or not the manufacturer designed their unit to have easy access panels and layout that do not require a professional’s expertise. If this is not the case, then bending the HVAC’s fins or fan, spilling the refrigerant, or damaging the seals can turn this into an even more expensive and complicated problem than it needs to be.
In most cases, it is best to call a professional to perform the task for you. They are prepared for any type of HVAC unit in your home or business, and will have the relevant tools available. They also may need to move the coil outdoors and drain the refrigerant from it without any spillage or leaks.
Professional HVAC technicians are there to help you, and will be more than happy to provide assistance to keep your unit running well for years to come. Are you keeping up with your AC unit’s maintenance? Give us a call at 630.801.8600 and schedule a maintenance service call today!