The Effects of Faulty AC Coils

What happens if you don’t keep up with AC coil cleaning? Explore the possible effects of faulty AC coils, how these components function in your air conditioner, and how to identify a defective or dirty AC coil. Also, learn some maintenance tips to help keep your system running smoothly with reliable air conditioner services from the team at AC Plus.

Understanding AC Coils and Their Role

Before breaking down the signs of a failing AC coil, it’s important to understand how this component works in your air conditioner. AC coils (which can refer to outdoor condenser coils or indoor evaporator/evap coils) play an instrumental role in the cooling process.

AC coils are made of copper tubes that fill with refrigerant throughout the air conditioning cycle. The refrigerant inside the coil absorbs heat from the surrounding air, cooling it before it’s cycled back into your home. During this process, the coils also accumulate moisture, which condenses on the coil surface and eventually drips into your AC’s drain pan.

From here, the warm refrigerant is circulated back to the outdoor condenser, and the heat is dispersed outside. Once the refrigerant is cold again, it flows back to your evaporator coils to repeat the process.

Signs of Dirty or Faulty AC Coils

Several common signs may indicate dirty or faulty AC coils. If you notice any of the following issues, there’s a good chance that your evaporator coils are to blame:

• Reduced cooling effectiveness: If your AC is running but not cooling properly, it could be a sign that your AC coils aren’t able to absorb heat effectively due to damage or dirt accumulation.

• Increasing energy bills: Dirty or damaged coils make your AC less energy-efficient. Like most types of AC maintenance, coil cleaning and tune-ups can help improve the efficiency of your air conditioner.

• Unusual sounds: Hissing and banging noises from your AC often indicate a coil with a refrigerant leak or a misaligned component interfering with the rest of the system.

• AC continuously turning on and off: If your AC coils can’t absorb enough heat to get your space to the temperature set on your thermostat, it will cause the system to continuously short-cycle.

• Frozen coils: If you notice ice accumulating on your coils, it’s a sure sign that the refrigerant within can’t absorb heat efficiently.

• Refrigerant leaks: This symptom can be harder to spot (except in extreme cases where leaking refrigerant pools around the unit), but it’s a clear sign of a coil problem. Look out for hissing noises, diminished cooling ability, and frost build-up on your evaporator coils.

How Faulty Coils Affect AC Performance

You wouldn’t continue to drive your car on a flat tire, and the same goes for running an air conditioner with faulty coils. These simple components are important for air conditioning efficiency and effectiveness, and even a small issue can have a big impact on the unit’s overall performance.

One concern with faulty coils is energy efficiency. When coils are dirty or damaged, your system can’t cool the air as effectively, forcing it to run longer and harder to achieve the same result. This means steadily increasing energy bills until you get the required AC repair services.

Faulty coils also affect the HVAC system. If your AC is struggling to cool the air efficiently, more strain is put on every other component in the system. You may need to repair and replace parts sooner than you would otherwise, and it also reduces the overall service life of your system.

There are also AC performance issuesto consider. It’s frustrating when your air conditioner can’t do its job, leaving you to deal with an uncomfortably warm home until you get the AC solutions you need.

Maintenance Tips to Prevent AC Coil Issues

How can California homeowners avoid AC coil issues in the first place? Try these helpful preventative maintenance tips.

Have AC Coils Cleaned Regularly

Your evaporator coils should be regularly cleaned to improve AC performance and efficiency. Exactly how often depends on your system’s filtration, how often you run your AC, and the average dust and debris levels in the air outside. We recommend cleaning the coils at least once a year.

Change Air Filters Regularly

Keeping up with the AC filter best practices helps prevent your coils from becoming dirty so quickly. Depending on your system, filter type, and usage, filters should be changed every three to 12 months.

Keep the Condenser Unit Clean

Debris buildup or placing items on top of your AC condenser unit can affect the coils and overall performance. Regularly clean this component and keep junk, furniture, and other objects away from the unit.

Why Timely AC Coil Cleaning Matters

Having your air conditioner coils cleaned is one of the best ways to make the most of your home cooling system. Get this important service in the spring (before you’re running the unit constantly in the summer) to protect your air conditioner from breakdowns and poor efficiency. Coil cleaning helps extend the system’s lifespan, boosts performance, and provides invaluable peace of mind during the hot California summers.

Stay Comfortable Year-Round with AC Plus

When it comes to home HVAC systems, the details can make all the difference. AC coil cleaning might not come to mind when you think of essential maintenance tasks, but even a minor issue with this component can have major impacts on your comfort. If you’re looking to get your AC running at max efficiency before the warm weather sets in, the team at AC Plus is here to help San Bernardino County homeowners. Contact us today to schedule AC coil cleaning and a full system spring tune-up.