The air conditioner in your Los Angeles home has two sets of coils that are essential components of your system. The evaporator A/C coil is located inside the indoor unit, and absorbs heat from your home’s air. The condenser A/C coil is located inside the outdoor unit and sends the heated air outdoors. When your coils become coated with dirt and grime, the heat transfer is less efficient, and your air conditioner may use up to 30 percent more energy to operate, resulting in higher utility bills.
How often should you clean your coils?
It’s recommended that you clean your coils at least once a year, or more often if they get dirty faster due to your location. Clean the coils before the start of the cooling season and check them periodically throughout the summer for visible dirt buildup.
Three methods to clean your coils
Depending on the severity of the buildup on your coils, clean them using one of these methods:
- For lightly soiled coils, blow the dust off with low-pressure compressed air.
- For fairly dirty coils, use a mild detergent and a scrub brush to remove the grime.
- For heavily soiled coils, use a heavy-duty coil cleaning solution. Because many of these chemicals are highly dangerous to the environment and to people, choose a biodegradable foaming solution that can be safely rinsed down the drain. Spray the foam on, let it sit for a few minutes, then vacuum it out. Repeat this process until the coils are clean, then rinse thoroughly.
Clean the condensate pan, too
The condensate pan located under the evaporator coil in the indoor unit can harbor mold, bacteria and other biological contaminants that can reduce your indoor air quality. Clean the condensate pan thoroughly and remove any obstructions from the drain. Coat the pan with a biocide to help prevent the growth of harmful organisms.
For more expert advice about A/C coil cleaning and other matters of preventive maintenance on your air conditioner, please feel free to contact us at Around the Clock Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc., helping to keep Los Angeles-area residents comfortable year-round.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about A/C maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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