5 Signs Your AC Coils Need to Be Cleaned

By now, your air conditioner has been working hard for a few months. For the most part, the system has been working OK. But if something feels off or you’ve noticed a gradual decrease in its cooling performance, you may want to consider a mid-summer maintenance appointment to get you through the rest of the season.

Signs Your AC Coils

One of the most common issues we see in residential air conditioners is dirty coils. Your system has two sets of coils – evaporator coils in the inside unit and condenser coils in the outside unit. Both of these coils are crucial for absorbing heat and humidity in your home and releasing them outside. Over time, it’s natural for these coils to get dirty or blocked with debris. When that happens, the entire AC system becomes less effective and efficient.

Here Are Five Telltale Signs That Your AC Coils Are Dirty And Need to be Cleaned

  1. Your electricity bill has been going up. If you look at your utility bills and notice an unexplained increase, dirty AC coils could be to blame. Once you have the coils cleaned, your AC should go back to being more efficient and your electricity bill should go back to normal.
  2. Your unit seems to be running longer for no reason. When the AC coils are dirty, the unit has to work longer and harder to cool the inside space. You’ll hear the blower running and feel air coming out of the ducts for a long period of time. Not only does this contribute to the higher energy bills we just covered but it can put extra wear and tear on your unit, which reduces its total service life.
  3. Your home doesn’t feel as cool as it should be. If your coils are really dirty or blocked, then the heat is going to get trapped. Think of this like a traffic jam where the heat inside your home can’t move through the system to get released outside. So even if the AC is running, it will blow out warm or slightly cooled air.
  4. The Coil is Covered in Frost While Running. If the coil is very dirty and condensation is present, then it can actually freeze on the coil. This isn’t normal and is a sure sign that it needs to be cleaned. Failure to do so may lead to a loss of heat transfer to the surrounding air and subsequently a complete loss of AC cooling.
  5. Higher Indoor Humidity. Because the evaporator coil removes moisture and heat from the air, it reduces the humidity inside your home. When the coil is blocked or dirty, this process is not efficient and you’ll notice that your home feels more humid than usual.

If you notice any of these signs in your home, it’s important to schedule an air conditioner service appointment as soon as possible. A certified technician will be able to inspect the system and determine if the coils need to be cleaned. This will help your AC run more efficiently and reliably throughout the summer season. It also helps to check your evaporator coils yearly so that you can catch any problems early.

For expert air conditioner services, contact Robert B. Payne today. We’ll help you diagnose any issues with your unit and get it back in top working condition quickly and affordably. Our team of technicians is fully licensed and certified to handle all types of AC repairs, maintenance, and installations. Contact us today for more information.

Why Use an HVAC Professional For AC Cleaning

Air conditioners are complicated systems, and many of the components are very sensitive. So even if you’re a DIY homeowner, cleaning the evaporator or condenser coils in the AC isn’t a good job to put on your to-do list. Performing the cleaning incorrectly could damage the system or put you at risk of an electric shock. 

Leaving your AC maintenance to the experts also keeps your family and property safe and gives you peace of mind. A certified technician will know how to safely and effectively clean the coils without damaging the system or putting anyone at risk.

Plus, a professional can inspect your entire AC system for any other potential issues that may be causing problems with efficiency or performance. And if they do find something, they’ll have the tools and knowledge to fix it.

In addition, many AC manufacturers will not respect the warranty if the coils are cleaned by someone other than a certified HVAC technician. So in order to keep your system safe and maintain warranty coverage, it’s best to call an HVAC professional for help with Coil Cleaning Services.

The good news is that scheduling air conditioning maintenance can be cost-efficient – and certainly cheaper than a repair service. When you factor in lower energy bills and an overall more efficient system, professional AC coil cleaning can virtually pay for itself.

Contact Us For All Your AC Needs

If you’ve noticed a change in your air conditioner’s performance recently, don’t cross your fingers and hope it makes it to the end of summer. Instead, contact Robert B. Payne, Inc. to keep your AC working as effectively and efficiently as it should. Send us a message or call us today at (540) 212-7894.