Air Conditioning Coil Cleaning | How To Clean AC Coils

We know that the summer months can be incredibly hot, but did you know that keeping your air conditioner clean can also help it run more efficiently? Dirty coils and evaporator coils will decrease the efficiency of your AC. In addition to making your system work harder than it needs to, not cleaning these parts can lead to mold growth and other problems in your home. So if you want to keep cool when it’s blazing outside without spending a fortune on energy bills, follow these steps for cleaning your AC:

STEP 1: Remove the front panel.

You'll need a Phillips head screwdriver to remove the front panel. Once you've found the screws and removed them, slide the panel forward until it pops off of its connectors. Set it aside in a safe place to stay out of your way while you work on cleaning your air conditioner coils.

STEP 2: Disconnect power before cleaning coils.

Before you start cleaning the coils, there is one important step to take. Disconnect the power to your air conditioner. It’s dangerous to work around an appliance that is still running and could cause serious injury if it starts up unexpectedly. Turn off the power switch at your fuse box or circuit breaker. Once you have done that, make sure that all other areas of your home are safe from accidentally starting up again by unplugging any extension cords or power strips.

After making sure that all remaining power has been shut down, it's time for you to begin cleaning!

STEP 3: Spray the coil with a commercial coil cleaner or alkaline-based cleaning solution.

Spray the coil with a commercial coil cleaner or alkaline-based cleaning solution. You can use a spray bottle to apply the cleaner, but don't use a hose to apply it. Make sure you clean the inside of your unit first before you move on to cleaning your coils. Don't use bleach or vinegar to clean the coils—they may damage them, which would require replacement.

STEP 4: Use a stiff nylon brush to clean coil fins.

Use a stiff nylon brush to clean coil fins. This will loosen dirt and allow you to wipe the dust off with a rag. If you have trouble getting out dirt, try using a soft brush instead. Do not use metal or wire brushes as they can damage the fins. Do not use power drills on your air conditioning coils!

STEP 5: Vacuum all remaining dirt and debris from outside unit.

Once you’ve cleaned the interior of the unit, use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment to clean all remaining dirt from outside of the unit. Do not use a vacuum with an upholstery attachment or one that has a beater bar. You want to make sure that you are using a vacuum with a soft brush attachment for this step. A hose extension can also come in handy if needed as well!

STEP 6: Clean condenser fan blades.

To clean the condenser fan blades, you'll want to remove them from the unit. The condenser fan is located on the outside of the air conditioner and is responsible for drawing cool air into your home through its filter. When these blades become dirty and filled with dirt, dust and debris, they can cause your AC to work harder and use more energy than it needs to. So it's important that you get out there every so often (every six months or so) with a soft cloth or brush and give 'em a good cleaning!

Cleaning evaporator and condenser coils helps your AC system run efficiently and last longer.

Cleaning your air conditioner coils is an important step in keeping your home comfortable and energy efficient. It's also something you can do yourself, at least to a degree. To properly clean your evaporator coils, use a vacuum cleaner hose with a special attachment designed for cleaning air conditioning ducts. This will remove loose dirt and debris from the coils and prevent it from clogging up your AC system over time.

You can use an air pressure blaster on condenser coils too—just be careful not to aim directly at any electrical components! If you want extra control over where you point water blasts, though, try using a garden hose spray gun instead—this will give you more options when aiming streams of water as opposed to using pressurized hoses alone which aren't always easy enough to maneuver depending on how large your unit is and where it is located.

Bottom Line

As you can see, cleaning your air conditioner’s condenser and evaporator coils is an important process. Basic maintenance doesn’t require any fancy tools or expensive equipment and the benefits are worth the effort. By giving us a call to professionally perform this maintenance regularly and hassle free, you can dramatically improve the efficiency of your AC system and extend its life span by years!