You’re determined to do better when it comes to staying on top of your home’s upkeep. You’ve seen what happens to homes after too much “deferred maintenance.” But when you learn that spring is the best time for cleaning condenser coils, you balk. Is it really necessary? What are the benefits?

If you’ve ever had to buy HVAC equipment, you know it gets expensive. You also know that it’s cheaper to maintain equipment than replace it. Maybe you made a resolution to ensure that all the regular maintenance chores are ticked off. Every spring, you check the filter and thermostat batteries.

But cleaning condenser coils? You don’t know where to begin.

Luckily the pros at One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating® of Treasure Coast do. Call us at (772) 238-6590 or contact us online to schedule an appointment for HVAC maintenance in the Stuart, FL area.

Why Your Condenser Coils Should Be Clean

Cleaning condensing coils on your outdoor unit is critical for your HVAC system’s efficiency. Cleaning them will:

  • Save you money

  • Lengthen the lifespan of the equipment

  • Improve your indoor air quality

  • Improve the system’s efficiency.

  • Reduce the chance of equipment failure

How to Tell if Your Condenser Coil is Dirty

You may not think your outdoor unit needs cleaning, but you have already noticed the signs of dirty condenser coils:

  • Air from vents isn’t blowing cold when the AC is running

  • Air conditioner runs longer than usual

  • AC unit runs and stops frequently without cooling

How Clean Coils Improve Efficiency

To fully understand the benefits of cleaning condenser coils on your outdoor unit, it helps to understand what they do.

Condenser coils carry the refrigerant that removes heat from your home. These coils — usually copper tubes encased in aluminum fins — pipe the refrigerant in loops around aluminum fins. Here, a fan helps dissipate the heat carried in the chemical refrigerant.

The heat exchange process depends on the difference in temperature between the coils and outside air. Dirt and grime on the coils work as an insulator and keep the refrigerant at a higher temperature.

So, when the coils become dirty, it takes longer for the heat exchange process to take place. The refrigerant has a harder time releasing it to the outdoor air.

Impact of dirty condenser coils

When the condenser coils can’t quickly release heat to the outdoor air, it takes longer for your HVAC system to hit the temperature set on the thermostat. Therefore, your system will run longer, and that will cost you more money.

Dirty coils often result in a 40 percent hike in your cooling costs. That’s just too much!

Coil Cleaning DIY

Ambitious homeowners may want to take a stab at some DIY HVAC maintenance chores, like cleaning condenser coils. Maintaining the condensing unit is a perfect project for spring, before it gets too hot.

The method is pretty straightforward, especially if you have some handy home improvement skills and tools to start with.

1. Tools

You’ll need a few simple tools to clean your condensing coils:

  • Shop vac or compressed air tank

  • Mild household cleaning solution

  • Garden hose

  • Cleaning brushes

  • Shop towel or cleaning cloth

  • Fin comb

2. Process

Before proceeding, turn off the unit and shut off the panel breaker to your system.

  1. Remove the access panel with hand tools

  2. Use the shop vac or compressed air to remove any leaves, bugs, dirt, or other debris

  3. Spray down the AC unit with the garden hose, avoiding the electrical components

  4. Use a diluted cleaning solution to spray down the coils and allow to soak for 10-15 minutes

  5. Gently scrub away any dirt that has adhered to the coils with a soft-bristle brush

  6. Rinse the coils with the hose and dry with a shop towel or clean cloth

  7. Straighten any bent fins with the fin comb

  8. Re-attach the access panel

  9. Restore power

How Often Should You Clean Your Condenser Coils

Most experts say that cleaning your condenser coils should be performed annually.

One way to reduce the accumulation of dirt on your condenser coils is to ensure that the area in your back yard around the pad is clean and clear of debris.

Landscape plants, mulch, and overhanging branches result in debris that gets sucked into the condensing unit. Make a point of cleaning up around the unit as a part of your regular yardwork chores.

You can also install a screen to help prevent future accumulations.

Associated HVAC maintenance

While cleaning the coils on the condensing unit, you can perform other seasonal maintenance tasks.

  • Check electrical connections

  • Clean out condensate drains

Professional Maintenance plans

Cleaning condensing coils is a simple homeowner DIY, but there are a few HVAC tasks that are best left to the professionals.

Regular professional HVAC maintenance provides peace of mind. Make an appointment with One Hour Air in Stuart for all your HVAC maintenance needs. Along with cleaning coils, we’ll take care of all your seasonal HVAC needs so you can relax.