Are you breathing dirty air? Is your AC running constantly? Have you heard loud or weird noises coming from your HVAC system?
These are all signs that you might have dirty AC coils, and, if left unaddressed, can wreak havoc on your system and your energy bill. At Fields Cooling, Heating and Refrigeration, we’re a Gulf Shores AC service company, and we specialize in AC repair, cleaning, and AC maintenance for Daphne, Elberta, Fairhope, Foley, Orange Beach, and the surrounding area.
Regardless of where you live, grimy coils can corrode and lead to refrigerant leaks. They also slow down air flow throughout your house, which makes your unit run longer and work harder to do its job, using more energy and causing parts to wear and break down.
Your AC system has to two categories of coils: condenser coils (generally located indoors) and evaporator coils (generally located in the big metal box outside your home). Here are four ways to keep them clean:
1) Hose them down.
That’s right: Water won’t hurt your outdoor coils. In fact, they’re built for the humidity and rain of the Gulf Coast. Our very own Jeremy Fields endorses the garden hose method. “Just rinse out your coils. You can start from the top and just work your way down.”
You don’t need to hose down the top of your unit, which houses a lot of electrical components, just the sides. Note that often the dirt and grime are thicker at the bottom of the unit.
2) Blast them with compressed air.
For indoor coils, make sure your HVAC system is completely off, then access the coils by carefully unscrewing the panels. You can use a gentle and firm consistent stream of compressed air to blow dirt loose and simply vacuum it up.
3) Mow grass away from them.
Grass in the Gulf Shores summers can grow very fast and so homeowners often mow much more frequently in these hotter months. But if you’re not careful, grass clippings, twigs and other debris can be blown from your lawn toward and into the AC unit, dirtying its coils. The same thing goes for weed wacking and trimming.
4) Request a professional to clean them.
A couple times a year, you should schedule a professional with top-of-the-line coil cleaning equipment to come service your AC unit. A good AC repair company like Fields Cooling, Heating and Refrigeration can make sure your home or business stays comfortable, your system stays functioning at its highest capacity, and your energy bill stays as low as possible.
If you have questions about your HVAC system, AC repair, or need to schedule a cleaning service, reach out today for a free quote.
