Updated at: 07-10-2022 - By: cnbusinessnews

Trying to figure out what an air conditioner coil is? In places where summer is already here, it’s a good idea to brush up on your AC knowledge. Thank the air conditioner coils for keeping your room cool and comfy.

Refrigerants are the most important part of this process, and they work around these components.

Evaporator and condenser coils are the two main types of coils. Coils are a general phrase, so we’ll look at each one separately. Each one has a specific purpose, which we’ll go over in more detail later. The most critical part of maintaining these coils is understanding what they do and how they differ from one another.

If you’re curious about your air conditioner’s coils, you’ve come to the correct spot. Continue reading to learn more!

What is an Evaporator Coil?

In your air conditioning system, the evaporator coil is the part that takes in the heat from the air you’re breathing in. Either your furnace or your air handler has a duct for this device to run through. For cooling, it uses a condenser coil to finish the heat exchange process.

How Does it Work?

Evaporated refrigerant from the compressor is pumped via the metering device and into the evaporator coil, which fills it to capacity. The blower fan pushes air through the coil, which moves across the coil and absorbs heat from the refrigerant in the evaporator.

Why is a Clean Evaporator Coil Important?

The efficiency of your cooling system depends heavily on the cleanliness and regular maintenance of the evaporator coil. Coils that are clogged with dirt can increase the amount of electricity your air conditioner uses by up to 30%. In addition to poor cooling efficiency, frozen coils, and an overheating compressor, improperly maintained coils can create a variety of other issues with the system.

Differences Of Evaporator Coil And Condenser Coil On An Air Conditioner

To properly care for your air conditioner, you must first gain a thorough understanding of one of its most critical components. Your air conditioner’s condenser and evaporator coils play a key part in its operation.

What's The Difference Between An Evaporator Coil & A Condenser Coil?

It might be necessary to get a new one if one of them is broken. Because it’s critical, we’ll walk you through how these coils work and how they impact your AC system’s health. What is an air conditioner coil? That’s what we’ve learned. Here are the details:

Difference #1. Location and appearance

In an air conditioning system, the evaporator core, or evaporator coil, is the part that absorbs heat from the refrigerant. That’s what I mean. A chilling wind blows in from this location. The blower fan is the most common location for this component. Copper, steel, and aluminum are used to build evaporator coils because they are good conductors of heat.

It’s the massive, square unit outside your home that houses your air conditioner’s condenser. The overall unit is referred to as the “condenser unit,” yet there are various parts to it. In addition to the copper tubing and tubes in the condenser and compressor, there are also valves and switch components.

Difference #2. Purpose

Evaporators and condensers are critical components of air conditioning systems. Well, they are responsible for distinct aspects of the cooling cycle. First and foremost, we should consider the evaporator coils.

Why do evaporators and condensers need to be maintained? The cooling process is divided amongst them, and each is in charge of a specific part of it. The evaporator coils will be the first topic of discussion.

Metals that can withstand high temperatures are used to build the structure. As a result, your AC’s blower fan has the ability to chill the freon, allowing it to remain cold and absorb further heat. Afterward, the gaseous refrigerant is ejected from the outside compressor.

To keep your AC components in good working order, you must do regular maintenance. To allow for heat transmission, as well. The condenser coil, on the other hand, is responsible for dissipating heat from the compressed refrigerant outside of your residence..

Expansion devices in air conditioners remove heat from the refrigerant, and the coolant returns to the coils as a liquid. Cooling and exhausting heat are the next steps in the process. While the air conditioner is working, warm air is still being expelled from your home. Your home’s cooling system relies on both the evaporator and the condenser coils working properly.

Thus, without a condenser coil to complete the cooling cycle, the evaporator coil is of little use.

Difference #3. Possible problems in the component

Condenser coils are different from evaporator coils in that they are outside and exposed to the weather, making them more difficult to maintain. Coil surfaces can become clogged with debris such as sand, dirt, pollen, and other organic matter carried in the wind.

Because they don’t produce condensation moisture like evaporator coils, condenser coils are less likely to develop mold. The evaporator coil, on the other hand, is usually housed within the air handler in most systems. Because of this, it may be beyond of the reach of the average DIY enthusiast.

Dust and other debris can build up on the evaporator coil because it is constantly exposed to the airflow generated by the blower. As a result, the crucial heat transfer from air to refrigerant is inhibited when airborne particles create a coating on coil surfaces.

Insufficient cooling and higher operating expenses may be the result of the system running longer “on” cycles to match thermostat settings. The evaporator coil has another distinct problem: mold infection. Mold spores that have been dormant for a long period of time can be found in the HVAC system’s airflow.

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Difference #4. Maintenance

Air handlers commonly have evaporator coils built into them. Because of this, it may be beyond of the reach of the average DIY enthusiast. A professional HVAC expert will inspect and clean the coils on a regular basis to remove dust and grime.

If mold growth is discovered, the technician will disinfect the evaporator coil and the condensation drip pan beneath the coil with EPA-approved biocides. Turning the electricity to the outdoor unit and hosing down the coil with a garden hose once a year is excellent to keep the condenser coil efficient.

If mold is found, the technician will use EPA-approved biocides to disinfect the evaporator coil and the condensation drop pan beneath the coil. In order to maintain the efficiency of your condenser unit, you should turn off the power to the outside unit and use a garden hose to clean the coils once a year.

The 3 Benefits of Proper A/C Coil Cleaning In Hot Weather

1. It saves you money

Air conditioning coils that are dirty have to work harder than they need to, which increases the amount of energy you use. A well-maintained air conditioner coil, on the other hand, will run smoothly and efficiently, saving you money on your utility bills by as much as 20% during the warmer months.

2. Improves dehumidification:

Reduced heat transmission and a decrease in dehumidification performance can be caused by a blocked evaporator coil. Keeping your A/C Coil clean can not only enhance the air quality in your building, but it will also help avoid the growth of mold and bacteria, which can cause health problems.

3. Increases worker efficiency

As a result, mold and bacteria thrive in poorly maintained air filtration systems. Allergies, asthma, and other respiratory illnesses can develop in you and your employees as soon as mold or bacteria enter the air system.

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Healthy indoor conditions can be achieved by regularly cleaning your air conditioning unit’s condenser coils. Because of the quality of your air, you and your staff are significantly less likely to take time off for illness.

How Can I Prevent Dirty Evaporator Coils?

Changing your air filter at least once a month will keep your evaporator coils clean and improve their performance. Dirt and dust will begin to collect on the evaporator coils instead of the air filter when your filter becomes overly blocked. A yearly or bi-annual HVAC tune-up should include an inspection and cleaning of your evaporator coil.

Your evaporator coil may need to be cleaned if you have any doubts about its performance. To arrange a maintenance visit, call (214) 251-4438 and speak with a representative at Samm’s Heating & Air Conditioning. Service from one of our skilled professionals ensures that your system will work as efficiently as possible in the future.

Final Notes

That’s all there is to know about air conditioner coils. Before beginning any work on your air conditioner, make sure you are familiar with the specifics of each component. You’ll know exactly which portion of the AC needs repair if you do this. When you clean a window air conditioner, you’ll come across the evaporator and condenser coils, so you’ll be prepared.