Although most heating and air conditioner systems are built strong enough to endure snow, wind, heat, rain or bitter cold, every system needs regular maintenance like all things mechanical. Pickerington Heating & Cooling offers a number of routine maintenance services to help protect your precious HVAC equipment.
The filters, the coils, fins, and hoses on an air conditioner unit must be kept in an optimal condition to help the whole unit run smoothly and without strain year-round, for the life of your home. Since the heating and cooling systems carry one of the largest replacement expenses of any mechanical equipment in a home, it’s important to properly maintain it to protect your investment. We can help.
A/C Unit Coil Condenser – Potential Problems
On an air conditioner unit, the coil of the condenser needs better maintenance since it’s located outdoors, unlike the coil in the evaporator. The exposed condenser coil gets dirty far too often due to the dust and pollution or because of nearby trees. In the Brice area, pollen released from Dogwood trees can frequently clog a condensor coil and cause long-term damage if not removed quickly.
Anything coming in contact with the coil can have an insulation effect of sorts – dust particles, grease, dirt, soot, dry leaves, seeds, corrosion, bugs and even microorganisms like bacteria can be an impediment to the much needed heat transfer from the refrigerant to the outside air. Unwanted heat needs to escape from the refrigerant, and foreign matter clinging to the outside of the system prevents the efficient transfer of that heat.
The amount of refrigerant used in an air conditioning unit determines whether the makers would get the highest SEER level of efficiency or not — the lesser, the better. The units are designed in perfect balance, and so the slightest hindrance to the heat transfer usually conks out the balance and deteriorates the functioning of the unit. If dust or dirt accumulates on the coils, the right amount of heat doesn’t go out, thus increasing the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant going into the compressor to abnormal degrees. Consequently, the compressor stresses itself to work more on the cooling of the “abnormal” refrigerant, thereby drawing more amperes of electricity. As a result of this fiasco, the cooling capacity of the air conditioner obviously dwindles and the mechanical parts wear out. So a dirty coil simply boils down to three things: insufficient cooling, worn machine parts and a higher cost for functioning.
What Happens If You Don’t Maintain Your Air Conditioner?
Over time, if you neglect to clean the coils, they get choked with seeds and dirt and restrict proper airflow. And if the airflow is impeded on a hot day, the head and cylinders of the compressor automatically gets too much hot. Next, the oil will start breaking down and fail to lubricate. This fosters decay and allows contaminants into the air conditioning unit. If that happens, the pistons, rings and cylinders decay and as a result, the compression lowers, valves leak, metal debris float in the oil. Finally, total failure of the compressor nears.
Air conditioners function in a closed circuit system. It is not at all an easy and simple procedure to replace the full lubricant. The oil used in air conditioning units is originally quite resilient but impurities in it or into the system and regular neglect accelerate the end. The result is same as trying to drive a car without changing its engine oil for a decade. In an air conditioner, when the compressor stops working, there’s no way out other than to throw it away and replace it with a new one. And this of course means opening the system, removing the refrigerant and the oil, and filtering dryers to tidy up the unit. Moisture and acid can enter when you open the system or when the system fails. This is a very time-consuming and expensive process. And the worst news is that, many air conditioners, at this point, are not in a condition that’s worth the trouble.
Advantages of Cleaning Your A/C Condensor Coil
The advantages of cleaning the coils regularly are as follows:
- More heat gets out of the room, cooling is faster and the system functions at quite a low temperature.
- Electricity costs remain low as a clean system always draws minimum amperes.
- The compressor can operate stress-free, at ease and with optimum efficiency.
- All the components remain healthy and thus ensure more reliability and a longer life for the unit.
We recommend you have your air conditioner serviced each spring and fall (We happen to know someone who can perform that task for you).
We also recommend use of an air conditioner cover to keep the coils free from dust and dirt when you are not using the cooling system during the winter months.
Watch our coupons page for updates on Spring & Fall A/C routine maintenance/service call specials. Visit our Appointment page or call Pickerington Heating & Cooling at (614) 837-4026 today to schedule an appointment.
