Most homeowners who switch the AC on when the hot days kick in rarely give any thought to how this amazing invention actually operates. There are several components that work in unison to cool your home and one of the main parts of any AC unit is the evaporator coil. As such it is prone to issues that could render your AC unit inoperable.
In order to help you understand what issues could be causing your AC to malfunction, we asked our evaporator repair experts in San Diego to explain how the evaporator coil functions and what the most common issues it faces are.
How Evaporators Work
The AC cools your home by removing the heat and venting it outside. This is done by circulating a compressed refrigerant fluid between two sets of coils called the evaporator coils and condensing coils. Evaporator coils are housed in the inside AC unit, while the condensing coils are inside the outdoor unit of the AC system.
As the evaporators get very cold a fan pulls in the warm air from your home and into the AC unit. It passes through the cold coils and the refrigerant absorbs the heat. The cooled air is then passed to the condensing coils in the outdoor units where the heat is vented. The cool air now passes the coils and enters the ductwork and your home.
Troubleshooting Common Evaporator Coil Issues
The evaporator coil is a very delicate piece of equipment and as such faces many different problems that could cause it to malfunction. If you are experiencing any issues with your AC unit, the problem could be the coil and some of the most common issues that prevent its normal operation are:
Dust and Dirt: Air is not the only thing that passes through the evaporator coil as it cools your home. Specs of dust and dirt can also get sucked in and caught on the evaporator coils. This prevents the evaporators from functioning properly, and depending on how much dirt it accumulated it can display various symptoms, from ineffective cooling to complete malfunction. This is why it is important to schedule a routine maintenance so the problem is dealt with before it can cause any permanent damage.
Moisture: Condensation is another issue that evaporator coils face. As the warm air from your home passes through the AC unit, the water condenses on the coils, and can attract bacteria, dust, dirt and even mold if not regularly drained.
Freezing: Not having enough refrigerant in the AC unit could cause the evaporator coils to freeze. The same thing could happen if not enough air passes through the coils. This issue can be caused by several different factors, including a clog in the air filter or the malfunctioning fan. When frozen, evaporator coils result in inadequate cooling and can additionally strain the AC system. If not dealt with in time, frozen coils could cause your AC system to stop operating completely.
San Diego Evaporator Repair and Maintenance
If you are looking for an experienced San Diego evaporator repair expert look no further than Carini Heating & Air, the leading San Diego AC company offering installation, inspection, maintenance and repairs for residential and commercial AC units. Contact us at 619.843.0997 to request a service.