Dirty Evaporator Coil? How to Clean it in 30 Minutes

The season of the scorching heat in Dubai is near and it’s time to check your AC effectiveness before all the maintenance men get busy for the season. If your AC is not working properly, the first thing you should think about is when was the last time you cleaned your AC coil?

If it has been a while, you are likely to be experiencing the heat and humidity. A coil is responsible to absorb and dumb the heat and humidity to the outside through the furnace panels. 

The evaporator coil in your furnace/ air handler is essential for the efficiency of the air conditioning and heating as well as per the seasons. The coils of the ACs are often in the furnace or the air handler. 

To begin with, the coil looks like a radiator with fins or like the back of a window AC. A refrigerant tubing is welded to the inside of it that is made up of copper or aluminum. The coils typically come in N- shapes (also known as Z-shape and A- Shapes. 

This article is a step-by-step guide for evaporator coil cleaning without much hassle. 

How to Clean Dirty Evaporator Coil in 30 minutes

To get a general idea, you can first read off the headings to get an idea of the process. If the steps heading makes sense, you can proceed with gathering the tools. This is the moment you decide whether you want to hire an individual for AC repair in  Dubai. 

Step One: Turn Off The Ac Thermostat To OFF 

Turning off your AC is recommended to avoid any nuisance, this includes turning off the thermostat heat/ cool to the off positions. The AC should be turned off for about an hour before you start cleaning. Especially in summers, get a head start to avoid the scorching heat in the midday. 

Step Two: Remove The Access Panel

As mentioned above the coil is collected either on the furnace or air handler, which needs to be removed to expose the coil. The panels are often held by the screws, meaning you will need the Philips screwdriver to unscrew them. (make sure you don’t lose the screws in the middle of the process). The cased coils are present in their own cabinets and you are required to remove the screws for access to the fins of the coil. Don’t be afraid to remove the piece of metal as well to access the interior of the coil. 

Panels also have twist levers and knobs. To remove these you can put one hand against the panel, and loosen the knobs to avoid the panel from falling. Additionally, a few of the panels also snap into the place. Pull the panel toward you from the top till the snaps pop loose and then grasp the panel sides, lift it up and take it out. 

There are also tabs on the bottom of the panel that can fit into the slots in the furnace cabinet. 

If your panels are sealed with aluminum foil tape to stop air leaks then you should carefully re-seal the furnace once the cleaning is done. It doesn’t matter whether your furnace is currently leaking or not. 

The foil tape basically helps prevent the heat loss and the whistling sound some furnace panels make as the air is sucked through them. 

Step Three: Spray And Recoat Fins With No Rinse Coil Cleaner: 

You can find several types of evaporator coil cleaners in the Dubai market. The most effective and convenient type of cleaner recommended is the one that doesn’t need to be rinsed and can be used on the outside as well. No-rinse coil cleaners are generally safe to use for the furnaces and air handlers with the plastic drain trays and help prevent coil degradation. 

Additionally, one thing you have to make sure is that the coil cleaner is safe to use indoors. Some of the cleaners come with harsh chemicals and are suitable for outdoors only. you can find the suitability mentioned on the product or ask the seller to make sure you are getting the right product. 

Tip for pet owners: You can compress air to remove the pet fur from the coil by blowing the air in the opposite direction of the airflow. Or simple words below the air from the clean side to the dirty side.  This is done before applying the cleaner. 

Coming to the actual spraying part now! All you have to do is spray a moderate coating of the no-rinse cleaner on the coil. the coat will start to foam up as it begins to break down the grime and grease. With time the foam will decrease and the dirty liquid will run into the drain pan. 

Apply a second coat when the cleaner has run off or wait 15 – 20 minutes for the second round of coat. 

Step Four: Use A Brush To Remove The Stubborn Debris: 

If the first round of cleaner does not remove the debris stuck to the coil, then use a gentle brush (either coil or paint) to remove it. Coil brushes are recommended because they are made in the right size and with soft bristles suitable for the condenser coil fins and evaporator. 

Avoid scrubbing the coil or any panel. A coil cleaner has up to 4 coating liquids when used properly. If the debris doesn’t come out in one or two sprays, you can go for a third round as well. 

Step Five: Replace The Access Panel and Voila Turn The AC On

If the Dubai heat is getting unbearable, just hold on you are almost done! 

Once you are satisfied with the coil clearance, you can put it back inside the cover and then put the access panel back on the cabinet. Rolling a foil tape additionally will save you some money on the utility bill as well. Secure the panel carefully with the screws as well. 

There is also a coil in the condensing unit outside the house, The coil is naturally called the condensing coil that is in the unit outside. The outer coil can be cleaned in the same manner as the inner coil to ensure hygiene and the effectiveness of the AC. 

Is It Absolutely Necessary To Clean It, Though? 

After reading the process that seems pretty easy and insignificant. You must be thinking, is it necessary to clean the coil of the AC? Yes! The process may seem pretty easy but there are a couple of significant reasons for which you should take care of the coil. 

The purpose of the evaporator coil is to remove the nuisances from the air and hence gather the dirt.  A professional AC maintenance company in Dubai recommends cleaning the dirty coil as it disrupts the airflow and causes heat and humidity in the house. 

The coil absorbs the heat and moisture from your home air and dumps it outside. It is connected to the coil outdoors as well in the condensing unit. The heat transferred is reduced as it is interrupted by dirt, hair and grimy debris. 

Dirty coils can significantly reduce the effectiveness of your AC and increase the energy cost. Additionally, now the  AC compressor and other parts are overworking to maintain the cooling. The AC parts start to fail in exhaustion in the heat of Dubai. 

Other than your house is the target of the scorching heat. The disrupted airflow and moisture form an environment of mold spores growth and accumulation. If the furnace or the grates air from your AC smells musty then, unfortunately, the coil has mold growth. All these factors included could cost to replacement of the AC parts which is relatively expensive. 

To remove the mold from the coil, you probably have to call the professional AC maintenance Dubai. Like, The Reliable Technical Services Dubai

Keeping your AC coil clean is the perfect example of prevention is better than cure.