What Could Be Wrong With An AC Evaporator Coil
Every air conditioning system has an evaporator coil. It is installed within the portion of your furnace that has the main air handler, and it receives refrigerant that it converts from a liquid to a gas. The conversion process is what causes the condenser coil to become cool, which is how the air that passes over it becomes cold. It is the most essential part of your air conditioner, and without it you would not have any cold air.
If the evaporator coil is damaged, it can cause the entire cooling system to be inefficient. This is why it is important to know about potential problems with a condenser coil and how to fix them.
Dirty or Frozen Coils
Have you noticed that the air coming from your air conditioner is warmer than what it once was? It's even possible that the air is now room temperature, lacking any sort of cooling effect at all. This is a clear indication of an evaporator coil problem, with the part either being frozen or dirty.
Your first step to fix the coil should be turning off all the power going to the HVAC system, then take off the cover to the main air handler. Look for the condenser coil, and visually inspect it for problems. Does the coil seem as if it is dirty, or is there a layer of frost on the coil? If so, you have a problem you can easily fix.
For dirty coils, there is a foam condenser coil cleaner you can purchase from your local home improvement store. Follow the directions for how to spray the coil and how long to leave the foam on to do its job. This should get rid of the dirt and debris from over the years. Frozen coils are due to a lack of refrigerant, which will require a professional's help.
Drain Clogs
Is there pooling water around your air handler? It is likely that you have a clogged drain inside the unit that needs to be fixed. There will be condensation that drips from the condenser coil, and it needs to have a place to go. The drain underneath the condenser coil could be clogged from various dirt or debris over the years, causing the drain to overflow and cause water to leak onto your floor.
This sort of blockage could require an auger to clear out what is in the drain. If that doesn't do the trick, an HVAC repair technician from a company like Total Comfort Heating & Air Condition can look into the problem further.
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