Summertime’s difficult on all of us! Whether it be the unstoppable heat that we’re all dealing with on a daily basis, or the fallout from electricity bills skyrocketing, it’s tough sailings for all of us.

Now, it’s finally time to break out the old air conditioners! But wait: many of these aren’t working quite as well as they used to. It’s been months since they were turned on, and upkeep is required. That’s why we’re going to share some tips on how to clean an AC’s evaporator coil!

What’s an Evaporator Coil and Why Should I Care?

Anyone who’s been around an air conditioner for long enough can recognize evaporator coils on sight, even if they’re unfamiliar with the term. An evaporator coil is the combination of copper tubes underlying a metallic mesh, and it’s how an AC unit provides cool air.

It removes the heat from circulating air and sends it to the condenser coil, which further cools it down. An evaporator coil’s essential to a working AC, and we’ll discuss how to maintain one in the coming paragraphs.

Dirty Evaporator Coils Mean High Bills and Low Cooling:

Over time, either due to neglect or the surroundings, an evaporator coil will get dirty. Layers of dirt and grime gathering over the appliance will lead to problems arising. Since the coil can no longer stay in complete contact with the circulating air, it will no longer be able to remove heat effectively. This both puts strain on the implement itself, as well as the following condenser coil. The end result means a rise in energy consumption that can climb up to 30% of the normal supply.

There’s also the factor to consider that this excessive energy strain on not one, but two components of an AC unit will lead to future problems arising. Parts will wear out quicker than usual, upkeep will cost more, and the same air conditioner that’s typically a relief in the summers will become an unbearable hassle.

Is It Dangerous to Mess with an Evaporator Coil?

Look, I get it: no one wants to fiddle with electronic gadgets and appliances. We hardly understand how they work, and mistakes can cost up to thousands in either maintenance (or healthcare, if you get electrocuted). However, there’s absolutely nothing to worry about. Cleaning an evaporator coil needs no heavy machinery or legwork. Just some basic safety measures and common household items are all that we’ll need.

Where Do I Even Begin with Cleaning?

So, now that we’ve got the basics covered, let’s get into the fun part: cleaning! We’ll start by making a list of the necessary items, which is a rather short list to boot. Please note that depending on the air conditioner, some of the required instruments can be subject to change. Now, for the list, we’ll need:

A screwdriver
A wrench (preferably a small combination box or a key wrench)
A small container; Tupperware or otherwise
A detergent (any brand of your preference)
A spray bottle
A brush
A cloth/rag

Now for the Fun Part: The Work!

I of course use the word fun in a relatively sardonic manner since any amount of manual labor can be annoying. However, I personally really like cleaning stuff: the end result makes everything worth it. I’ll break down the entire process in a step-by-step manner. Try to keep up and keep spritzing along!

Step 1: Safety Measures
- These are simple, but imperative parts of dealing with ACs, or any electronic devices as a whole. Turn off the electricity supply, wear shoes, and if possible, wear gloves
Step 2: Locating The Evaporator Coil
- This is where our screwdriver and/or wrench comes in handy. Remove your AC’s access panel, safely store the nuts and bolts in a small container
Step 3: The Cleaning Material
- Take the spray bottle, and add a healthy amount of detergent to it. Follow this up with warm water (just shy of half in quantity), and mix the contents thoroughly
Step 4: Spray On, Fellow Soldier!
- Using the spray bottle, coat the evaporator coil’s contents with the detergent mixture. Be sure to coat all every possible surface; this will ensure that all dirt and grime is moisturized and, therefore, easier to remove
Step 5: Scrub Away Like There’s No Tomorrow
- Okay, so the title to this step is just me having fun. There’s no need to be excessively exuberant: just use your cloth to remove as much of the grime as possible. Keep washing the cloth in warm water at intervals to remove its unclean contents
Step 6: Time to Brush-On, Brush Off
- A cloth will only help you reach large, obvious locations. For nooks and crannies, it’s time to break out the brush. Again, there’s no need for overt enthusiasm. Gently brush until you’re positive that all areas have been covered.
Step 7: Back Where We Started
- Take the panel, screw on all the nuts and bolts in their correct places, and voila! You’re done with cleaning an evaporator coil!

Some Basic Tips and Guidelines:

This is just some essential advice that’s helpful for any sort of legwork and thus applies to cleaning a coil as well. Remember that such work, while easy in concept, does still take about 25 minutes up to half an hour. Perhaps consider starting in the evening, when one doesn’t need an air conditioner’s cooling as much.

Secondly, if you’re already taking time out of your day to clean your evaporator coil, might as well make the most of it. Remove your AC’s front panel and quickly dust away your filters as well. Otherwise, regardless of an evaporator coil’s cleanliness, the end result still won’t be fully energy-efficient.

Conclusion – That Wasn’t So Hard!

So, congratulations: you’ve managed to clean your very first evaporator coil. There’s no need to repeat this action all too often. Once right when summers start, and once in the middle of the season is more than enough to keep things comfy. Best of luck, and I hope this article was of huge help!