One of the simplest ways to keep your air conditioning unit running efficiently is to have your condenser coils cleaned. This is something that can often be overlooked with an AC unit, but is vital to the life and effectiveness of your air conditioner. In the picture to the left, you can see our Manager, Jason, cleaning a dirty condenser coil on top of a commercial building. Over time, dust and debris has built up inside the unit, causing restricted airflow. This forces the compressor to run at full power for longer periods of time, which of course increases utility bills. The U.S. Department of Energy says that a dirty condenser coil could potentially increase your energy bill by up to 30%.
Effects of a Dirty Condenser Coil
Dirty condenser coils make your HVAC system work harder, increasing your energy bill as discussed above. Not only does overworking your air conditioner cost more money, but it also lowers the lifespan of the system. Which in turn may cause other components to fail in the system. By ensuring the condenser coil is clean, your home or business can also cool itself more quickly by allowing the system to cool more efficiently.
When To Get Your Condenser Coils Cleaned
At Patterson Heating & Air Conditioning, we recommend that your condenser coils should be cleaned at least once per year. Along with new filter and the correct refrigerant level, having your coil cleaned is a simple way to maintain your unit’s proper efficiency level. We recommend getting this done before the transition into Summer. The last thing anyone wants is for their air conditioning to fail in the middle of a heat wave- especially to something as avoidable as dirty condenser coils!
If it’s been over a year or you aren’t sure when your coils have been cleaned last, chances are it’s probably time. Give us a call at Patterson Heating & Air Conditioning to set up an appointment to have your coils cleaned before the Summer heat hits!
