What’s an Evaporator Coil?

Though the components of your HVAC system might often seem mysterious, the evaporator coil is one to recognize.

Simply, the evaporator coil cools the refrigerant in your HVAC and allows heat absorption, lowering the air temperature in your house. Keeping the evaporator coil clean ensures optimal air conditioning and low energy costs.

In this blog post, the Harris Air Service pros take you through Evaporator Coils 101 — from locating, maintaining, and cleaning the coil to troubleshooting common problems. We’ll even explain when to contact locally owned and operated Harris Air for same-day professional maintenance, repairs, or replacement.

Understanding the Evaporator Coil

So, what’s an evaporator coil, and what does it do? In the closed-loop system of your HVAC’s heat transfer process, the evaporator coil is the part of your air conditioner or heat pump that uses refrigerant to absorb heat and moisture from your home.

Why is it called a closed-loop system? Cooling your home begins outdoors, where refrigerant enters the evaporator coil through copper tubing. As the process moves indoors, your AC compressor blows air over the refrigerant, thus absorbing heat.

This air contains moisture that turns to condensation on the coils and is moved into the drain pan, cooling your home. The system is closed when the refrigerant flows back to the outdoor unit, heat transfers to outdoor air, and the process begins again.

It’s easy to see why such a complex process requires regular evaporator coil maintenance.

Maintaining a Clean Evaporator Coil

Cleaning the evaporator coil twice a year — during spring and at the end of summer — is critical to extending the life of your evaporator coil and, in turn, your HVAC system. Use a can of condensed air to remove large particles around the coil. For anything remaining, use a mild detergent solution and cloth.

Preventative maintenance, like replacing your HVAC air filters, keeps your evaporator coil in top shape.

Often, we forget these tasks. Talk to one of our courteous, customer-centered technicians today to start a professional preventative maintenance plan.

Common Problems and Solutions

Check the evaporator coil if you notice decreased air handling performance or hear strange noises, including frequent cycling.

Here are some troubleshooting strategies:

First, turn off the AC to prevent damage. If you haven’t replaced your air filter in over a month, do so soon. Check the blower on your unit for dirt or blockages. Finally, it’s time to check the evaporator coil.

If corrosion exists, use a cloth or soft brush to remove the particles. Follow this step with a light cleaning using water and mild detergent.

However, if you see ice buildup on the coil, it’s likely caused by a refrigerant leak, faulty wiring, or a broken fan. In any of these cases, Harris Air Services is here to help.

Locating and Accessing the Evaporator Coil

At this point, you might wonder: Where is this elusive coil? Your easiest reference point is the blower fan housed inside the air handler. Once you find the air handler, your evaporator coil is inside or nearby. To access the coil, find the panel under the air handler and unscrew it or lift it from its clips.

Replacing the Evaporator Coil

An evaporator coil is easily purchasable but difficult to install. Often, evaporator coils must be replaced because of leaks, which means handling toxic refrigerant. This task should be left to professionals so you don’t accidentally ruin other areas of your HVAC system.

In most cases, when an evaporator coil reaches between 10 and 15 years old, it has reached the end of its lifespan. Harris Air offers free estimates and financing options to help you with replacements.

When You’ve Done Your Best

Looking for leaks and dust buildup and performing a quick coil cleaning will likely restore the cool home environment you need to escape the Texas heat. But if you’ve tried everything and still don’t know what’s wrong, that’s okay. Harris Air’s expert technicians are here to find a solution.

If your evaporator coil has you stumped, book an appointment with Harris Air Services today.