How to Clean AC Coils in 6 Steps

Turn off your air conditioning unit and open the panels to access the coils.

For safety purposes, turn your thermostat off and then the breaker, so there is no possible threat of electrocution. After turning everything off, you can open your unit’s back panels and remove the screws that hold it together. This will give you access to your AC unit’s coils.

Observe how dirty your AC’s coils are.

Depending on the coils’ dirty, you can use different things to clean them. If the coils are not that dirty, you can use compressed air to blow out the dust and debris that are stuck in the coils. You can also opt to use a brush, detergent, or commercial AC cleaning solution for a more precise and deep cleaning process.

Remove all the dirt stuck at the base.

Clear away all the leaves, grass, and other debris stuck on the base of your unit. These could cause your unit to malfunction once they decompose.

Pick your tools and get cleaning.

If you are using a cleaning solution, follow the instructions on the bottle for how clean ac coils. First, ensure you get all the dust and dirt stuck in the coils. Next, spray the cleaning solution onto the coils’ entire surface, ensuring everything is thoroughly covered. Finally, if you use a brush, sweep it gently over the coils to brush away all the trapped debris. Make sure to use a brush with gentle bristles instead of hard brushes that can cause damage to your unit.

Straighten out the bent fins.

This step is optional, but if the coils have some bent fins in them, brush them out with a fin brush to straighten them out. Expanding its exposed surface area will lead to a more efficient air conditioning unit. Doing this extra step will boost the unit’s performance.

Rinse if needed.

If your cleaning solution requires you to rinse your unit, do it. Spray down your unit with clean water to get all the cleaning solutions off the unit.

Learning how to clean your AC coils and how important it is to your unit’s health can help you save a lot of money in the long run. It can prevent future breakdowns, replacements, and high electricity bills. However, investing in a regular maintenance check-up done by professionals is also very important. It will ensure that your unit is functioning at its optimal state and is safe for you and your loved ones to use. So prolong your AC’s lifespan and get cleaning!

ECM Air Conditioning, with its headquarters located in Boynton Beach, FL, provides air conditioning services within Palm Beach County, Broward County, Martin County, and St. Lucie County. If you’re looking to have a new HVAC system installed, we’re on-call and ready to assist you. So if you’re in need of an HVAC installation, don’t hesitate to contact us today to schedule an inspection! Our HVAC installation experts will check your ductwork, measure, check wire sizes, and more before making recommendations to ensure maximum efficiency and comfort. Call us at 561-295-1763 or contact our HVAC installation team online by clicking here.