Your air conditioning system features various components that work together to cool your home. Some of them, like the fans in the outdoor unit and the refrigerant lines that connect both the outdoor and indoor units, are immediately obvious.
Others, not so much.
One such component that works quietly in the background is the evaporator coil. Let’s look at the evaporator coil and its role in your AC’s cooling performance.
What Is the Evaporator Coil?
The evaporator coil helps absorb heat and moisture from the air inside your home. It works alongside the condenser coil to run the heat exchange cycle and produce the cool air you enjoy within your home.
The evaporator coil doesn’t actively do anything. It just acts as a sink by soaking up the warm air and moisture from your indoor space and transferring it to the refrigerant running inside the coils.
When the refrigerant completes the round-trip to the condenser and back, the evaporator coil will warm it up again by soaking up more of the heat in your space. That’s essentially how the evaporator coil works.
The Location of the Evaporator Coil
You’ve probably never noticed the evaporator coil because it sits safely inside your air conditioner’s indoor unit. You’ll have to open up the indoor unit to see it. Of course, it’s not a good idea to do this on your own. If you have to access the evaporator coil, call in an experienced HVAC technician.
Get Expert Guidance From Your Local Pros
Do you have other questions about the cooling process? >Get in touch with the crew at Simply Efficient today – call (206) 492-4215 to schedule a consultation.
FAQs
Can the Evaporator Coil Get Damaged?
The evaporator coil can get damaged if it’s handled carelessly. This is especially likely when inexperienced DIY enthusiasts try AC coil cleaning. Bending the coils will stop them from working effectively and hamper the AC cooling.
Evaporator coils can also develop pinhole leaks over time due to the chemical interaction between the coil material and the chemicals in your household air. Fortunately, it can take ages for these pin leaks to appear, if they ever do.
What Happens When the Evaporator Coil Gets Dirty?
A dirty evaporator coil has less surface area for the heat absorption process. This sets off a chain reaction which is bad for AC efficiency. Your air conditioner will work too hard or run longer cycles to keep your home cool.
Keeping the coil clean through regular coil maintenance is one of the best ways to keep your air conditioner working at optimum capacity.
