Evaporator Coil Issues That Can Affect Your AC's Functions
The evaporator coil is one of the critical components of the air conditioner (AC). The evaporator blows cool air over hot refrigerant to facilitate heat exchange and cool the air. Thus, problems with the coil can grind your AC's functions to a halt. Below are some issues that can prevent the coil from performing at capacity.
Clogged Coil
Too much dirt over the evaporator coil can cause multiple problems. Here are some of those problems.
Insulation
Debris insulates the coil and interferes with heat exchange. Impaired heat exchange means the AC has to work extra hard to cool the house to set temperatures.
Poor Air Quality
Some debris, such as dead insects or bird droppings, is dangerous to human health. Such debris might contaminate the indoor air and cause your household health problems.
Corrosion
Some debris trap moisture and moisture accelerates corrosion. Thus, debris accumulation can also lead to corrosion-related damage to the coil.
Frozen Coil
You also have a serious problem on your hands if there is ice all over your evaporator coil. Effects of a frozen coil include:
- Evaporator coil damage
- AC motor overheating
- Decreased energy efficiency
- Impaired cooling
All the above occur because the AC has to work extra hard to cool the air if ice covers the evaporator coil. Typical causes of frozen evaporator coils include:
- Dirty air filters
- Blocked condensate line
- Thermostat malfunctions
- Damaged evaporator fan
- Refrigerant leaks
Anything that restricts the volume of air flowing over the coil can cause it to freeze. The freezing occurs because the evaporator coil holds the chilled refrigerant. Adequate airflow is necessary to keep the coil warm and prevent it from freezing.
Physical Damage
Physical damage to the evaporator coil comes in these two main ways.
Bent Fins
The AC evaporator has numerous fins to facilitate heat exchange. The fins help by increasing the surface area of the evaporator. A large surface area accelerates heat exchange so your house can cool down fast.
Bent fins reduce the surface area available for heat exchange. With bent fins, your AC will be running but not cooling the house. Inefficient cooling can lead to AC overwork and its associated problems, such as overheating and frequent breakdowns.
Holes and Cracks
Physical damage on the evaporator coil can also occur in the form of holes or cracks on the coil. The holes or cracks can lead to refrigerant leaks. According to inspectapedia.com, low refrigerant pressure can lead to problems such as inefficient cooling, frozen evaporator coil, and energy inefficiency, among other problems.
Reach out to an air conditioning repair service to learn more or get help repairing your AC.