AC Component Guide: The Evaporator Coil

Here at Goettl Air Conditioning, we believe that an informed homeowner is a wise homeowner. You should never attempt to service your home cooling system on your own, even if you do your reading and watch an internet tutorial video marathon. That being said, you should have some idea of how the systems that you rely upon in your home actually function. 

One component in your air conditioning system that you may have heard of is the evaporator coil. While you may know the name, you may not understand exactly what this (very important) component actually does. Read on to learn a bit more about how your evaporator coil facilitates the cooling process.

What Does the Evaporator Coil Do?

The evaporator coil resides in your indoor air conditioning unit, and it serves a vital purpose in the operation of the AC at large. It’s one and only function is to get the heat transfer process underway, which it does via the evaporation of refrigerant. Refrigerant is the heat transfer fluid in your AC, and it absorbs heat as it evaporates. Remember, your AC does not generate cool air; it removes heat from the air that is already in your home. As hot air passes over the evaporator coil, its heat is drawn out by evaporating refrigerant. Essentially, this coil functions as the air conditioner’s heat exchanger.

The Coil Must Be Kept Clean

If your evaporator coil encounters operational problems, you are going to struggle in cooling your home. One of the best things that you can do for your AC is simply ensuring that the coil is kept clean. Your AC technicians will clean the coil during routine maintenance. If dust and dirt are allowed to build up on the coil, the heat transfer process can be compromised, putting a lot of strain on your AC, driving up cooling costs even as cooling output drops.

Schedule your AC services in Tucson, AZ with Goettl Air Conditioning.