Evaporator Coil Go Bad? How It Can Affect Your AC & How To Fix It

If you notice that your home's air conditioning takes too long to cool down your home, it can because the evaporator coil located in your air conditioner is damaged or dirty. As a homeowner, it's important to understand how this part can affect your HVAC system and how you can fix the problem

How A Damaged Evaporator Coil Affects Your AC

Your evaporator coil plays a vital role in how your air conditioner produces cold air. It starts when your HVAC system draws in the warm air inside your home and moves it past the evaporator coil. This coil has coolant inside it that quickly removes the moisture, lowering the temperature of the air. You can compare it to how a cold glass of water on a hot summer day removes moisture from the air surrounding the glass, producing condensation.

It's possible that the evaporator coil is dirty on the inside, which can happen when the coil is cracked and allows dirt inside it. The coolant is unable to touch the outside of the coil as well, which makes it difficult for the moisture in the air to be removed. A crack can also cause the coolant to leak, which will reduce how cold the evaporator coil can be, causing it to work inefficiently.

How A Damaged Evaporator Coil Is Fixed

Your evaporator coil can either be repaired or replaced, depending on how much damage has been done to the evaporator coil itself. It's possible that you only have damage to the valve core or need to tighten the fittings that connect everything together. These are easy repairs to have done if it's determined that is what is causing the coolant leak.

Unfortunately, the problem could be from an evaporator coil that is damaged beyond repair. In that instance, it may require completely replacing the air conditioner. The price starts on the low end of $3,000 for a basic two-ton unit, or as much as $10,000 for a high-end model that is big enough to cool down a large home.

A properly functioning air conditioner should not have any issues cooling down your home. Do not let it get to the point where the unit needs to be completely replaced by calling professionals like Wright Total Indoor Comfort at the first sign of trouble. You can even get an annual inspection of your HVAC system, allowing you to find potential damage early on and it still can be repaired.


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