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Your Guide to Air Conditioner Coils

air-conditioner-evaporator-coilWhenever you’re dealing with refrigerant-based air conditioners, you’re bound to hear about coils. But just what are they? In this post, we’ll go over what they are, their purpose, and how to keep them out of trouble.

What Are They?

First, it helps to understand refrigerant. Refrigerant is a chemical that, in air conditioners, is used to transfer warm air from the inside of your home to the outdoors. It does this by changing from a liquid state to a gaseous state. But where does this process take place, exactly? In the coils, of course!

Your coils, then, are two sets of (typically) copper tubing housed in a metal box. We’ve included a picture of one at the top of this post so you can get a mental picture.

How Do They Work?

One set of coils, called the evaporator coil, lives in the indoor unit. This coil is responsible for absorbing the heat from inside your home. It’s this absence of warm air that makes your home feel cooler after you’ve been running the AC.

The other set is housed in the outdoor unit, and it’s called the condenser coil. This coil takes the absorbed heat from the evaporator coil and releases it into the outdoors, thus allowing the evaporator coil to absorb more heat and to repeat the cycle of heat transference.

Caring for Your Coils

You don’t have to do much for your coils to keep them working smoothly. However, there are a couple things to look out for.

Dirty coils

For both coils, dust and dirt can inhibit their functions, causing your AC to malfunction or break down.

In the event that your air filter is clogged, dust and dirt might find its way onto the evaporator coil. If it keeps up for too long, it won’t be able to absorb heat properly, and that can lead to a frozen coil. If your evaporator coil is covered in ice and frost, you should shut off the AC immediately and call a repairman. Let the ice defrost while you wait (don’t chip away at it!).

As for the condenser coil, the very fact that it’s outside has its share of troubles. You’ll want to check it every now and then to ensure it hasn’t become covered in dust or debris. A dirty condenser coil will prevent it from being dissipating heat, which can lead to overheating.

Check for leaks

If your AC is making any strange noises or just isn’t working as well as it should, one thing you can do is try checking for a leak in the coils. These leaks are typically pinhole leaks, so don’t expect to be able to see them easily. Sometimes they create bubbles or noises which makes them more visible. If your unit is clearly leaking refrigerant, it’s best to turn it off and call for repairs immediately.

There are no DIY fixes for leaks, so you’ll have to call for AC repair in Salt Lake City, UT regardless of how the leak formed. Leaks can form due to various kinds of corrosion, but it’s not something that you should expect to see if your system is only a few years old.

Got a problem with your coils? Contact At Your Service Plumbing, Heating & Air today!

 

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Salt Lake City, UT Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing Services

At Your Service Plumbing, Heating & Air provides excellent heating, air conditioning, plumbing, indoor air quality, water treatment and water heater services throughout the greater Salt Lake City, UT area, including the installation of new systems and components, and the replacement of the old, as well as ongoing repair and maintenance. Established in 1980, we have served the home comfort needs of our local community for over 30 years. Whether you need your stop and waste valve replaced or a new "green," energy–efficient HVAC system installed, we can make sure that the job is completed properly. Our HVAC contractors are NATE–certified and we employ Master and Journeyman plumbers. We are confident in our ability to satisfy any issue that may arise in your home, 24 hours a day. Give one of our friendly staff members a call today to learn more about what we can do for your home.

At Your Service Plumbing, Heating & Air offers quality heating, air conditioning and plumbing services throughout the Salt Lake City, UT area, including repair, installation and maintenance.

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When it comes to ensuring that you are comfortable during the winter months in Salt Lake City, you need to make certain that you have an excellent heating system. We offer comprehensive heating services in Salt Lake City, including installation, replacement, repair and maintenance services for a wide variety of equipment, including boilers, furnaces, and radiant heat systems. Whether you’d like to save more on your energy bills from month to month with an energy efficient heater or you want to retrofit a zone control system into your existing furnace setup, we provide heating solutions.

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For truly year–round comfort, your home needs an excellent air conditioner. At Your Service Plumbing, Heating & Air offers excellent air conditioning services throughout the Salt Lake City, UT area, from AC repair to maintenance, installation to replacement. We can make sure that your entire home is cooled to your satisfaction, no matter how hot and unpleasant it gets outside. We want you to feel comfortable in your home, and we have the experience and expertise to make sure that this is the case.

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Our services go well beyond HVAC, however. In addition to providing heating and cooling solutions, we provide a wide range of plumbing services throughout the Salt Lake City, UT area. From whole–house repiping to drain cleaning, water line installation to leak detection, sprinkler system timer repair to kitchen plumbing, we have got you covered. We can make sure that you are able to use water safely, effectively, and efficiently in your home.

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During this very unusual time, we have put a plan in place to do our part to help keep our community safe. First and foremost, we are going to stay CALM, PATIENT, KIND, and POSITIVE!

There is much to consider regarding the COVID-19 virus (Coronavirus) and its possible transmission in your home. While there are various and effective indoor air quality measures available to help protect your safety, including duct sanitization, ultraviolet (UV) germicidal light treatment, and HEPA air filters, they alone cannot protect from all forms of COVID-19 transmission. It is important to follow all official guidelines for preventing the spread of this virus.

Because we have a direct impact on the indoor environment, here are practical steps we are going to take to keep people safe:

  • Wash our hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water
  • Cover our nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing
  • Wash our uniforms every day including cleaning our belts
  • Stay home if we are feeling sick
  • Offer a warm smile and friendly greeting instead of a handshake
  • Wear shoe covers and latex gloves in homes and businesses
  • Wipe down surfaces and equipment touched in a client’s home with disinfectant wipes
  • Wipe down door handles, steering wheels, gear shift lever every day
  • Wipe down pens, clipboards, tablets, cell phones, and anything else passes between techs and clients.
  • We have masks on each truck and will wear them at client’s discretion (Currently the CDC does not recommend that people wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19)
  • We are complying with all recommendations and guidelines from state agencies and will be proactive in our efforts to see that our team members and clients are protected.

As the situation unfolds, we will take each day one at a time and ensure we are being smart, supportive, and helping all those we can in our community.

Thank you for your continued support!