Air conditioners are designed to keep your house cool and comfortable when the heat is at its peak outside. If the air conditioner suddenly stops throwing cool air, the first thing that comes to mind is there may be something wrong with either the compressor or the coils. After checking these, we call in AC repair services for a thorough inspection. However, homeowners often remain confused between evaporator and condenser coils. So, let’s dig deeper and try to learn the difference between the two and how they work.

The Evaporator Coil

The evaporator coil is designed to extract indoor heat from the air and add it to a refrigerant. It is installed inside the indoor air handler and remains continuously exposed to the flow of warm air from the individual rooms in the house through return ducts. Meanwhile, inside the coils, there are copper tubes that contain a cold vapor of around 40 degrees.

The chilled copper pipes transfer the warm house airflow, which results in the heat energy being readily absorbed by the refrigerant. Next, the cooled air flow is then distributed inside the house via a blower. While the heat from warm air is extracted, it comes in contact with the frigid evaporator coil as well, which results in condensation. As a result, the humidity level in the airflow decreases.

Once the refrigerant leaves the evaporator coil, it flows to the outdoor A/C component through an insulated conduit, which is usually located directly behind the house. Inside the cabinet, there are components like the compressor and condenser coil. The refrigerant enters the compressor, which compresses it and raises the temperature to over 100 degrees of the refrigerant vapor.

The Condenser Coil

From the outside, one might confuse the condenser coil with the evaporator coil. However, the main difference is their functions. The evaporator coil’s main function is to take heat out from the indoor areas. On the other hand, the main function of the condenser coil is that it releases heat to the outside. As the refrigerant circulates in the coil, the heat energy collected from the indoor air of your house is rapidly released and condenses to liquid.

As the heat is released by the refrigerant, a blower installed inside the unit blows the air through the condenser coil passages and helps disperse the air into the outdoor air.

How to Maintain AC Condenser And Evaporator Coils?

Now that we have understood the main difference between evaporator and condenser coils, it is important for you to be aware of the fact that these coils need maintenance as well to keep them running perfectly. The good news is that there is no difference when it comes to maintaining the two.

The maintenance of all such vital components is done through annual expert inspection and cleanup. Every manufacturer recommends a thorough cleanup at least once a year or more depending on the region or location. This allows the expert to determine any minor cracks or damages and repair them beforehand. This helps prolong the life of your air conditioner.

Evaporator Coil Issues

Between the condenser and evaporator coil, the latter tends to experience a continuous flow of air circulated by the blower. Therefore, there is a high chance that the evaporator coil gets accumulated with dirt and dust. This can reduce the efficiency of the evaporator coils and makes heat dispersion relatively difficult.

This means that homeowners should be careful and aware of evaporator coil issues caused by ignorance and negligence and make sure the coils are kept clean at all times. However, keep in mind that the evaporator coil is usually sealed within the air handler and may not be easily accessible to an average do-it-yourself individual.

That said, you will need to call an expert to thoroughly clean the dirt and dust accumulation along with mold growth to keep things running normally.

Condenser Coil Issues

Since the condenser coil is located inside the outdoor unit, it is exposed to external elements. Extreme weather conditions can lead to blockages, while everyday dirt, dust, dead leaves, and shrubs can also contribute to the problem. As a result, the condenser coil needs regular inspection too to keep it running at its optimum.

Final Word

Concluding, both evaporator and condenser coil help absorb or remove heat from the indoor air and produce cool air in return. To help keep them in perfect running condition, make sure to schedule annual inspections and maintenance each year by HVAC contractors Fairfax.