repair your appliances - don't replace them!

Is your air conditioning just blowing warm air? It's possible that there's nothing wrong with the parts. They could just be dirty. The evaporator and condenser coils on an HVAC system have to be cleaned out regularly. If you want to do the maintenance yourself, here's what you need to know.

Cleaning Out the Evaporator Coils

The evaporator coils on an HVAC system are located at the very top of most systems. You need to remove a metal panel to access them. They appear to be a set of coils fashioned into a triangular shape, which will extend back into the HVAC unit. These coils are made out of metal and may collect a lot of dirt between them.

In order to clean them, you need something called evaporator coil foam. It's foam that's specifically designed for this purpose and is sold in many hardware stores. You'll spray this white foam thoroughly around the coils. It will foam up and then slowly melt. As it melts, it will safely collect in the drip pan of the HVAC system and go down a tube to the side of the machine.

You may need to clean the coils multiple times if you haven't cleaned them before. Wait until the foam has completely evaporated before turning the HVAC system on again.

Cleaning Out the Condenser Coils

The condenser coils are on the outside of the property. They are the unit that is outside your home, usually to the side of your home or in the backyard. You need to be less delicate when dealing with these coils. You can use a hose to spray them down. Leaves and dirt can get caught n them, which makes it harder for them to work. 

The condenser tines may also become bent. If the condenser seems to be warped and damaged, this is usually what has happened. You can purchase a special comb that can be used to straighten out these tines. This is going to produce better airflow within the machine itself, which will make it easier to cool the air. It can also save you money on your electricity bill.

Of course, you don't have to do this yourself. If you're worried that you may not be able to access the evaporator coils or condenser coils in your air conditioner, you may want to call a professional instead. Many companies perform low cost services for general maintenance.

For more information, reach out to companies like All Appliance Parts of Sarasota.