My husband and I have spent a lot of time consulting with an architect. After living in our cramped, starter home for the past 11 years, we were finally ready to make some needed changes to it. We have added an extra 600 square feet of space onto our house. Before the construction began, we finalized the plans for our new heating and air conditioning unit with our HVAC contractor. Because our home was going to be substantially bigger than it is now, we purchased a larger HVAC system. We also installed a new, digital thermostat inside my home. On this blog, I hope you will discover the best types of HVAC units to buy for mid-size homes. Enjoy!
An AC unit depends on its coils to extract heat from the air in your house and then expel heat into the outside air. Each set of coils has its own challenges. Because they are located outside, condenser coils are prone to get dirty, and if evaporator coils do not get enough air flow, they can freeze the water vapor in the air, which coats the coils with ice. As a homeowner, you should know how to troubleshoot both of these problems.
Condenser Coils
Whenever you see a thick coat of stuck-on gunk coating your condenser coils, they are in need of a cleaning. Use these steps:
1. Turn the thermostat to the "off" position.
2. Remove the screws that hold the protective grid that surrounds the coils. Place them in a plastic bag or container to help you keep track of them.
3. Carefully remove the grid and set it to one side.
4. Spray a coil cleaner onto the fins that make up the coils and let it sit long enough for the solvents to work.
5. Scrub your coils clean with a stiff-bristle brush.
6. Replace the protective grid and then the screws.
7. Turn the thermostat to the "on" position.
Evaporator Coils
If you have iced-over evaporator coils, the first thing you should do is check your filter. Chances are that it is dirty and needs to be replaced. To remove the ice on your coils, follow these steps:
1. Turn the thermostat to the "off" position.
2. Remove the door or panel that covers the coils.
3. Place towels and/or buckets beneath the coils to catch the water that drips off of them.
4. Wait until all the ice on the coils melts.
5. If the ice is taking too long to melt, do not chip at it. You can puncture the fins and cause a refrigerant leak, which can only be repaired by an HVAC professional. Instead, use a hairdryer to speed up the process.
6. When all the ice has melted, replace the access panel.
7. Turn the thermostat to the "on" position.
As long as you change your filter regularly, you should not have to worry about lack of airflow causing your evaporator coils to freeze. On the other hand, condenser coils tend to get dirty, so check them regularly and clean them when necessary. A little coil maintenance will help to keep your HVAC system running at its optimum level.
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