HOW A DIRTY AIR CONDITIONER CAN DRAIN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT

Since it's spring, you may have a list of spring cleaning jobs to be done. But if you're ignoring your air conditioner, you may be making a grave mistake.

What’s the payoff?

Simple:

• Summertime comfort
• Lower cooling bills
• Longer air conditioner life

What’s not to love? In this article we’ll explain:

• Why air conditioner cleaning is so important
• How to clean air conditioner condenser coils

Dirt—an air conditioner’s (and your bank account’s) worst enemy

Your air conditioner’s outside unit is exposed to the elements. Also, the outside fan pulls in air along with other dirt and debris into the unit. So, it usually becomes a giant dirt/debris collector. However, your outside unit needs to be free of dirt in order to work properly.

Here’s why: The outside unit’s job is to disperse heat from its refrigerant coils (called condenser coils). The fan in the unit pulls air over the coils to help the heat disperse from the refrigerant until the refrigerant condenses into a liquid.

That’s why they’re called condenser coils.

Once in a liquid form, the refrigerant flows back into your air conditioner’s inside unit so it can absorb the heat in your home’s air. Side note: Yes, your air conditioner does not “add” cool air. It just removes the heat from your home’s indoor air!

(Learn more about the air conditioner refrigeration cycle)

But if the condenser coils are dirty, they can’t properly disperse the heat. Even a small buildup of dirt and dust can cause problems because:

• The dirt adds resistance to airflow, reducing the amount of air flowing over the coil.
• The dirt works as an insulator by slowing heat transfer between the refrigerant and the air.
• So, if your coils can’t properly disperse the heat, then this happens:
• The air conditioner’s energy efficiency drops dramatically, leading to high energy bills.
• You’re not comfortable because the air conditioner can’t cool your home effectively (not fun during a scorching Georgia summer).
• The life of your air conditioner unit is reduced.

OK, so now you see why cleaning it is so important.

Get maintenance to have your AC professionally cleaned + more

Keeping the air conditioner’s condenser unit clean is an important part of an air conditioner’s health. That’s why we include it as a part of our maintenance visits.

Plus, if you sign up for our custom maintenance plan, we keep track of when your AC needs maintenance, so you don’t have to.

Ragsdale  has been serving the metro Atlanta area for over 25 years. Contact us online for more information on how we can help you.