how to clean air conditioner coils indoors

Why is my indoor central air conditioner leaking water? An indoor central air conditioning unit may be leaking water due to a buildup of excess condensation on the internal cold evaporator coil, a blocked condensate drainage pipe, a rusted condensate drain pan, a frozen evaporator coil or improper installation. If water is noticed beneath an air conditioning unit, it is important to unplug the unit first before attempting to diagnose the problem. What is a condensate drain pump? How do you remove bad smells from a central air system? What is an air conditioner drain alert? Most air conditioning units have a dehumidifier built into the design. This dehumidifier works to pull water out of the air by passing it over a chilled evaporator coil in the body of the unit. On a particularly humid day, the dehumidifier pulls more moisture out of the air than normal. The water builds up on the evaporator coil in excessive amounts and could overflow the drainage pipe or leak through the unit's drain pan.

If the drainage pipe becomes obstructed by dirt, leaves or insects, the water formed on the evaporation coil can overflow and leak out of the unit. Ice can also build up on the evaporator coil if the air conditioning unit is not properly ventilated due to a dirty air filter.
sharper image air purifier gpOnce the air filter is changed, the ice melts from the coil and could leak out of the unit.
class 100 clean room airflowFinally, if the air conditioning unit was installed on a slant, this could cause the water to run off of the drain pan and leak out of the unit.
air cleaner cover upside down Where is the drain pipe in a central air conditioner? A drain pipe for a central air conditioner system is generally found around or behind the location of the unit.

The drain pipe is typically made using a PV... What causes excessive water in an air conditioner drain pan? Blocked condensation drain lines often cause excessive amounts of water in an air conditioner drain pan. These lines are designed to funnel excess water fr... How do you clean air conditioner drain lines? According to Homestructions, clean air conditioner drain lines by using white vinegar, bleach and water. Using an improvised vacuum cleaner or a mighty pum... What is an air conditioner coil? An air conditioner coil is the part that turns a liquid chemical such as Freon into a gas and absorbs heat while creating cool air. The coil functions as a... Do most fireplaces come with online electric fireplace manuals? Where do you place a dehumidifier for best results? Does salt dissolve faster in hot or cold water? What are the advantages of using a heat pump? How can you troubleshoot a Fedders air conditioning unit? Where can you buy a 24-volt thermostat?

Room air conditioners cool one room at a time and are typically installed in a window or through an exterior wall. Cleaning the filter and coils on your room air conditioner will help it perform better and use less electricity. Unplug the air conditioner before cleaning the coils. The filter and indoor evaporator coil are found behind the air conditioner unit’s removable louvered cover on the inside of the home. Once this cover is removed, wash the foam filter in the kitchen sink with soap and water. Once the filter is removed, the indoor coil is easily identifiable by its aluminum fins. These fins are a little fragile, so be careful not to bend them when cleaning. An old hairbrush works well for brushing surface dirt and lint off the fins. Wear a dust mask to avoid breathing the dust. Brush in the same direction as the slots between the fins so the bristles penetrate between the fins. Before cleaning, you may want to wet the indoor coil with water from a spray bottle to keep the dust from getting airborne.

Dirt trapped deeper in the coil can be removed by spraying a strong household cleanser into the coil, followed by water, which will drain out through the air conditioner’s drain to the outside. The condenser coil must also be cleaned and is located in the portion of your room air conditioner that hangs outside the home. This coil is almost identical to the indoor evaporator coil described above but is more difficult to clean. To examine the condenser coil, go outside and peer through the louvered openings in the air conditioner housing, using a flashlight. If there is a lot of dirt noticeable inside the coil, it’s time to clean it. To do so, you’ll have to remove the air conditioner from the window and perform this job outdoors or in your garage. You can remove the conditioner’s housing by removing a few screws. The dirtiest side of this outdoor coil faces the indoors. You can tape your hairbrush to a paint stir or dowel to help get the brush to the bottom of the coil. Use spray cleaner and light water spray from your garden hose to finish the job.