One essential part of keeping an HVAC system properly maintained is cleaning some of the system’s different components. Without taking this important step, you’ll eventually end up with your HVAC performing poorly and not being as energy efficient as it should be. Duct cleaning and AC cleaning are both important maintenance tasks and are two completely different services even if you could have both performed simultaneously. In this article, we’ll explain all you need to know about AC cleaning and duct cleaning including how they work and why each service is necessary.
How AC Cleaning Works and Why It’s Important
AC cleaning removes dust, dirt and debris from the two air conditioning coils. Air conditioning systems have an evaporator coil located within the air handler inside the building and a condenser coil located in the outdoor AC condenser unit. Air conditioning works by using a special chemical refrigerant to capture and remove heat from the air within a building and then transfer and release this heat into the air outside. It works because the heat in the air flowing through the air handler is naturally absorbed by the cold refrigerant in the evaporator coil. The refrigerant then gets pumped outside into the condenser unit and all of the heat then gets released into the air blowing over the condenser coil.
Keeping these coils clean ensures that this heat transfer process works effectively and the AC system can quickly cool the building. If either coil is too dirty, the grime acts as an insulator. Consequently, the AC system won’t perform nearly as well as it should. The issue with a dirty evaporator coil is that the dust shields the coil so that the warm air moving through the air handler can’t come into direct contact with the refrigerant tubes. The refrigerant in the tubes can’t capture nearly as much heat, resulting in the AC system taking longer to cool. The reverse is also true when the unit tries to dispel heat. If the refrigerant isn’t absorbing sufficient heat, the evaporator coil can get so cold that the condensation quickly freezes. Once this happens, the AC system just ends up circulating hot air around the building since the ice on the coil prevents the refrigerant from capturing any heat whatsoever. You can also damage the compressor in the outdoor AC unit if the system continues to run when the evaporator coil is frozen.
How Often Should an AC System Be Cleaned?
AC cleaning generally isn’t something you can do yourself due to the difficulty in accessing the coils. Some HVAC systems have an access panel on the air handler, but others require you to cut a hole in the air handler to access the evaporator coil. To access the condenser coil in the outdoor unit, you usually need to remove the condenser fan. This isn’t as easy as you might think and you could easily damage the wiring when trying to remove the fan or cause damage to other components when cleaning the coil.
These issues are why you should always hire a certified HVAC technician whenever your AC needs to be cleaned. Generally, AC cleaning should always be done once a year as part of your annual cooling maintenance. When maintaining an AC system, the technician will also perform other tasks and checks to make sure that everything works properly. Annual maintenance also helps boost the energy efficiency of an AC system and is important for ensuring the system and all of its components last as long as possible. Annual maintenance programs also come with additional benefits like discounts on repairs and priority service.
How Duct Cleaning Works and What Benefits It Provides
Duct cleaning is also not something you can do on your own. The only way to clean a home’s air ducts properly is to seal the vents and attach a powerful industrial-strength vacuum to the main duct. Sealing up the vents allows the vacuum to create negative pressure so that it can easily suck out the dirt and debris from the entire ductwork system. In most cases, an HVAC technician will attach the vacuum by cutting a hole in the main duct and then sealing around the vacuum hose. There are also times when they may first use a spinning brush to loosen all of the debris up and ensure that the ductwork system gets fully cleaned.
Duct cleaning is often done after a duct inspection. You cannot create a vacuum in ducts that have holes or leaks. Technicians will often use a camera and will physically inspect exposed ducts for signs that they need to be re-sealed. Older ducts may have corroded sections that need to be fully replaced before the cleaning can begin. Most companies who provide duct cleaning services will also do duct inspections, repairs and re-sealing.
Professional duct cleaning provides benefits in terms of improving indoor air quality as well as the energy efficiency of the HVAC system. When you have your ducts cleaned, you won’t have to worry about your HVAC spreading lots of dust, pollen, dust mite parts and other allergens around your house. Inspected and cleaned ducts will not have places where mice can enter and leave droppings that pollute your home.
Another issue with debris buildup inside your air ducts is that it essentially creates barriers that partially block off the airflow. That means the HVAC system will cool and heat less effectively and use more energy than it would if your ducts were clean and the system continually circulated the proper volume of air.
How Often Should Ducts Be Cleaned?
While AC cleaning is something that should always be done yearly, duct cleaning doesn’t need to be done as often. Most experts say that you’re fine just to have it done every five years, while others recommend having it done every three years or so. Some signs can indicate your ducts are quite dirty and should be cleaned. The most obvious one is if you notice lots of dust blowing around when your AC or heating is on. Another thing to watch for is if the covers on all of your hot and cold air supply vents keep getting clogged up with debris. It’s also a good idea to schedule a duct cleaning service after finishing any remodeling or renovations due to all of the dust that any type of construction project creates.
If you need duct cleaning, AC cleaning or any other type of HVAC maintenance in the San Antonio area, Cowboys Air Conditioning & Heating is here to help. We specialize in the full range of air conditioning and heating maintenance services and have what it takes to ensure your HVAC works efficiently all year long. You can also count on us for installation and repairs, and we’re available 24/7 for any emergencies. To schedule a maintenance appointment or any other air conditioning, heating or indoor air quality service, contact us today.
