Are you wondering what is a coil on an air conditioner? Given that it is almost summer for some countries, you might want to start learning the basics of AC. Thank the air conditioning coils as they are responsible for making your room cold and comfortable.
The most crucial process is happening around these components, and that is where refrigerants work.
Now, there are two types of coils, and these are evaporator and condenser coils. And we will learn about them separately since coils are a collective term, and both have their own functions that you need to understand. Regardless, taking care of these coils is essential, but learning what they do and their differences is more important.
If you want to learn more about your AC’s coils, you have come to the right place because this article will help you. So read on!
Differences Of Evaporator Coil And Condenser Coil On An Air Conditioner
Before you start maintaining your air conditioner, you must first understand the uses of one of its important parts. The coils in your condenser and evaporator play critical roles in the operation of your air conditioner.
If one of them is not working, you might have to contemplate buying a new one. Since it is essential, we will help you understand the uses of these coils and how they affect the health of your AC system. We have gathered information on what is a coil on an air conditioner? Here they are:
Difference #1. Location and appearance
Your evaporator coil, commonly known as the air conditioner’s evaporator core, is the system’s portion responsible for absorbing heat from the refrigerant. That is to say. It is the source of the chilly air. This component is usually found within or near the air handler, near the blower fan. Because these metals conduct heat well, evaporator coils are built of copper, steel, or aluminum.
The condenser for your air conditioner is housed in the huge, square unit outside your home. Although the term “condenser unit” refers to the entire unit, it consists of several components. Those components include the condenser tubes and fins, the compressor, a fan and copper tubing, and valves and switches.
Difference #2. Purpose
What is the importance of evaporator and condenser coils? Well, they are responsible for distinct aspects of the cooling cycle. Let’s talk about the evaporator coils first.
As previously stated, the evaporator coil is located on the interior of your home’s air handler. Its job is to keep the refrigerant cool enough to ingest heat. The pipes look like the letter “U,” and they’re arranged into panels.
Additionally, the structure is made of metals that have the ability to conduct high heat. Therefore, your AC’s blower fan has the ability to cool the freon, which allows it to stay cold and absorb excess heat. The refrigerant is subsequently compressed, turned to a gas, and expelled from the outside compressor.
You should execute proper maintenance for your AC components to keep them clean and operational. And also to allow the occurrence of heat transmission. On the other hand, the condenser coil’s job is to disperse heat from the compressed refrigerant outside your home.
The refrigerant is transformed from a gas to a liquid once the heat is removed through an air conditioner expansion device while the coolant returns to the coils. And then it cools, gathers more excess heat, and exhausts it to the outside. The process of sending warm air out of your home remains while the air conditioner is running. Evaporator and condenser coils operate together to cool your home.
Thus the evaporator coil would be useless without a condenser coil to complete the second part of the cooling cycle.
Difference #3. Possible problems in the component
The fundamental difference between A/C evaporator and condenser coils is that the condenser is positioned outside and exposed to the weather when it comes to maintenance. Windblown dust and grime, and material such as falling leaves and grass clippings may collect on coil surfaces.
However, condenser coils seldom issue mold since they do not create condensation moisture like evaporator coils. On the other hand, The evaporator coil in most systems is enclosed within the air handler. Therefore, it may not be easily accessible to the ordinary do-it-yourselfer.
Because the evaporator coil is constantly exposed to the airflow cycled by the blower, dust and debris can accumulate. In addition, when airborne particles build a coating on coil surfaces, the efficiency of the critical heat transfer from air to refrigerant is reduced.
As a result of the system running longer “on” cycles to match thermostat settings, this might result in insufficient cooling performance and increased operating costs. Mold contamination is another problem unique to the evaporator coil. Among the tiny particles moving through the HVAC, system airflow is dormant airborne mold spores.
Difference #4. Maintenance
The evaporator coil in most systems is enclosed within the air handler. Therefore, it may not be easily accessible to the ordinary do-it-yourselfer. On the other hand, annual maintenance by a certified HVAC expert involves coil examination and cleaning to eliminate dust and grime.
If mold growth is discovered, the technician will disinfect the evaporator coil and the condensation drip pan beneath the coil with EPA-approved biocides. Turning the electricity to the outdoor unit and hosing down the coil with a garden hose once a year is excellent to keep the condenser coil efficient.
Furthermore, you should examine the upper fan grille for damage caused by a falling limb or other items. Finally, the outside condenser unit must have open space on all sides for air to flow freely into the coil intake vents.
Final Notes
That concludes this article, what is a coil on an air conditioner? Remember to know information about a certain part of your AC before performing maintenance. This would ensure that you know what part of the AC you are fixing. Now that you have the basic knowledge of evaporator and condenser coils, it will come in handy as you encounter these parts when you clean a window air conditioner.