Furnaces are complicated appliances, but there are a few simple ways to make yours more productive. If you keep your furnace in top working order, you can be confident that it will be efficient and create strong airflow. Many people don't realize that the furnace actually produces airflow for both the heater and air conditioner in a central HVAC system. So there is never a bad time to clean your furnace. One of the best DIY furnace jobs is to clean the furnace evaporator coils. This article explains the process. You should be able to figure it out even if you have no HVAC experience.
The Location of the Evaporator
The evaporator is an essential component in the heat-transfer process of the furnace. However, for the purpose of cleaning the evaporator, it is less important to know what it does than to know where it is. On most furnaces, the evaporator is located at the top of the unit. It might even be in a separate compartment attached to the condenser cabinet. Most furnaces have a simple diagram that explains what and where all the components are. Either way, you should be able to easily access the evaporator via a small door or removable panel. Most evaporators have an uppercase "A" shape. They consist of copper coils wrapped around an aluminum frame.
The Cleaning of the Evaporator
The key to cleaning the evaporator coils is to remove any dust or dirt buildup between the individual coils. You have to be careful when working with the coils so you don't bend or puncture the copper. This shouldn't be an issue as long as you use a rag or testing device. Just don't use something like a screwdriver to try and scrape all of the dust off of the coils. This might actually be tempting since moist dust can stick very stubbornly to the coils. Instead of trying to scrape the dust off, try using some sort of degreaser or heavy-duty cleaner to help break down the grime. You can also use a hose vacuum to suck any loose dirt out of the coils. Clean out the entire compartment and the surrounding areas.
As you can see, this is a very simple job. Once you know where your evaporator is, you should check on it frequently. Whenever it looks dusty or dirty, give it a quick clean so you can do your part to ensure that your furnace is running efficiently at all times. Call a company such as Collier County Appliance Service, Inc. for help or more information.
