You need to have your HVAC system regularly serviced by professional technicians. The electrical and gas components within the condenser, evaporator, and furnace are complicated and should not be tinkered with, except by licensed professionals. But there are several things that you can do on your own to maintain your system. Even the evaporator unit can benefit from a basic DIY cleaning. Most people don't even know where the evaporator is or what it does, but this article will show you how easy it is to clean it:
What the Evaporator Does
The evaporator is just one part of heat transfer system. In coordination with the condenser, the evaporator keeps refrigerant running through your system to keep the furnace cool and efficient. Evaporator does much more than this, but the details are too technical for most. All you need to know is that you can easily clean your evaporator to improve its every day functioning.
Where is the Evaporator?
Evaporator is usually in the main furnace compartment, or in a separate compartment above the furnace. The compartment that stores the evaporator should be a box that is less than 2' on each side. You need to open up this box and find the evaporator. Most evaporators have a pyramid shape or A-shape. You will see that it is a metal component, with copper tubes that bend back and forth. The space in between the tubes can be limited, and this is where dirt and dust can accumulate. Once you identify your evaporator and you are ready to work on it, you should shut down the power to the unit just to be safe. Also, make sure that your thermostat is set to off.
Cleaning the Evaporator
The trick is to clean all this out without bending or puncturing or kinking the tubes. A toothbrush will work well, but first, try to simply vacuum out all the dust with a hose vacuum. The dust will only stay stuck to the evaporator if there is moisture within the unit. With a toothbrush and a little bit of water, you can definitely remove the more stubborn dirt buildup.
Cleaning the furnace evaporator is obviously simple work, as you can see. It is definitely a worthwhile investment because it doesn't require any money and it goes very quickly. In the long run, it could even save you money by increasing the efficiency of your furnace.
Contact a company like Airwaves Heating & Air Inc for more information and assistance.
