how to clean coils on ac unit

Again, for best results, let the pros handle this as part of a yearly maintenance visit. These are the steps your Trane HVAC technician will take: Turn off the HVAC system at the circuit breaker box. Remove the access panel. Inspect the coil for dust and debris. Use a soft brush or shop vac with a bristle brush attachment to gently loosen and remove as much surface grime as possible. If there is accumulated oil or grease on the evaporator coil, they will use an approved chemical coil cleaner safe for use on evaporator coils and gently rinse and clean them. Inspect the clean coil for refrigerant leaks. Inspect the condensate drain pan and drain line and clean/clear clogs as needed. Replace the drain pan if it’s cracked or corroded. Replace the access panel. Turn the HVAC system back on.

how to clean ac coils

Again, for best results, let the pros handle this as part of a yearly maintenance visit. These are the steps your Trane HVAC technician will take: Turn off the HVAC system at the circuit breaker box. Remove the access panel. Inspect the coil for dust and debris. Use a soft brush or shop vac with a bristle brush attachment to gently loosen and remove as much surface grime as possible. If there is accumulated oil or grease on the evaporator coil, they will use an approved chemical coil cleaner safe for use on evaporator coils and gently rinse and clean them. Inspect the clean coil for refrigerant leaks. Inspect the condensate drain pan and drain line and clean/clear clogs as needed. Replace the drain pan if it’s cracked or corroded. Replace the access panel. Turn the HVAC system back on.

how to clean ac evaporator coils inside house

Again, for best results, let the pros handle this as part of a yearly maintenance visit. These are the steps your Trane HVAC technician will take: Turn off the HVAC system at the circuit breaker box. Remove the access panel. Inspect the coil for dust and debris. Use a soft brush or shop vac with a bristle brush attachment to gently loosen and remove as much surface grime as possible. If there is accumulated oil or grease on the evaporator coil, they will use an approved chemical coil cleaner safe for use on evaporator coils and gently rinse and clean them. Inspect the clean coil for refrigerant leaks. Inspect the condensate drain pan and drain line and clean/clear clogs as needed. Replace the drain pan if it’s cracked or corroded. Replace the access panel. Turn the HVAC system back on.

trane ac cleaning coils

Again, for best results, let the pros handle this as part of a yearly maintenance visit. These are the steps your Trane HVAC technician will take: Turn off the HVAC system at the circuit breaker box. Remove the access panel. Inspect the coil for dust and debris. Use a soft brush or shop vac with a bristle brush attachment to gently loosen and remove as much surface grime as possible. If there is accumulated oil or grease on the evaporator coil, they will use an approved chemical coil cleaner safe for use on evaporator coils and gently rinse and clean them. Inspect the clean coil for refrigerant leaks. Inspect the condensate drain pan and drain line and clean/clear clogs as needed. Replace the drain pan if it’s cracked or corroded. Replace the access panel. Turn the HVAC system back on.

how to clean hvac coils

Again, for best results, let the pros handle this as part of a yearly maintenance visit. These are the steps your Trane HVAC technician will take: Turn off the HVAC system at the circuit breaker box. Remove the access panel. Inspect the coil for dust and debris. Use a soft brush or shop vac with a bristle brush attachment to gently loosen and remove as much surface grime as possible. If there is accumulated oil or grease on the evaporator coil, they will use an approved chemical coil cleaner safe for use on evaporator coils and gently rinse and clean them. Inspect the clean coil for refrigerant leaks. Inspect the condensate drain pan and drain line and clean/clear clogs as needed. Replace the drain pan if it’s cracked or corroded. Replace the access panel. Turn the HVAC system back on.

HVAC Troubleshooting

Follow our interactive troubleshooting guide to find answers to your system’s problems.
Choose from a selection of common HVAC issues or pick your product for help with fixes you can try yourself.

How to Clean Evaporator Coils

Your air conditioner (or heat pump) has two coils – the indoor evaporator coil, and the outdoor condenser coil. They work together with other AC components in the refrigeration cycle that cools your home. Each of these coils can accumulate dust, grime, and other debris, which negatively impacts system performance. That’s why it’s important to clean your AC coils.

While you can partially clean the outdoor condenser coil with a hose, leave the evaporator coil cleaning to the HVAC pros. Why? Because your HVAC system has some high-voltage components, and an untrained person can easily do damage to the system rather than solve a problem.

In addition, if your system is under warranty, DIY maintenance can invalidate the warranty.

When to clean the evaporator coil

We recommend an AC tune-up every spring before the cooling season starts. During the air conditioner maintenance visit, the HVAC technician will inspect your system, and complete a checklist of tasks, including cleaning the evaporator coil. Cleaning the coil once a year should be enough.

Evaporator coil cleaning procedure

Again, for best results, let the pros handle this as part of a yearly maintenance visit. These are the steps your Trane HVAC technician will take.

Turn off the HVAC system at the circuit breaker box.
Remove the access panel.
Inspect the coil for dust and debris.
Use a soft brush or shop vac with a bristle brush attachment to gently loosen and remove as much surface grime as possible.
If there is accumulated oil or grease on the evaporator coil, they will use an approved chemical coil cleaner safe for use on evaporator coils and gently rinse and clean them.
Inspect the clean coil for refrigerant leaks.
Inspect the condensate drain pan and drain line and clean/clear clogs as needed.
Replace the drain pan if it’s cracked or corroded.
Replace the access panel.
Turn the HVAC system back on.

What happens if I have a dirty evaporator coil?

If the evaporator coil gets coated with too much dust and grime, it affects the airflow. This in turn can cause a frozen evaporator coil, which can create even more problems.

How can I keep the evaporator coil clean?

In addition to scheduling yearly AC maintenance, you can stay on top of changing your AC filter. A dirty or clogged filter can lead to a dirty evaporator coil. Change the air filter every 1-3 months depending on the quality of the filter. Check out our HVAC filter maintenance guide for some tips.

How long does an evaporator coil last?

When properly maintained, the evaporator coil can last the life of your AC unit – approximately 15 years. But if your AC unit runs nearly year-round, you may have to replace the coil or your air conditioner before then. In contrast, if you live in a northern state and use the AC less, the coils and AC unit may last longer than 15 years.

Anne Fonda, Content Writer at Trane Technologies

A Content Writer with Trane Technologies, Anne Fonda researches topics and writes for Trane® and associated residential HVAC brands. She works in collaboration with Trane Technologies subject matter experts, offering easy-to-understand, informative content on complex topics. Her goal is to help consumers make informed decisions on the products and services they need.

She has written for HVAC and other service provider websites for over 16 years. Before transitioning to web content writing, Anne had a 14-year stint as an award-winning journalist. She graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism. When she’s not working, Anne enjoys playing word games, reading, gardening, spending time with family, and visiting gardens and museums.

Expert review by Sean Goddard, Product Manager, Coils & Indoor Air Quality