How to Clean Home Air Conditioning Coils

The coils in an air conditioning system should be cleaned on a regular basis to keep it operating efficiently. Dirty coils can clog up the unit, which can lead to serious problems that can end up costing hundreds of dollars to fix.

Cleaning the coils on an air conditioning unit is something you can easily do by following a few simple steps.

Cleaning Coils on Outside of House

1. Remove the grill on back of the unit so you can have access to the evaporator coils.


2. Attach a hose to a vacuum cleaner and use it to suck any dirt and debris that may be in the unit.


3. Straighten any bent coils you see by using a fin comb. You can purchase a fin comb from most appliance parts stores.


4. Use pruning shears to trim any hedges back that may be hanging over the unit. This should be done to reduce the amount of dirt and debris getting inside the unit.

Cleaning Coils on the Inside of House

1. Remove the grill on the front of the unit so you can have access to the condenser coils. You may need a screwdriver if the grill is secured by screws, but on most units the grill is held on by clips and you would just need to pull it off.


2. Remove the filter that is covering the condenser coils. 


3. Attach a hose to the vacuum cleaner and use it to suck any dirt and/or dust that have built up on the coils.


4. Straighten any bent coils you notice by using a fin comb.


5. Replace the filter in the unit. It is highly recommended that you purchase a new filter instead of putting in the same filter. It can be purchased at most home improvement stores.


6. Replace the front grill on the unit.


7. Use a screwdriver to tighten the screws, if applicable.