Your air conditioner blowing hot air instead of cool air when the sun is blazing outside can be a frustrating situation. It might be that you need to replace the evaporator coil. Even though it is not an easy task and should be done by a technician from air conditioner repair services, we will guide you through the process in detail so that you can get your air conditioner running in no time.

Step 1

Before you can begin replacing the evaporator coil, wear safety gloves, goggles, and other safety equipment you need. If your air conditioner is using Freon gas, you should be careful. Plus, make sure the gas is not being utilized by the unit and turn off the liquid line feeding the air compressor. Before the replacement process begins, make sure that the gauge is switched to low.

Step 2: 

The next step involves cutting off the compressor. This is going to be the most difficult and intricate part of the process, so make sure you take your time. Plus, ask a friend or a family member to offer a helping hand as well. When you see that the pressure is at zero, shut the valve off on the low side and cut off the compressor immediately. Otherwise, if the compressor runs while there is no gas, you will end up burning it.

Step 3

Locate the tubing that goes from the compressor to the AC’s evaporator coil and cut it. Now, remove the old evaporator coil and replace it with a new evaporator coil. Practice extra care while handling the evaporator. Once in place, do not open the lines.

Check for leaks by pulling a vacuum on the side of the compressor shut-off valve. Then, turn off the vacuum and inspect the levels for around 15 minutes. If the levels are fine, you are good to go. But if you observe that the levels are fluctuating, vacuum again.

Next, close the valve gauges so that the system can maintain the vacuum. Finally, restart the system, open the liquid line along with the gas line leading to the compressor and allow them to function for around 10 minutes. Then, shut down the system and restart.

Why Replace The Evaporator Coil Of Your Air Conditioner?

Although AC components like evaporator coils and compressors are designed to last for years before needing replacement, there could be several reasons contributing to their early replacement. As your air conditioner functions to keep the house cool and comfortable, the refrigerant inside the coils expands and contracts constantly, which leads to the erosion of coils over time. In addition to that, external factors also affect the exterior of the coils.

Therefore, once they are damaged or have turned faulty, your air conditioner will not be able to blow cool air. Additionally, you will notice that the electricity bills have gone up as well.

Should I Replace The Entire Unit Or Just The Evaporator Coil?

It is rare for an air conditioner or evaporator coil to give up at the same time. It is often the case where the air conditioner is working fine but the evaporator coil goes bad. That said, when it comes to the point where you are confused about replacing the entire unit or just the evaporator coil, you need to consider a few factors.

For instance, the age of the unit should be the most important factor. If the unit is decades old, it will be hard to find its replacements. This means that you will have no idea as to when the new evaporator coil gives up as well. So, getting a new unit would be a good idea.

Secondly, consider the cost versus benefit of the replacement. If the replacement cost surpasses the current value of your unit, it is better to replace the unit. It might be that other components like the compressor have turned weak too, reducing the overall efficiency of the unit even if a new evaporator has been installed.

Final Word

Replacing the evaporator coil of your AC can be a tricky task if you are doing it the first time. We hope it’s an easy repair but if not, you should consult HVAC repair services Smithtown regarding repairing vs replacement and the replacement process.