Does Cleaning Air Conditioning Coils Help?

Surprisingly, we found that dirty air conditioner condensers often perform better than clean ones. The change in condenser coil heat transfer performance ranged from a 7 percent increase to a 7 percent decrease for the coils we tested. ... Most of the condenser coils we tested in the lab were cleaner than both of those.

What happens if you don't clean your AC coils?

The short answer. Dirt & grime on AC coils makes it harder for your equipment to transfer heat. That means it has to run longer and work harder to do it's job, using more energy and causing parts to wear and break down. Dirty coils also get corroded which leads to refrigerant leaks.

What is the best thing to use to clean air conditioner coils?

If you prefer not to use a commercial cleaner, a mild detergent and water works just as well sometimes to clean the coils. Mix a simple detergent and warm water in a spray bottle or garden sprayer. Spray the solution onto the evaporator coils and give it a few minutes to soak in and loosen the dirt and debris.