Indoor Coil – A Guide to Your HVAC Unit
The indoor coil, or evaporator coil, is an essential component of any HVAC Unit. When Arizona’s temps rise, the AC evaporator coil effectively absorbs heat and eliminates moisture from your indoor air, allowing you to stay cool, dry, and comfortable. In a heat pump, the evaporator coil serves a dual purpose in providing year-round comfort: cooling and dehumidifying your air in warm weather, and heating the air when it’s cold outside.
Where is the evaporator coil located?
The HVAC unit in your home houses the heat pump or AC. It can be found inside the air handler in a heat pump system or in a separate HVAC unit next to the furnace. Some people refer to it as the “A” coil due to its shape.
Evaporator coil compared to condenser coil
Your HVAC system consists of two coils: the indoor coil, also known as the evaporator coil, and the outdoor coil, known as the condenser coil.
The condenser coil is located in the outdoor unit, hence why it is referred to as the condenser unit. These coils, along with other components, collaborate to regulate the temperature of the refrigerant and effectively heat or cool your living space.
Typical issues with evaporator coils
There are three key problems that may arise with evaporator coils.
- Dirty evaporator coil – It’s important to hire a licensed professional to clean the evaporator coil of your HVAC unit, as it is a sensitive and high-tech system. This is a crucial part of regular AC maintenance.
- Evaporator coil leak – If the air conditioning system is not cooling properly or has poor airflow, it could be due to a leak in the evaporator coil caused by normal wear and tear or other issues. A professional HVAC technician can identify the issue and recommend a solution.
- Frozen evaporator coil – When your evaporator coil is frozen, it could mean that the coil is dirty, the air ducts are blocked, or there is a refrigerant leak, especially in older units. Cleaning the coil might fix the problem, but if it keeps freezing, you may need to replace the coil.
What does a replacement HVAC indoor coil cost?
Replacing the evaporator coil can be quite expensive, ranging from $600 to $2,000. This price includes the coil and the labor for removing the old coil, recovering the refrigerant, installing the new coil, and refilling the refrigerant.
Consider investing in a new, more efficient HVAC Unit. This can save you money on repairs, depending on the age and condition of your current system. Check out our Repair or Replace Guide for further details.
Need Indoor Coil Cleaning?
Contact Arizona Valley Heating & Cooling to schedule a service call for air conditioning or heat pump repair.
