The Effect Of Reduced Air Flow Across The Evaporator Coil

11 May 2016
 Categories: , Blog


An air conditioner's refrigerant usually changes states – from a liquid state to a gaseous state – in the evaporator coil. It is this process that causes the cooling of air passing over the coils.

Sufficient airflow over the evaporator coil is necessary not only because it allows the refrigerant to absorb heat from the passing air, but also because it helps to prevent evaporator coil icing. This is because air conditioning systems are usually designed with the heat of the flowing air in mind. They are designed in such a way that the cooling effect of the evaporating refrigerant can be balanced out by the heat of the flowing air. If there is restricted airflow, the cooling effect caused by the evaporating refrigerant will not only be enough to condense air moisture, but also freeze it.

Reduced air conditioning efficiency due to icing

The ice that forms over the coils will then act as an insulating layer. This will reduce the efficiency with which heat is transferred from the warm air to the refrigerant. As a result, your air conditioner will have to work longer and harder in order to keep your home comfortable, something that will not only increase your energy bills, but also reduce the lifespan of your air conditioning system.

The following are some of the things that may be to blame for your airflow-related air conditioning problems.

Dirty air filters

Air conditioner air filters usually help to maintain good air quality. They do this by trapping mold and dust particles. The problem is that in the course of doing their work, they can get clogged. This usually creates airflow problems simply because all the air that passes over the evaporator coils has to pass through the air conditioner filters.

Cleaning an air conditioner's filters is an easy way to free any blocked openings of the filters. However, since wear and tear can affect the functioning of a filter, changing it after every 3 months is a safer bet as far as avoiding filter-related problems is concerned.

Dirty blower fans

An air conditioning system's blower fan is responsible for driving air across the coils. If dirt accumulates on these blades, they will become heavier. This will increase the load on the blower fan's motor and thus reducing its rate at which it wears off. It will also reduce the ability of the fans to drive air across the evaporator coils – dirt accumulation can change the shape of the blades, something that may then reduce the volume of air that they drive to the coil area. Cleaning the blower's blades should be enough to resolve your airflow problems. Contact a business, such as A -1 Cooling & Refrigeration Inc, for more information.   


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