Posted: 8/14/2006 3:15:17 PM EDT
| does the evaporator ever need to be cleaned?if yes how? |
Yes. Clean it about every year or two, washing from the inside out. The general rule is that the dirtier the climate, the more you clean it. In AZ, because of the dust, we need to do it once a year, normally during the standard 'preparation' cycle where we get it ready and serviced for hard use. In Montana, maybe once every 5 years. Take a trip to your local air conditioning supply store, and they will hook you up with the chemicals and the proper use. By cleaning the coils (condensor) every so often, you increase the efficiency and prolong the unit life. But usually, it is just a spray. Spray it on, let it sit according to directions, and rinse it off with a hose. Oh, and make sure you protect the exposed electrical connections, EG: Run Cap, fan connections, etc. |
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the evaporator is in the plenum(spelling?) chamber right? I just purchased my first home and the prior owners(of 6 years) were into cooking with oils and grease and so the range fan and ducting was totaly plugged up to the point where little to no air would circulate with the fan on. I still need to replace the ducting as it is a firehazard. my question is this, does a 6 year old home need to have the evaporator cleaned out especialy with that type of food cooking going on in the home? also, my plenum chamber is sealed so i will need to create an access pannel by either cutting into it or removeing the screws on the edges. is there a proper method to go about doing this? thanks |
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I believe the evaporator is inside the plenum as posted above. I don't have central air, so I wouldn't know the answer to the original question, but ... My home had 2 chain smokers living there before I moved in. The ductwork was extremely leaky and there was no furnace filter. I wound up ripping all the ductwork out, hosing the 1/2 inch of tarry dust from the inside of the ducts, and replacing it tightly. I also added a furnace filter. |