Air Conditioning functions by exchanging hot air from inside a building to the outside air. To do this some very basic refrigeration standards need to take place. One of the most critical pieces that allow this take place is the condenser coil. This is usually the aluminum coil the surrounds the air conditioning compressor.

What occurs inside this outdoor equipment is a very basic state modification of the refrigerant inside the cooling system. The refrigerant that changes from a liquid to a gas inside the indoor coil goes to the outside where the compressor compresses the gas under elevated pressure. When this occurs the gas also becomes extremely hot. The hot gas then departs the compressor to start moving through the long tubing in the condenser coil. While the gas cools it transforms again to a liquid form going back indoors to begin the cycle all over again.

Huge problems start if the condenser coil turns out to be so blocked up with grime that the hot gas in the condenser coil does not cool enough to change the hot air back to a liquid form. When this occurs the cooling process does not occur and then air conditioner runs but is not cooling.

The compressor starts to get very hot and the ultimate outcome will be the death of a compressor. Because of these reasons the condenser coil must be kept sanitary and free of debris at all times when the air conditioner is running. Cleaning the coil is a very basic procedure, Here are a few guidelines to follow when doing this. To clean the coil a number of basic tools are needed. A garden hose with a nozzle, wrenches to take out the condenser fan, a garden sprayer for applying the cleaning solution. The initial thing is to remove the power to the outdoor unit.

There must be an off switch of some type near the condenser. Then remove the fan from the condenser unit. Normally this will be the top of the unit. The fan can normally be laid away carefully without cutting off the wires to the motor.

Carefully wet down the coil using the garden hose. If you have very elevated pressure water where you live be cautious that the water pressure does not curve over the fins on the coil. These are so slim and fragile.

Jason Myers is a professional writer and he writes mostly about heating and air conditioning news. He’s also interested in writing about nutrition advice guides.