Air Conditioning Evaporator Coil cleaning
 

Hi, We were just told by our cooling system service person that we should have our Evaporator Coil cleaned. They want $300 to do it. Does this sound like something we should do? Does the price sound reasonable. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks!

Sorry to say but $300 is excessive. It is a true do it yourself job.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/AC-Safe-...-921/206740351

Here's a video, there might be an ad at the beginning

Cleaning the Evaporator Coils

What are you paying the cooling system person to do? Cleaning the evaporator coil and the condenser coil (outside unit) should be part of a regular maintenance service which should cost less than $100 to check out the entire system. But, if you have been replacing your filter regularly, the evaporator coil shouldn't need to be cleaned. Personally, I never hire an HVAC company unless the system fails. I change the filters and pour vinegar down the condensate drain line to prevent it from clogging. Those are very easy things to do yourself. An HVAC company really cannot do anything on a regular basis that will prevent your system from failing. But, $300 is way too high to clean the coil.

I have done both, the interior and exterior coils on a six year old unit.

The interior uses a soap like a degreaser something like totally awesome, purple
Power, or simple green. It was for coil cleaning so it was overpriced. The exterior uses an acidic cleaner which foams and gets rid of what little oxidation there was. You hose it off to stop the foaming. Also a purpose specific cleaner.

Looking at the end state neither needed it.

Edit to add: it did not make one bit of energy savings, judging by my energy monitor which takes 10,000 samples a second.

$300 is a great price if they were doing the entire neighborhood. I think I paid about $65 or $75 with a tune-up. Chuck Farrell 352-633-9364.

Usually the scams are condemning the compressor when it only needs a capacitor. Overcharging for an evaporator cleaning is a new one. Perhaps there is more to it. For that price he should have given you a much more detailed explanation. Obviously you should get a second opinion, even if it is over the phone.

Also there are different schools of thought about chemicals on coils, especially acid. A seriously neglected evaporator coil may need an acid cleaning but that is unusual for a residence. If they do an acid wash then it would be time consuming as it would require much time flushing with water afterwards.

You can get a spray foam cleaner at Home Depot that does a great job. Just spray it on the coil and it’s done. Depending on how bad the coil is it may take several applications.

Have my unit serviced 2 times a year..Included with the service

My hubby pipe fitter, installed commercial heating, air, Chicago for 40 years said that is the reason you have a $50 filter in your unit. Not necessary

This is basically a scam I do this every year very easy thakes about 30minutes. Be aware the next issue they will try and sell you is A/C capacitor $100+ labor service person claims when they start to buldge its time to replace available Amazon less than $18. Filter large $75 can be purchased filters are us 2 for $30. Water sensor in overflow line $50 Amazon $12

I would immediately look for a new A/C company.

We buy merv 13 filters for approx $20, replace once a year--the filter is in front of the evap coil, if it does its job, no cleaning necessary

The pipe fitter is correct--you don't have to clean the evap coil

It should be a part of the normal annual service. I checked my last receipt.
You've got to ask yourself, what is the $300 cleaning going to do that should have been done already by the original servicer? If there were something that dirty, (can't imagine what), it should have been shown to you and taken care of on the spot.
They might be in the "Pandemic Make-up for Lost Business" mode.

I would run away from this company and do nothing until the next service with a different company next year.

I have no experience (yet) with the Chuck Farrell mentioned in an earlier post, but I have read countless good things on this forum about him.

Sounds like a lot for something not likely necessary. You can do that and the filter etc. yourself for a fraction of the cost, see other posts for info. I use Muns & Munns for biannual maintenance (ac in spring, heat in fall). They do my ac with new filter for $129. More than DIY, but well worth the peace of mind.