Your air conditioning system is a complex series of components that work together to successfully cool your home. One of the most important components within your AC is the evaporator. An evaporator consists of coils that work to turn the hot air from the outdoors into the cold air that blows into your home.

While we could get into the technical process of how this process works, unless you’re a fellow HVAC enthusiast, you’re probably not interested. You likely only care about whether or not your system’s evaporator is functioning properly, not its intricacies. If your AC is malfunctioning, here’s how you can tell that it’s probably an issue with the evaporator specifically.

1. Your AC Isn’t Blowing Cold Air

If the air blowing from your AC system feels more lukewarm than it does cold, it’s probably an issue with the evaporator. Specifically, it likely means that your AC is covered with dust or debris. The coils within your evaporator need to be able to convert hot air into cold. When the coils become obstructed, they can’t complete the process efficiently. While it might be tempting to attempt to clean them yourself, these coils can be sensitive, so this task is best left to the professionals.

2. The Unit Feels Like It’s Frozen and Is Leaking Moisture

The reason this component of your AC is called an evaporator is that it literally involves evaporation. When the coils take in the hot air from the outside, they process it through evaporation. This process allows the refrigerant component of your unit to cool the hot air.

Essentially, when the coils are blocked with grime and debris, it obstructs the coils’ ability to allow the evaporation process to occur. This can cause them to freeze up, leading to cold moisture that has nowhere to go. If the unit feels extremely cold or is leaking icy water, it probably means that the evaporator needs a professional cleaning.

3. Your System Has Very Low Pressure

Dirty coils can result in a drop in the temperature of the air coming out of your machine. Likewise, obstructed coils can also result in a drop in the pressure of the air coming out of the system. When the evaporator is trying to push through a layer of dirt, it can result in a weak airflow. Luckily, if this is the culprit behind the low air pressure of your AC, the remedy is as simple as having the evaporator cleaned by a professional.

4. A Foul Odor Is Coming From Your AC

The debris that can accumulate on the coils of your evaporator is allowed to fester in a moist environment, which can result in a buildup of bacteria. When this bacteria enters the stream of air coming out of your machine, it can result in unpleasant odors that not even the strongest air freshener can mask. If you smell something unpleasant every time you use your AC, there’s a strong possibility that a dirty evaporator might be to blame for the stench.

5. The Thermostat Is Working Fine but the AC Isn’t

A common problem with AC systems is a malfunctioning thermostat. However, if your thermostat is fairly new and seems to be functioning properly, then the next likely culprit is the evaporator. If your system is constantly turning on and off or running excessively, but you’ve determined that it isn’t a problem with the thermostat sending it incorrect signals, call a professional. A professional will be able to go into your unit and survey the state of the evaporator to determine if the coils need to be cleaned or replaced.

At MD Air Conditioning & Heating, we don’t recommend that you try to clean the evaporator in your AC on your own. Trust us when we say that it’s not as simple as grabbing a wet rag and wiping it down. Instead, we encourage San Antonio homeowners to call our trusted professionals for all of their AC needs, in addition to any maintenance or repairs that they might need for their heating systems during the colder months. We also provide services for heat pumps along with assessments of your home’s indoor air quality. Call us now if you’re experiencing any of the above problems and suspect that your evaporator needs a professional cleaning.

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