How much does it cost to have evaporator coils cleaned

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How often should evaporator coils be cleaned?
Is AC coil cleaning worth it?
Can I clean my own evaporator coil?
Is evaporator coil cleaning necessary?

01-05-2018, 07:51 AM

33 posts, read 208,436 times

Reputation: 14

I had HVAC technician came to check for issue with my gas furnace not being able to keep up to the registered temperature on the thermostat. Upon checking, he found that the evaporator coil that sitting on top of the furnace was partly clogged with dirt and suggested to clean that up to prevent overheating. Our house is 2 story house with single HVAC system. The cost is $990. Below is the job detail:

Remove and Clean Evaporator Coil
Pump down, removal,cleaning,evacuating and recharge
The evaporator coil is the portion of the AC system that removes the humidity and heat
from the home. A dirty coil will prevent all of the moisture and heat from being removed
and can cause the system to freeze like an ice cube making the system inoperable.

I tried to call some other HVAC companies just to see if the price is reasonable but none can gave me the pricing without paying for diagnostic fee.

Anyone knows or have any idea how much the average cost to service the internal evaporator coil? It is a 1998 HVAC system. Right now, the heating is working fine again. I believe the tech did not do anything other than diagnostics and changing the filter.

He also suggested to replace the whole HVAC system since he found rust spots on the heat exchanger plus the A/C system still using R22 ... I saw it myself and it did not rust that bad... I would say maybe just on the surface only and very limited. We are not considering to do the replacement system pertaining the cost.

Thanks for any advise.

01-07-2018, 08:38 PM

Location: Sandy Springs, GA

2,240 posts, read 2,711,874 times

Reputation: 2861

At $1000 I would probably opt to just replace the dirty or rusting parts.... or maybe replace the entire unit. Ask him what the likelihood is of you having the same problem in a year or two even with the cleaning & repair.

If the system was installed in 1998 then its had a pretty good run so far. Maintenance issues are expected to arise at the 20 year mark.

01-08-2018, 03:14 PM

Location: Ono Island, Orange Beach, AL

10,656 posts, read 11,792,325 times

Reputation: 6932

Wow. That seems expensive. Generally, they are cleaned in-place during your annual maintenance. If you have had this particular company perform your annual maintenance, I'd demand to know why they have not been cleaning the coil as part of their service. A few years back we had to have one of our units cleaned - they removed the coil to clean it. I believe we paid about $450, if memory serves my correctly. Were I you, I'd call for a second opinion.

01-08-2018, 04:07 PM

9,008 posts, read 12,674,706 times

Reputation: 7600

They clean the outside coil as part of the service (even though half the time all they do is use your hose to shoot water at it without even removing the shielding). Cleaning the coil inside the furnace is extra and $300 - $400 sounds about right to get that done.

That shouldn't cost $990. Except I see they have recharge listed...so do they intend to drain all the Freon and then recharge the system when they are done? I can see that pushing the cost up. Maybe you have to do that to clean the furnace coil, but I don't think so.

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How often should evaporator coils be cleaned?

To minimize energy usage and reduce utility costs, the A/C coils should be cleaned at least once a year. It is estimated that dirty evaporator and condenser coils can increase the energy usage of your air conditioning system by over 30 percent.

Is AC coil cleaning worth it?

With HVAC systems accounting for much of the electricity used in your home, regular maintenance will help cut energy waste and lower costs. Cleaning the condenser coil is an important HVAC maintenance task that helps keep your system running efficiently.

Can I clean my own evaporator coil?

Mix a simple detergent and warm water in a spray bottle or garden sprayer. Spray the solution onto the evaporator coils and give it a few minutes to soak in and loosen the dirt and debris. Wipe away any loosened material with a soft brush or cloth and reapply as needed.

Is evaporator coil cleaning necessary?

Evaporator Coil In most situations, coil cleaning is not required annually if filters are replaced regularly. It is recommended that the coils be inspected and the results logged annually to determine the most effective schedule for cleaning.