What to Consider When Buying an Air Conditioner Evaporator Coil

When purchasing an air conditioner evaporator coil, there are several considerations that you must take into account. These considerations have to do with the type of evaporator coil needed for your particular brand of air conditioner, the cost of that evaporator coil, and how efficiently that coil will work when installed in your air conditioner. Each of these considerations are important and are discussed in more detail in this article.

The air conditioner evaporator coil is a concealed part that can be exposed when removing the cover to your window unit air conditioner. It should be cleaned on a regular basis, at least twice a year, in order to keep it working properly. When you notice the fins on the air conditioner evaporator coil becoming bent and the air conditioner not cooling properly, it is time to consider replacement of this part.

1. Type of Air Conditioner Evaporator Coil

The type of air conditioner evaporator coil you buy for your air conditioner should be the same original equipment manufacturer (OEM) part or a recommended OEM part. This is important to consider because if you purchase a part that is not compatible, chances are high that it will not work with your air conditioner. In order to determine whether or not the replacement evaporator coil you are looking to buy is the correct one, consult with your owner’s manual or contact the manufacturer of your air conditioner.

2. Cost of the Air Conditioner Evaporator Coil

It is hard to find cost information without consulting a particular manufacturer for a specific brand of air conditioner but research suggests a cost of $300 or more for the individual coil and another cost of $1,000 or more to have it installed when using a certified air conditioner repair technician. This is also an important consideration because depending on the original cost of the air conditioner, you may consider simply purchasing a replacement unit as opposed to replacing the evaporator coil. You should perform this type of analysis before considering spending any money.

The other cost factor that should be taken into consideration is whether the replacement cost can be better used to replace the air conditioner. Depending on the age of your air conditioner, you may be better advised to invest in a newer, more energy-efficient air conditioning system for your home as opposed to investing the time, energy and effort into replacing the evaporator coil in your existing air conditioning system.

3. Efficiency of the Air Conditioner Evaporator Coil

The replacement of the air conditioner’s evaporator coil that is not working efficiently should result in the restoration of your air conditioner to its proper working order. If this does not happen, strong consideration may need to be given toward the investment in a more efficient system as opposed to investing in an older system that will require greater attention over time in order for it to continue to work properly.