Clean HVAC Systems Save Energy and Cut Costs
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), have found that dirty condenser and evaporator coils can significantly increase HVAC energy usage and associated utility costs. A dirty condenser coil can increase energy consumption by 30 percent, according to the U.S DOE. The federal government’s Energy Star program asserts that as much as half the energy used in an American’s home goes to heating and cooling, while experts say that American homes are wasting energy by forcing their heating and cooling systems to struggle with dirty, clogged coils that make systems run longer and harder than necessary.
John Schulte, executive director of NADCA, the HVAC Inspection, Maintenance & Restoration Association, say that dirty compressor and evaporator coils can strangle the flow of air through HVAC systems. “If you haven’t had your home heating and cooling system inspected and cleaned within the last five years, you’re wasting energy and money,” said Schulte. “Running a home heating and cooling system with dirty coils is like trying to run a marathon with a dirty rag tied over your face.”
A dirty evaporator coil will decrease airflow, resulting in reduced heat transfer and a decrease in the dehumidification process. This can cause overall air quality to decline and systems to fail, in addition to decreasing the life expectancy of motors due to increased heat while running.
When the HVAC system is running in “cool” mode, heat is exchanged in the condensing coils and the evaporator coils. Foreign materials on these coils act as insulators and inhibit the free flow of air through the coils, decreasing the rate of heat transfer between coil and air which is the basis of most HVAC systems.
Individuals are highly recommended to have an annual coil cleaning as part of every homeowner’s ongoing efforts to promote energy-efficient HVAC system operations. Once a system is properly charged with refrigerant and has good airflow across the indoor coil, only basic service, such as changing filters and cleaning the outdoor unit annually should be needed to insure the system will operate at peak performance.
You should never have a dirty unit serviced. Servicing dirty systems can lead to misdiagnosing a problem and/or faulty or unnecessary repairs. This can result in overcharging a system and premature failure.
It is not just old systems that need cleaning. In fact, newer more efficient HVAC systems will benefit even more from a regular coil inspection and cleaning. These systems operate at greatly increased pressures and are less tolerant of increases in static pressure. Today’s higher-efficiency units require more efficient heat transfer across larger coils to function at their highest capacity. New units with high SEER ratings often have variable speed fan motors that adjust fan speed based on demand; however, these units lose much of their effectiveness when forced to run harder than necessary.
In summary, dirty coils will cause compressors to run longer and work harder than required, thereby increasing energy usage and utility costs while decreasing the life of the component, as well as a decrease in individual comfort. However, clean HVAC systems save homeowners money as they perform more efficiently, decreasing energy costs, and well-maintained mechanical components are more likely to last longer, reducing the need for costly HVAC system replacement or repairs.
Sources:
www.coolray.com
www.EPA.gov
www.energy.gov
www.energystar.gov
www.reuters.com
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