On the flip side, the condenser coil is the counterpart to the evaporator coil, and it sits in the outdoor condenser unit of your air conditioner. While the evaporator coil cools indoor air, the condenser coil deals with the heat absorbed from inside your home.
The condenser sits on the back of a refrigerator, and is likely quite dusty. Inside, the refrigerant is cooled down and condenses, meaning it turns from a gas back into a liquid. The evaporator is located inside a refrigerator and is the part that makes the items in the refrigerator cold.
Replacing an evaporator coil costs $400 to $1,000 if under warranty or $650 to $2,400 if not under warranty. The evaporator and condenser coils work together to cool the home: The evaporator coil – also called the indoor coil – extracts heat from the indoor air and transfers it to the refrigerant inside the coil.
Potential Issues with Mismatching Your Condenser and Unit
Your AC unit comprises multiple components that need to work seamlessly together to provide efficient cooling. One of the risks with replacing only one component (like the evaporator coil) is the potential mismatch with other parts, especially in older units.
A failing evaporator can cause excessive condensation and moisture buildup inside the car. You may notice dampness or wetness on the floor mats or a significant increase in window fogging, especially when the AC is running.
The condenser coil is of similar design to the indoor evaporator coil. However, the difference between A/C evaporator and condenser coil is exactly reversed. While the evaporator coil picks up heat from indoor air, the condenser coil releases heat into the outdoor air.
If you have a relatively new AC unit, and you can get a replacement coil that ensures your two coils work well together, you'll likely find the evaporator coil replacement cost more affordable than replacing the whole unit.
If proper maintenance is regularly performed, then the evaporator coils should last 10 to 15 years, which is the ideal lifetime for an evaporator coil and comparable to the lifespan of an AC unit. However, how long your evaporator coils last will be much shorter if your unit is improperly maintained.
Premature Air Conditioner Failure & HVAC Repairs
Replacing only one unit will result in an inefficient system which, in turn, causes frequent repairs and early system failure. Avoid this from happening by replacing both outdoor and indoor AC units at the same time.
A new evaporator coil can cost anywhere from $2,500 to $6,500 and takes 3+ hours to complete, potentially leading to higher labor costs than other AC repairs.
This is why some people pay as little as $550 for their evaporator coil replacement, and others pay closer to $2,000. This cost is only for the unit replacement and does not include labor. Labor costs around $700 on average.
The air conditioning system actually revolves around heat transfer. The AC system has an indoor unit, the evaporator coil, and an outdoor unit which houses the compressor, condenser coil, and a fan.
You will find two types of motors in refrigerators: condenser fan motor and evaporator fan motor. These two are responsible for cooling the food in the fridge. If they get damaged, your fridge may turn on, but it will not cool the food stored.
The condenser coils are made up of metal tubes arranged in a U-shaped grid pattern. If you have trouble locating them, refer to your Owner's Manual or check the manufacturer's website for more information.
0 to 9 years old: Your HVAC equipment most likely has years of life left. Seriously consider a repair over a replacement. 10 to 13 years old: Some high-use heating and air conditioning systems wear out after about a decade.
The average evaporator coil replacement will run between $630 to $3,700 depending on the warranty status, system size, and type.
Evaporator coils tend to build up dirt and debris over time, which may eventually cause the system to freeze up or corrode. Coils should be cleaned regularly to ensure that they stay in excellent condition and free of leaks.
When your evaporator and condenser coils are mismatched in size, the smaller sized coils won't be able to keep up with the capacity of the larger sized coils, which forces the entire system to run longer. And the longer your system runs, the more energy it eats up.
This is the fridge condenser side of the system where heat is being expelled. The function of evaporator side is where the air is being cooled as this is where heat is being transferred from the air into the refrigerant.
On average, an evaporator coil in a commercial HVAC unit can last anywhere from 10-15 years. It's important to note that this is a general estimate and that the actual lifespan of an evaporator coil can vary dramatically. However, with regular maintenance and proper usage, the coil can last even longer.
On average, you can only expect about 15 years of reliable service from a central AC system. And that's only if you maintain your system well. So, if your home has an AC that's 20 years old or older, it's likely living on borrowed time. Here are all the reasons to replace your home's 20-year-old air conditioner.
Some furnaces also have the indoor evaporator coils for an air conditioning unit. This is what the air flows through to cool it when you are running the air conditioner. Not all furnaces have this built in, so it is important to know the specifics of your model.