# How to Clean Cotton Off an Evaporator Unit
The evaporator coils of your air conditioning unit can become dirty and rusty over time. In addition, operating your unit with an ineffective air filter or a missing filter will allow cotton lint, dust, pet fur and other debris to collect on the evaporator. Removal of the evaporator coils requires drainage of the refrigerant, which must be done by a licensed professional. Fortunately, most evaporator units can be cleaned without removing the coils from the air handler housing.
Things You'll Need
- Screwdriver
- Industrial vacuum
- Coil cleaner foam
Instructions
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1
Turn off the thermostat, and locate the air handler. In most systems, it is in the attic. Remove the access panel next to the fan, which is called the evaporator coil access panel. Eight to 10 screws are typically used to secure this panel.
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2
Turn on your vacuum and carefully vacuum any cotton lint or other debris from the coils.
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3
Spray coil cleaner foam onto the coils. Cover the coils thoroughly. The foam will dissolve and drain like all condensation that forms on the evaporator.
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4
Replace the evaporator coil access panel, and turn on the unit to completely rinse the coils.
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1
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