Does the debris growing and collecting on the coil effect the energy efficiency of the HVAC systems?
Yes. When the A/C evaporator coil becomes loaded with debris (from microbial growth and airborne collection) it severely compounds the energy-waste problem. There are two reasons for this: (a) the debris coating the fins restricts airflow through the fins, preventing effective evaporation of the refrigerant and, in turn, cooling; and (b) in order to have an effective heat exchange between the airflow and the metal fins, the fins need to be clean. As debris coats the fins, it acts as insulation, preventing direct contact of air to fins the heat exchange ratio collapses, cooling efficiency drops. The Environmental Protection Agency has reported that a debris buildup of .042 inches (about the thickness of plastic wrap) on the e-coil can result in an efficiency decrease of 21 percent.
