Just learned that a dirty condenser coil can add $50 to your electric bill each month

I overheard an HVAC guy talking at the hardware store about how a clogged coil makes the compressor work way harder than it should. He said he's seen units running 30% longer cycles just from dust buildup. Has anyone else noticed a big jump in power usage with neglected coils?

2 comments

2 Comments

paigewood16h ago

My jaw actually dropped when the HVAC guy showed me the dirt layer on my coil, it was almost a quarter inch thick in some spots. Power bill went down $35 the month after a deep clean, I track this stuff in a spreadsheet (yes, I'm that person). It's wild how such a simple thing makes that compressor work like it's running a marathon every single day.

jamesblack18h ago

Yeah that makes total sense. I had my unit serviced last spring and the guy showed me a before and after picture of my coil, it was literally caked with dust and grime. My July electric bill dropped almost 40 bucks after they cleaned it, I couldn't believe the difference. It's one of those things you just don't think about until you see the proof in your wallet. Glad you brought this up because I bet a lot of people are paying way more than they need to.