Clean coils. Colder air, lower bills.
An AC coil that has gone a couple of years without cleaning moves heat poorly, and you feel it on the August power bill. Cleaning both coils is part of a tune-up that runs about 90 minutes. We use a no-rinse coil cleaner and a soft brush, and we measure airflow before and after. A 10-minute hose-down does not count.
- Indoor + outdoor coil
- No-rinse cleaner
- Airflow verification
- Same-week scheduling
What's included with AC coil cleaning
What our AC coil cleaning service actually covers, during a tune-up that runs about 90 minutes.
Indoor evaporator coil cleaning
We pull access to the indoor coil, photograph the before condition, apply a no-rinse evaporator coil cleaner, and let it work into the fin pack. Severely fouled coils get a follow-up application. We do not pressure-wash the indoor coil; high-pressure damage to fins is a real failure mode.
Outdoor condenser coil rinse
Outdoor condenser coils get rinsed clean of grass clippings, pollen, lint from dryer vents, and South Houston roof grit. We use a low-pressure garden-hose flow with a fin-comb to straighten any bent fins on the spot. The outdoor coil holds the most accessible particulate and rinses come back to clean fast.
Drain pan + condensate line treatment
Cleaning the coil dislodges biofilm into the drain pan. We flush the condensate line with a wet/dry vacuum, drop in an anti-biofilm tablet, and confirm the drain runs free. Skipping this step is how a coil cleaning becomes a clogged drain a week later.
Airflow + static pressure verification
We measure airflow at the supply registers and static pressure at the air handler before and after. The numbers tell us whether the cleaning actually moved the system back to design spec. You get the before/after measurements in writing.
Filter replacement
Filter goes back in last, replaced with a fresh MERV-11 or MERV-13 if you want the upgrade. A clean coil with a dirty filter goes back to dirty in months. Filter is part of the same job.
When to schedule AC coil cleaning
If the coils have not been cleaned in more than a year, the system is probably working harder than it should. These are the warning signs.
- AC running constantly without keeping up on hot days
- Energy bills climbing year over year with no usage change
- Dust visibly puffing out of the registers when AC kicks on
- Musty smell at startup that persists past 10 minutes
- Outdoor condenser visibly dirty (leaves, grass, pollen, debris)
- It has been more than 12 months since the last cleaning
- You bought the home and do not know its history
- AC is not cooling like it used to
- Indoor humidity stays high even with the AC running
- Filter is dirty within 30 days of changing
How a visit works
Five steps. No surprises. Same on your first call as your fiftieth.
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Book the visit
AC coil cleaning is part of a 90-minute tune-up. Same-week scheduling spring and fall, faster if you are a Clear Advantage member.
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Pre-clean documentation
We photograph the indoor coil before cleaning and measure baseline airflow + static pressure. The before-state is part of your written record.
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Indoor coil clean
No-rinse cleaner applied to the evaporator coil, allowed to work into the fin pack. Soft fin-comb work where needed. Drain pan flushed.
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Outdoor coil rinse
Garden-hose-pressure rinse of the outdoor condenser. Fin-combing bent fins back into shape. Pad cleared of debris.
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Verify + report
Re-measure airflow and static pressure. You get the before/after numbers and photos in writing. If there is anything else worth flagging, we tell you straight, no upsell pressure.
- $99 Diagnostic visit ($79 for new customers), waived when you approve the repair
- Free In-home estimates on new systems
- Same price Nights, weekends, and holidays. No overtime fees.
What Pearland neighbors are saying
"I recently had technician Joe Johnson come out to assist me with a coil cleaning and he really elevated my expectations for the standard of service and professionalism that come with servicing. Clear Air will be the first call I make for all future HVAC servicing."
"Robert Britt did an excellent job identifying the problem, creating the estimate and had all the parts in his truck. He than proceeded to disassemble the blower and clean the squirrel cage, than replaced the motor. He cleaned up everything including some mold."
"Jacob came out multiple times the past few days to replace an old breaker, clean the pipes and coils, installed a float switch, and added a new spot in the line to make it easier to clean out."
Frequently asked
How much does AC coil cleaning cost?
Coil cleaning is part of our 34-point tune-up, which is $99, or $79 with our website coupon. Clear Advantage members get it with the spring tune-up at no extra cost. If a coil is fouled badly enough to need extended treatment, we show you what we found and quote it in writing before doing more.
How often should I have my AC coils cleaned?
Once a year is the standard recommendation in Pearland. The South Houston pollen season, summer humidity, and roof grit mean coils foul faster here than in drier climates. Homes with pets, near construction activity, or with heavy yard work nearby may benefit from a mid-summer rinse-only on the outdoor unit.
What happens if I never clean my AC coils?
Efficiency drops first, and you pay for it on the power bill. The system then runs longer to reach the setpoint, which wears the compressor. Humidity control slips too, so the house feels clammy even when the thermostat reads right. Leave a coil long enough and it may need replacing, which costs far more than a yearly cleaning.
Can I clean my AC coils myself?
You can rinse the outdoor condenser coil yourself with a garden hose if you turn the system off first and use low pressure. Avoid pressure washers; they bend fins and the damage drops efficiency permanently. Indoor evaporator coil cleaning needs panel removal, no-rinse cleaner, and condensate line follow-up. We do not recommend DIY on the indoor coil.
Will AC coil cleaning fix my high humidity?
Often yes. A fouled evaporator coil cannot pull moisture from the air efficiently. Cleaning frequently restores dehumidification to design spec. If the house stays humid with a clean coil, the AC may be oversized and short-cycling. At that point the fix is a correctly sized system or a whole-home dehumidifier.
Is AC coil cleaning the same as duct cleaning?
No. AC coil cleaning is the evaporator coil, condenser coil, and drain pan, the parts of the system that get dirty in normal use. Duct cleaning is the supply and return ducts. We offer whole-house duct cleaning (rotary brush plus negative air) and recommend it when there is a reason: renovation dust, pets or allergies, mold after a leak, or visible debris. If your ducts are clean, we will not push it. Coil cleaning, on the other hand, is part of routine maintenance.
How does AC coil cleaning fit with the Clear Advantage membership?
Coil cleaning is included in the spring AC tune-up that comes with every Clear Advantage membership ($25/month or $300/year). That is one of the two seasonal visits, plus the fall heating-side visit. Most members never pay for a standalone coil cleaning because it is bundled with the membership.