How Much Does AC Coil Cleaning Cost in 2024?

Average AC Coil Cleaning Costs

AC Coil Cleaning Cost Factors

Cleaning your coils should be a part of your regular air conditioning maintenance schedule. Several crucial factors can affect the cost to clean AC coils.

Location

When you request a quote from AC pros in your area, they may ask about where your air conditioning unit is located. 

Cleaning the evaporator coil may require difficult attic or crawl space access, which can drive up costs. However, if your air handler is in an easy-to-reach furnace room, cleaning evaporator coils usually costs less.

Condenser coils on the outside of the building are usually easier to access. However, they may be more difficult to reach if they’re on the roof or on the outside of a multi-story building. Technicians may need specialized equipment or additional safety measures. 

Cleaning Frequency

Regular maintenance usually results in lower overall costs. The cleaning process is faster because the AC units aren’t as dirty. Infrequent cleaning of neglected coils leads to greater dirt accumulation, making the cleaning process more labor-intensive. 

Agreeing to a regular maintenance plan or service contract can reduce your per-cleaning costs. Local conditions, like dust and pollen, may call for more frequent cleaning.

Cleaning in Place vs. Removal 

In rare cases, when dirt has gotten so thick that it needs a manual clean, you’ll need to remove the coil to clean it. In this case, you can expect to pay $400 to $700. You can avoid this by changing your filters monthly and having regular cleanings.

Coil Type

Costs can vary between cleaning evaporator coils and condenser coils. You need to clean both as part of your regular AC maintenance.

Evaporator Coil Cleaning

Evaporator coil cleaning costs range from $100 to $400. It costs more than cleaning the condenser coil because it can be tough to access. You’ll find it housed inside the air handler near your furnace (or inside your ductwork if you only have AC).

Condenser Coil Cleaning

Cleaning the condenser coil in the outdoor unit costs between $50 and $100. It’s easy to access and clean with chemicals and a standard garden hose. However, it's also easy to damage the fins and other components if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Acid Wash Deep Clean

If your unit requires a deep clean, acid washing exterior condenser coils costs between $300 and $350. When the AC unit has been untouched and undermaintained for a long period, debris, dirt, and mineral deposits build up. This causes a significant loss in efficiency, which can increase strain and wear on the motor and lead to premature breakdown or failure.

Acid washing quickly dissolves these deposits, restoring the AC coils to their former efficiency. Acid washing releases potentially harmful fumes, so only trained AC pros should apply it to exterior coils.

How Often Should AC Coils Be Cleaned?

Most homeowners should get their evaporator coils cleaned once a year, typically during their annual HVAC inspection or AC tuneup. This helps maximize energy efficiency and performance. However, you may need to clean your evaporator coils more frequently if you run the AC system often or have a dirty filter.

Dirty coils can increase the AC's energy consumption by 30%, so it's worth keeping on top of regular cleaning and maintenance. Keep your home clean, choose a high-quality filter, and change the filter often to reduce the need for frequent evaporator coil cleaning. 

Combining AC Coil Cleaning Costs With Other Services

You can save on the cost of cleaning your AC coils by combining this job with other services. In most cases, you can have both coils cleaned as part of two other services:

• Annual AC service costs $75 to $200. However, you might pay a bit more to have the evaporator coil cleaned.

• Duct cleaning costs $250 to $500. It usually covers the evaporator coil but rarely the outdoor condenser.

Budgeting for AC Coil Cleaning

Along with regular inspections, coil cleaning is a core aspect of regular AC maintenance. Expect to pay $100 to $400 per cleaning. You should get the coils cleaned by an AC pro at least once a year, or more frequently if you live in an area where they accumulate dirt easily.

To help manage the expense, many HVAC companies offer annual maintenance plans that include regular coil cleaning. These can provide cost savings and more predictable expenses. Leave room in your budget for possible repairs that may be identified during cleaning.

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.