Your AC is 8+ years (or older) The efficiency of an AC unit is at its best for the first 10 to 12 years of its life. That said, if your AC is nearing 8 years old, replacing just the evaporator coil would be like putting a brand new engine into a dying car—it’s just not worth the money.

Can I replace just the AC coil?

Often replacing the AC is much more cost-effective for several reasons. Replacing only one coil can cause significant issues with your AC. Just replacing the evaporator coil can make it an incompatible match with the condenser coil.

How much does it cost to replace a coil in an AC unit?





Condenser Coil Costs

Coil Capacity Part Only Installation Cost
1.5-2.0 ton $575 – $800 $475 – $650
2.5 ton $625 – $975 $535 – $750
3.0 ton $735 – $1,055 $600 – $835
3.5 ton $775 – $1,025 $775 – $985

How often does the AC coil need to be replaced?

10 to 15 years

For an evaporator coil to live out the fullest extent of its life, the AC unit must be regularly maintained. If proper maintenance is regularly performed, then the evaporator coils should last 10 to 15 years, which is the ideal lifetime for an evaporator coil and comparable to the lifespan of an AC unit.

How long should an air conditioner coil last?

As with any part of your cooling system, your evaporator coil will suffer from wear and tear over time. Efficiency gradually decreases throughout the coil’s lifespan, but proper maintenance can keep your evaporator coil going for up to 20 years.

Is it worth replacing an evaporator coil?





Your AC is 8+ years (or older)

The efficiency of an AC unit is at its best for the first 10 to 12 years of its life. That said, if your AC is nearing 8 years old, replacing just the evaporator coil would be like putting a brand new engine into a dying car—it’s just not worth the money.

Can you fix a leaking AC coil?

The best choice to fix a leaking evaporator coil is a replacement, especially if it still under warranty. However, if this is not cost-effective for you at the moment, you can also try adding a sealant, which has about a 50/50 success rate.

How do I know if my AC coil is bad?

Signs of Damaged Evaporator Coil Components

  1. Air coming from the vents is warm.
  2. Air conditioner starts and stops frequently but doesn’t properly cool your home.
  3. Air conditioner does not turn on.
  4. Refrigerant leak near the indoor cooling system components.
  5. Unusual noises from the cooling system, such as banging or hissing.


Can you still buy R22 coils?

As of January 1, 2020, production and import of R22 refrigerant will be illegal in the United States. Of course, continued use of your air conditioner (AC) or heat pump system using R22 refrigerant is allowed.

How much does it cost to replace coils?

Evaporator Coil Replacement Cost by Tonnage or Size

Size Unit Price Total*
3.0 ton $300 – $1,350 $700 – $2,350
3.5 ton $350 – $1,500 $750 – $2,500
4.0 ton $400 – $1,600 $800 – $2,600
5.0 ton $450 – $1,700 $850 – $2,700

What causes an evaporator coil to go bad?



Leaks in the evaporator coils are primarily caused by a chemical reaction between the copper they’re made from, high humidity and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Together, they combine to create formic acid that corrodes the copper. VOCs are gases that many common household products emit.

How much does a 3 ton AC coil cost?

Evaporator Coil Costs by Size

AC Coil Size Coil Cost Average Installed Cost
2.5 Ton Coil $260 – $410 $565 – $1,720
3 Ton Coil $300- $460 $635 – $1,810
3.5 Ton Coil $340 – $435 $695 – $1,880
4 Ton Coil $360 – $510 $745 – $1,925

What causes AC to lose Freon?

Refrigerant Loss Causes

Factors that can contribute to freon leaks include improper installation, factory defects, as well as damage or wear-and-tear on your AC system. So even a brand new air conditioning system could have a freon leak if it’s not properly installed.

Where is the evaporator coil located?



Located inside the blower compartment or air handler, the evaporator coil holds the chilled refrigerant that the compressor moves into it. As the air from the blower fan moves over the coil, the cold refrigerant removes the heat from your home’s air.

How do you fix a leaking evaporator coil?

In order to replace the coil and fix your evaporator coil leak, a technician will need to recover the remaining refrigerant gas, and solder in a new coil after dismantling the air conditioner. A filter / drier must also be added or replaced to absorb moister and contaminants.

How long does it take to replace evaporator coil?

2 to 4 hours

Replacing an evaporator coil takes 2 to 4 hours on average. HVAC coils last 10 to 15 years. The evaporator coil is within the air handler.

How much does it cost to clean AC coils?



It’ll cost anywhere from $100 to $400 to clean your AC coils as a standalone service. For highest system efficiency, get this done every year and up to once per month. Condenser coil cleaning, the one located outside your home, happens during your annual AC tuneup for $75 to $200.