$67Heating check, per system. We check your furnace or heat pump before winter. Through December 31.$67 heating check before winterBook Online
(703) 997-9757CallBook Online
MenuClose
Heating
Air Conditioning
Plumber
Drains & Sewers
Water Heater
Duct & Dryer Vent Cleaning
Price Estimators
Offers
About Us
Service Areas
Commercial

Open 24/7 for emergencies

Video · AC Maintenance and Coil Cleaning

Dirty AC Coil: Three Problems a Tech Points Out in the Yard

A dirty AC coil traps heat in the outdoor unit. That cooks the capacitor, drives pressure up and can make the system short cycle, three problems that can end in a replacement if the coil never gets cleaned.

5.0 stars across 1,132 reviews

Get your price in writing

Send this and the office calls or texts you back to set a time.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

We’ll call or text this number about your request. By sending it you agree to our terms and privacy policy.

Rather talk now? (703) 997-9757

Licensed and insuredVirginia Class A contractor #2705192276

24/7 emergency serviceOften same-day, and we will tell you honestly when we can get there.

Our own HVAC installersA dedicated heating and cooling team, separate from our plumbers

Price in writing firstYou see every option priced before anything is ordered

What you’re seeing in this video

In a leafy yard, a SwiftPro tech in glasses and a black polo stands next to an outdoor AC unit with its top off and shows off a dirty coil he found that day.

He walks through the damage: a capacitor that overheats and fails, high pressure on the refrigerant side, and a system that starts short cycling, turning on and off over and over. His plan is to pull the top and fan and clean the coil out from the inside.

He also gives homeowners a fair tip. With the power off, a gentle rinse from the garden hose helps between yearly professional cleanings.

Job footageSwiftPro
Topic
AC Maintenance and Coil Cleaning
Length
1:19
Posted
July 26, 2026
Shot by
The SwiftPro crew, Northern Virginia
What they say on camera

This is Diego with SwiftPro. So, this is an example of a dirty coil that we have found today. What are some things that happen when you have a dirty coil? One, a capacitor could fail, could overheat, could to potential damage to your compressor.

Another thing, you can have high pressure. That means your refrigerant is just so much debris that can cause and affect a lot of things in the system. Your system starts short-cycling. That could be a potential damage on your system.

It's turning on and on on and off because of these dirty coils. If you don't clean these coils regularly once a year, then these things could potentially fail your system and you would need a replacement. Today, we're going to try to save this guy and give him some more life expectancy on this system here um to clean the coil. I believe that everybody should do this on their own.

If you can't take this all out as experienced as we are, then you know what you can do. Just grab your hose nearby and if when the fins are on, just spray it above the fins, give it a nice little rinse. That's something you guys as a homeowners can do. But as the technicians, this is what we usually offer you guys.

We take out the whole thing. We're going to clean up here inside, take off all the debris, all the dirt, all the little spider webs just to have you guys having more life expectancy. And that's the most important thing is to keep these systems lasting longer so you guys can have AC during the summer.

Why it matters in your house

  • Capacitors hate heat. A coil that can't shed it makes the whole cabinet run hotter, and a swollen or leaking capacitor is often the first part to give out.
  • Short cycling looks like an AC that clicks on, runs a few minutes and shuts off. Besides wearing the compressor, it leaves the house clammy because the system never runs long enough to pull humidity.
  • Once a year is the coil cleaning interval he recommends. Skipping years is how a simple cleaning turns into a capacitor, and then a compressor.

Can a dirty AC coil cause short cycling?

It can. A clogged coil pushes head pressure and temperature up until a safety control shuts the compressor off, then it restarts once things cool down, over and over. Short cycling has other causes too, like an oversized unit, low refrigerant or a thermostat problem, so a tech should check pressures and electrical parts before blaming the coil alone.

Want it done at your place? See AC Maintenance and Coil Cleaning at SwiftPro or call (703) 997-9757.

Want this done at your house?

Rather pick the day yourself? Book online.

SwiftPro Heating, Cooling & Plumbing
4230 Lafayette Center Dr N, Chantilly, VA 20151
44679 Endicott Dr, Suite 211, Ashburn, VA 20147
Virginia Class A contractor license #2705192276

Call Now Book Online
5.01,132 reviews