evaporator-coilDifferent homeowners have different levels of familiarity with their air conditioning systems. Some are content just knowing their ACs will cool the air when the heat of summer strikes, though they are not too concerned with the details. Others like to be a bit more hands-on with their air conditioners—too hands-on, in some cases. We believe the happy medium lies somewhere in between. We don’t expect you to be experts, but we also think it is in every homeowner’s best interest to have a basic understanding of how their systems work.

We want to take the opportunity today to discuss an important component in everyone’s air conditioning system. Two components, actually: the evaporator and condenser coils. Without the proper functioning of these coils, an air conditioner is not going to effectively and efficiently condition the air in your home! So let’s take a look at what the coils do and why issues with them may require professional air conditioning repair in Voorhees, NJ.

Both Coils Play a Role in the Refrigerant Cycle

Why is this important? Because only through the successful running of the refrigerant cycle can an air conditioner remove heat from the air in your home. Coolness is not something that can actually be created, after all. The coolness you feel in air-conditioned environments is the lack of heat, and it is the evaporation of refrigerant in the evaporator coil that allows your AC to draw heat out of the air at all.

Of course, the refrigerant is then hot, and there will come a point when it cannot remove more heat from the air. This is why the condenser coil is as important a part of the cooling cycle as the evaporator coil. Once the refrigerant is heated up thanks to evaporation, it runs to the condenser coil where its heat is released during the condensing portion of the refrigerant cycle.

Problems Damaged or Dirty Coils Cause

If your evaporator or condenser coil leaks refrigerant, then the system is not going to be able to remove a sufficient amount of heat from the house and it may overheat. You may do irrevocable damage to the AC’s compressor by continuing to run the system when it is low on refrigerant.

Refrigerant leaks can also cause the evaporator coil to ice up as the coil gets too cold. This may seem strange, but the lower the amount of refrigerant, the colder the remaining refrigerant stays, causing the condensation on the coil can freeze. The ice creates an insulating barrier—making the problem worse.

Even a dirty coil can make it much harder, if not impossible, for the AC to remove heat from the air. Not only that, but a dirty condenser coil makes it much harder for the system to release the heat it’s removed from the air. No matter what, your air conditioner needs its coils to be clean and in great working condition to do its job properly.

Schedule your AC services with Climate Mechanics LLC.