How Your Air Conditioning Condenser Keeps You Cool
During the summer, it’s great to know that you can turn on your air conditioning system and expect delightful cooling. But as you hear all the different parts of the system click into place, it’s natural to wonder how it all works. Your AC condenser has an important job, and it’s best when the condenser can operate without obstacles. Here are a few things you should know.
Understanding Your Air Conditioning System
There are a lot of components to your air conditioning system, and they all have to work in unison for you to get great temperature control. Several times an hour during the summer, you’ll notice your thermostat turn on the system. That control directs a flow of refrigerant to the evaporator coil, located inside your home. While it’s there, the refrigerant picks up heat and humidity, making it so hot that it turns into a gas. Within moments, the refrigerant goes back outside, so that the compressor can compress it and the condenser can release the heat.
Proper Air Conditioning Condenser Function
Your air conditioning condenser has several parts. Most notable are the coils, fan and fins. The condenser coils cycle refrigerant. As the fan blows, the coils release the heat outside. You’ll hear the fan working, and you might notice heat coming out of the condenser fins if you are standing close to the exterior unit. Once this step is complete, the refrigerant is ready to return to the evaporator coil for the next cycle.
When to Call for AC Repair
In an ideal world, your AC condenser will work just as it should, with no sudden changes in output or quality. Over time, wear on the system can cause the condenser to have problems. These might include:
- Dirty coils
- Bent or broken fins
- Low or blocked airflow
- Failing fan motor
Some of these issues relate to wear, while others might reflect concerns about the quality of the installation. Under these conditions, your air conditioning unit might continue to operate mostly according to plan for a while. Of course, the worse it gets, the more likely you are to end up with a large repair bill.
It’s important to schedule air conditioning repair as soon as you notice a problem with the system. Pay attention to the cooling output you get, as well as your utility bills. Take a look at the unit every now and then, and make a note if you see leaking water or lots of debris. Keeping your unit clean isn’t particularly difficult, and it’s a common part of air conditioning maintenance. When you schedule air conditioning installation, ask about how to keep your condenser in good working condition.
Your air conditioning works best when every component does a great job, and your condenser is a big part of its success. Contact us for more information or to schedule air conditioning repair.
