The condenser coils in central air conditioners are an important link in the chain of events that keeps homes comfortably cool during hot Ohio summers. Two AC coils in the system — the indoor evaporator and the outdoor condenser — are critical to the process that removes heat from inside the house and then releases that heat into the outdoor air. What’s left indoors is cool comfort.
Both the indoor evaporator coil and the condenser coil located in the outdoor unit continuously circulate pressurized refrigerant between the indoor and outdoor units. Here’s how the condenser coil does its part.
- Frigid refrigerant flowing through the indoor evaporator coil extracts heat from the airflow pulled through the coil by the HVAC blower.
- Now warm, the refrigerant flows through a conduit to the system compressor in the outdoor unit. The compressor pressurizes the flow of refrigerant, raising its temperature to about 175 degrees.
- Hot refrigerant enters the condenser coil and rapidly depressurizes. This causes the refrigerant to expand and release its load of heat energy. As coil surfaces radiate this released heat, the condenser fan pulls airflow through the coil and exhausts the heat into the outdoor air.
- With its temperature lowered to about 100 degrees, the refrigerant flows back to the indoor unit. Forced through an expansion valve, the refrigerant temperature drops to about 20 degrees as it enters the indoor evaporator coil again and extracts more heat from the house.
Potential Issues with the AC Condenser Coils
- AC coils may be the source of refrigerant leaks. Annual professional maintenance includes checking the refrigerant charge and, if necessary, tracking down and repairing any leaks in coils or elsewhere.
- Because condenser coils are located in the outdoor unit of the central AC, they may be exposed to weather extremes such as hail and ice, as well as impact from broken tree limbs and other falling objects.
- A condenser coil is also more susceptible to accumulated dust, leaves, grass clippings. and animal nests.
Ask the professionals at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning for information and/or experienced service on AC condenser coils.
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area