When it comes to the air conditioner, there are many parts that work together to produce cool, comfortable air for your home or business. If one part fails, the whole system suffers. There are many side effects that come into play as well. Little to no cool air is produced, noises, smells, and other indications will give warning that the cooling system is not right. Today, we at Hal Mechanical would like to shine light on the basics of the air compressor and expansion valve.
What is an AC Compressor
Raising the temperature of the refrigerant is the job of the air compressor. Squeezing and increasing the pressure put on the refrigerant is how it is done. The refrigerant, in its liquid state, moves throughout the system, once the temperature is raised to a certain point above the temperature of its surroundings. Then it begins to move throughout the condenser coils on the outside unit after the refrigerant is heated. This causes the heat absorbed by the refrigerant to be released into the outdoors. Once completed, the air inside your home is cooled.
Common AC Compressor Problems
With good reason, the compressor is frequently called the heart of the air conditioning unit. The entire air conditioning cycle would not be able to continue without the component that initiates the heating of the refrigerant. As a result, things can break down very fast if you are facing an AC compressor problem for this reason. Several factors could be the cause if your compressor is not working period. The most common is a lack of electricity to the unit. The issue could stem from elsewhere, however. Your compressor might be to blame if you notice the following issues with your AC.
– Either too low or too high, the air is being discharged.
– The AC unit is not cooling efficiently.
– When starting, AC unit stutters.
Purpose of an Expansion Valve
Moving refrigerant throughout the system and changing that refrigerant from a liquid to a gas and back again is the essential operation of the AC. Inside your home or business, cool, liquid refrigerant moves and absorbs heat as it does. The refrigerant then turns into a gas with the heat absorption. Where the absorbed heat is released outside, the gaseous refrigerant moves to the outdoor portion of the unit. This release makes the refrigerant go back to liquid form and the cycle repeats. The refrigerant is still too warm to absorb more heat once back inside once the gaseous refrigerant releases the heat from the air into the outdoors. At this point, the expansion valve does its part. Allowing it to cool rapidly in preparation for more heat absorption, the expansion valve removes pressure from the refrigerant.
Common Expansion Valve Malfunctions
A malfunctioning expansion valve has many A/C problems that could be associated with it. Below are the most common issues.
– Cool air is not being produced by the AC.
– Coils are frozen.
– The system constantly runs.
Fortunately, most expansion valves problems have an inexpensive fix, whether it needs to be repaired or replaced. Contact a pro if you notice an issue mentioned above.
Central Air Conditioning Services & More in Aliante, Centennial, Desert Shores, Eldorado, Enterprise, Green Valley Ranch, Henderson, Lone Mountain Village, North LV, Peccole Ranch, Paradise, Silverado Ranch, Spring Valley, Summerlin, Sunrise Manor, Tuscany Village, Whitney, Winchester & Las Vegas Nevada
When you need air conditioning system repairs, maintenance, installation, or replacement services in the Greater Las Vegas, NV area, call Hal Mechanical today and let us assist you.
