Most people aren’t aware of how their air conditioner works, and strictly speaking, they don’t need to be. The more you know about your air conditioner, however, the better prepared you’ll be to address any problems that might afflict it. With that in mind, let’s take a look at one of the most important parts of your air conditioning system: the refrigerant.
What is Refrigerant?
Refrigerant is a catch-all name for various kinds of chemical heat transfer fluids. When an air conditioner is first installed, it receives a charge of this liquid that is meant to last throughout its lifetime. While the air conditioner is operating, it evaporates refrigerant to siphon heat from the air inside the home. Then, the refrigerant gas travels down the refrigerant line to the condenser coil outside. The condenser coil condenses the gas back into a liquid, releasing the thermal energy outside the home. This is how your air conditioner actually cools your air.
Common Refrigerant Issues
The biggest refrigerant problem to afflict air conditioners is a depletion of the system charge. Refrigerant is not consumed during the air conditioning process, and is meant to be recycled for as long as the system is in use. If a leak develops in the refrigerant line, though, it can deplete the system’s supply of refrigerant. This will cause all sorts of issues with the air conditioner, including the evaporator coil icing over and damaging the compressor. If the leak is not patched and the refrigerant refilled to a proper level, the whole system will break down. This is why it is so important to call a professional if you notice liquid dripping or pooling around your air conditioner.
If your air conditioner is in need of repair, call Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing. We provide air conditioning services throughout Gaithersburg, MD.