Knowing Where AC Refrigerant Leaks Occur
A refrigerant leak is a serious problem for an air conditioner. Not only does it compromise the overall efficiency of your system, but is also represents a significant health hazard for those living in your home. Therefore it is vital that you take a proactive approach to identifying and repairing refrigerant leaks.
The trouble here is that it's not always easy to figure out what the source of a refrigerant leak is. Not only are such leaks difficult to detect, but there are numerous different things that can cause them. If you would like to improve your knowledge of common air conditioning problems, read on. This article will outline two frequent refrigerant leak sites.
The Filter Drier
The filter drier is an important component that can be found in virtually all air conditioning systems. Its purpose is to keep the refrigerant as clean and pure as possible. It does this by physically filtering out debris and by removing and moisture that finds its way into the refrigerant lines. This prevents corrosion and other forms of damage that would otherwise compromise your AC.
It is important to realize that a filter drier will cease to perform its role once it has reached maximum capacity. In other words, a filter drier can only absorb so much debris and moisture. Once it has reached this state, moisture in the system will be free to begin causing corrosion, Such corrosion often results in holes forming in the walls of the filter drier itself. These holes then allow refrigerant to begin escaping out of the system.
Condenser Evaporator Line
The condenser evaporator line is another common source of refrigerant leaks. This length of copper tubing has the important job of transporting liquid refrigerant from your condenser unit to the evaporator. This is not necessarily a short journey, since the condenser is usually found on the exterior of a home, while the evaporator is located inside.
The sheer length of tubing that makes up the condenser evaporator line makes it vulnerable to damage as time goes on. Making problems worse is the fact that it is not always possible to protect every inch of the evaporator condenser line. Those portions that are exposed outside are vulnerable to damage by yard tools and other outdoor hazards. Where the condenser evaporator line passes through the inside of your home--often through walls and ceilings--it can easily be damaged by nails and drills.
Companies like Seliga Heating and Cooling can help you with troubleshooting.
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