Routine preventative maintenance can help you to diagnose a potential refrigerant problem.
Are you performing routine preventative maintenance on your HVAC system or trying to troubleshoot why your home doesn’t feel the same (literally!)? The refrigerant flow in your HVAC system may be the culprit. Here are some tips for diagnosing the problem before you call International Services Mechanical HVAC for professional repairs.
Liquid Line Restriction
If there is a liquid line within your system that is restricted, it could be preventing your evaporator from getting any refrigerant. If you have low pressure in your evaporator, you could be suffering from a liquid line restriction. Restricted filter-driers, restricted thermostatic expansion valve screens, twisted up liquid lines, bent lower condenser coils, and capillary tubes clogged with oil can all be potential causes of a liquid line restriction. The worse the restriction in, the harder your system has been working to properly heat or cool your home. By properly diagnosing and treating refrigerant flow, you’ll save money and sweat.
Undercharge or Overcharged Systems
Undercharged systems have a lowered mass flow rate, low suction, low discharge pressures, and high superheat in the evaporator coil because there is no refrigerant for subcooling. Because of the lack of refrigerant flow, the compressor will not be able to draw much at all. Undercharge issues have similar symptoms to liquid line restrictions, except undercharge problems do not typically show signs of subcooling in the condenser.
Overcharged systems are on the opposite end of the spectrum. Overcharged HVAC systems have high condensing temperatures, higher head pressures, and increased amp draw. Liquid may enter the suction line if your HVAC system is more than 10% overcharged, which is a major refrigerant issue. Liquid will damage the compressor, which will eventually lead to system failure. Refrigerant flow problems need to be diagnosed as immediately as possible, so that greater damage isn’t done to the system as a whole.
We Can Help Determine What Your HVAC Problem Is
If you are concerned about potential refrigerant issues in your home or business’s HVAC system, you can trust International Services. We are the trusted HVAC repair technicians for families in the Maryland and Virginia areas, and we have been keeping residents comfortable for almost ten years. We provide you with the highest quality services for the best possible price, and we never cut corners. For more information about our services, contact us online or by calling (202) 241-4822, (703) 445-7766, or (301) 534-4822. Do you want more tips on keeping your home cool? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.